New-York tribune., 1902-12-23
TEN 4DRTFT THREE D8 \ .
Sir Sailors Lost IN Collision at Sea-
Fine Others Die.

Boston Dec 22-Alnlost crazed from their
suferings frostbitten and helpless, ten inen IN
an open boat were picked up by the schooner
ManSassett yesterday. forty-hve miles off High
land Light Then it was learned that the schoon-
ers Frank A Palmer and Louise B. Crary had
been in collision and had sunk off Thatcher 5
Island on Wednesday evening. The survivors
y ere landed here to-day OF the twenty-one men
who made up the two crews six were carried
down when the two vessels sank. four died dur
ing the terrible three days drift without food
or water in Massachusetts Bay. and another
became insane and jumped overheard.
The two schooners. both heavily laden with
coal doubled cape Cod in company and ran into
a strong northwester on Wednesday night. Both
captains put their vessels over toward the Cape
Ann shore. When off Thatchers Island they
split tacks Both came about at the same
time. headed toward each other. the Crary hold
ing north on the port tack and the Palmer south
on the starboard tack and having therefore the
right of way. But the mate Of the Crary. J.
J. Smith Of Portland. Ne, who had the deck
1t the time. apparently thought he could wealth
the Palmer. Instead the Crary crashed into
the bow of the Palmer.
The cut was deep and it was seen instantly
that there no hope for either vessel. Most
Of the small boats were smashed and some of
the men, including Smith. were killed by the
collision. but others of both crews launched the
long boat Of the Palmer into which clambered
the captains of both vessels and thirteen others
There not a moment for storing food or
water in the boat, and it only short
distance from the schooners when the Palmer
went down. Three minutes later the Crary dis
appeared
Without food or water drenched to the skin
and with the spray freezing their garments, the
fifteen survivors underwent sufferings indeScrib-
able. Four Of the Crary Friday lay
bow of the boat and night
they died On Saturday night Franz Banta
went insane. and, under the deluSion that his
mother beckoned TO him. walked into the sea.
The others We're powerless to restrain him.
Shortly after this the TWO captains decided
that the bodies of the four dead should be
consigned TO the deep. Captain Potter, of the
s<Crary, repeated as much Of the burial service
he could remember. and the strongest of
The survivors put the bodies overheard.
In the three days and half that the men were
sa1oat their boat drifted steadily offshore until
s O'Clock yesterday morning it forty-five
iJniles off Highland Light There the lookout
5on the fishing schooner Manhassett saw il, and
within half hour the ten men were in the
cabin of the schooner Captain Malone at once
Fcrowded all sail, and brought the survivors
TO this city.
AS the Manhassett came into the harbor she
showed signals for assistance. and by the time
kshe arrived at a wharf ambulances were ready
TO transfer the sailors to the hospital Only
six of the men could be removed however
They were taken to the Relief Hospital The
other four were in such critical condition that
ii was deemed impossible that they could sur
vive being taken from the vessel The men
at the hospital have improved steadily
The Louise B. Crary was built by the New
England Shipbuilding Company at Bath, Ne, IN
1900 and was one of the finest five masters
the coast. Her captain, w H. Potter. halls
from Orient, Long Island The Frank A Palmer
was the largest four master ever constructed.
She was built by \. T. Palmer at Bath, Ne, in
1897. and sold to ]. s. Winslow & Co, OF
Portland. Me. She sailed from Newport News
on December with 4.10o tons Of coal for
Boston