Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1902-03-21
DOZEN ARE DROWNED
Terrible Disaster Occurs in Terrific
Sea Off Cape Cod.
Life Saving Crew Seeks Rescue OF
Imperiled sailors - Seven of the
Brave Fellows Drown Together
with Five other Men.

Chatham, Mass, March 1S.-Seven
life savers, practically the entire
crew of the Monomy station on the
south end of Cape Cod, met death
Monday at their post of duty and
with them into the sea which cap
sized the lifeboat went five men from
the stranded barge Wadena, whom
they tried to bring in safety to the
shore. One man, Lemuel Ellis,
through the heroic work of Capt.
Elmer Mayo, of another stranded
barge, the John c. Fitzpatrick, was
rescued from the bottom of the up
turned lifeboat. Among those lost
was William II. Mack, of Cleveland,
o., who was on the barge, represent
ing his company, the Boutelle Tow
ing and Transportation company, of
that city, while Capt. Marshall N.
Eldredge, one of the oldest life saw
ers on the coast, went down with his
men. All the life savers came from
Chatham and Harwich.
The victims.
The names of the lost are as fol-
lows, the first seven being members
of the life-saving crew:
Marshall N. Eldredge, keeper, South
Chatham.
Edgar Small, Harwich.
Elijah Kendrick. Harwich.
Osborn Chase, Harwich.
Arthur Rogers, North Harwich.
Isaac Thomas Foye, South Chatham.
Volentine Nickerson, Harwich.
William II. Mack. Cleveland.
Capt. Christian Olsen, Boston.
Robert Molanux, Boston, steward of tug
Peter Smith.
Walter A. Zeved, Cottage City.
Manuel Enos, Cottage City.
Scene of the Disaster.
The scene of the accident was in
the well known tide rips off Monomy
point, which make down from Chat
ham into Nantucket sound. Last
Thursday the barges Wadena and
John C.. Fitzpatrick, on the way to
Boston with cargoes of coal, strand
ed on the Shovelful shoal, about
three-quarters of a mile off Monomy
point. Since then every effort has
been made to float the barges and
all day Saturday and Sunday men
from Vineyard Haven were at work
throwing coal overheard from both
of them. Sunday night the tug Pc
ter c. Smith, which has been lying
beside the barges, ran alongside the
WadenG and told those on board that
storm was coming on. All the
wreckers were taken on board the
tug with the exception of the five
men who met their fate Monday.
Iife-Sayers to the Rescue.
Monday forenoon Capt. Eldredge,
who had been watching the barges
very closely, sighted signals of distress
on the Wadena. He got out his crew
and surfboat. 1t took nearly an hour
to reach the barge. By that time the
tide had turned to the eastward and a
fierce cross sea had been kicked up.
Capt. Eldredge steered the lifeboat un-
der the lee of the Wadena, and one aft
er another the five men dropped into
the boat. With the wind astern, il
seemed comparatively easy to gain
the smooth waters behind the point
The seas were tossing and turning in
the rips, and Capt. Eldredge was con.
stantly looking for smooth spots
When about half way in he thought he
discovered one over what is called a
hole, and the boat was sheered off
for it.
Lifeboat Capsized.
AS she did so a tremendous sea
caught her under the stern and she
went over, throwing all the men into
the water. Being used to the sea, all
th.. lif.a nlIlnn. To tLn han+