Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-12-19
BATTLE WITH WAVES.
Capt. Robert B. SomerviIle Has
Another Exciting Experience.
His Schooner Wrecked and He and
Crew Rescued After "a Hours Strug-
aIe-His Escape of Brazil in 1898.

Crew Rescued After "a Hours Strug-
ale-His Escape of Brazil in 1898.
Fighting for life in the open sea
with fierce blizzard raging, frost bit
ten with the bitter cold and exhaust
ed by a 24-hours, battle with the
waves, Capt. Robert B. Somerville and
crew of six men of the schooner Belle
Wooster were picked up about 2
o'clock Friday morning by the
schooner Patriot and taken to Glou-
cester. Capt Somerville, who was
one of the owners of the Belle Woos-
ter, formerly was engaged in the
wood and coal business in Brattle-
boro. in partnership with Rev. e. S.
Morse. His wife is a daughter of
Mrs. F. A. Woodbury. and during her
husbands absence at sea has been
living with her mother on Elliot
street.
The Belle Wooster left Stonington,
Maine, with a cargo of cut granite,
valued at $4,000, for the new East
river bridge at New York. Early
Thursday morning the schooner
foundered off Highland Light. In a
southwest blizzard the schooner had
lost every bit of canvas except the
foresail, and under the pounding of
terrific seas had sprung a leak, her
cargo of granite having shifted
When it was seen that the craft
could not be kept afloat the crew left
her, and for hours, scantily clothed
and without food, beaten by terrible
seas and unable to lay a course in the
binding snow, the men fought for life.
At o'clock Friday morning. when
some of the men were with difficulty
prevented by comrades not quite as
far gone from lying down in the boat
to die, a vessels light was seen.
Those in the open boat raised their
voices in a united cry. The call was
heard on board the schooner, which
proved to be the Patriot, and the
shipwrecked men were rescued.
The Belle Wooster was a three
master of AIS tons. She was built
at Franklin. Maine, in 1878 and was
owned by Capt. Somerville and others
of New York. She was valued at
$4,000 and was insured for $4,000.
Other vessels were lost in the bliz-
card in which the Belle Wooster met
her fate Capt. Somerville reporting
that when about 8 miles off Highland
Light on Wednesday night he saw a
quantity of flotsam and passed the
hatch of a vessel in about the same
locality.
Although but 3S years old Capt.
Somerville has seen over 20 years of
service at sea, and during that time
has had several thrilling experiences.
The first vessel which he was cap
tain was the Nellie Bruce, a trading
vessel Arriving one day at New
York harbor her cargo of lime be-
came slaked and the vessel went
up in flames. Capt. Somerville then
bought a half interest in the Ella
Maud, which, on Oct. %. 1895, was
driven ashore with nine other vessels
and was burned, being laden with
lime.
Capt Eomervilles most exciting
previous experience, III which his
wife participated, was in December,
1898. He left New York on the John
II. Cross with a general cargo, bound
for Aracaju, Brazil After a rough
voyage of SO days land was sighted,
and the lighthouse at the bar five
miles from port signalled 16 feet of
water. There proved to be but 1112
feet, and the vessel grounded. The
keel, stern post and rudder were
torn off and the vessel filed. The
breakers were raging and the third
sea swept the life boats from the
davits, cutting off escape. The fol
lowing sea filled the cabin and cleared
the deck of every movable object.
Capt. Somerville and wife and seven
sailors were forced into the rigging
by the heavy seas. A life boat and
pilots started for the rescue but were
upset three times. Finally a fender
with line attached was drifted to the
life boat a mile and quarter off, by
means of which the boat was hauled
to within 20 feet of the vessel.
Capt. Somerville put a line around
his wife's body and babe her jump
as he fed out the line. AS she
jumped the sea broke and the boat
dropped 10 feet or more. One of the
pilots put his arm around one OF the
masts and by reaching out was just
able to catch Mrs. Somerville and
swing her into the boat. Capt. Som.
erville and the sailors by watching
their chances between seas were able
to make the boat without mishap
The vessel remained on the bar three
days, finally beating her bottom out
and working in All of Mr.. and Mrs
| Somerville's personal effects, the
| charts, etc, were either lost in the
| sea or stolen by natives.