Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-21
Dany nennebee Journal
MONOMOY CREW
Starts in With Gallant Rescue
to Its Credit.
Captain and Crew of Seven Taken
from Bath Schooner.
Crew of Four Saved from capsized
Schooner off Nantucket.

Chatham, Mass, March 20.-The new
ly organized life saving crew at Mono
moy station, which has been placed un-
der the captaincy of Seth L. Ellis, the
only survivor of the crew which was
drowned, Monday last, had an oppor-
tunity to test -its courage, last night,
and in connection with it was also
shown another bit of daring by Capt.
Elmer F. Mayo and his volunteer crew.
The occasion was the rescue of Cap
tain Mclean and a crew of seven men
from the stranded lumber schooner
flwood Burton, st. John, n. b., for
New York, which struck on Handker-
chief shoal. She was seen to be in dis
tress and her signals for help were torn
to ribbons by the wind before they had
been up very long. Surfman Bloomer
had charge of the new crew in place of
Captain Ellis, who had not recovered
from the effects of the disaster, Mon
day.
The schooner was sighted in distress
more than six miles away. A heavy
northeast gale was raging and high
sea running, but undaunted the new
crew started out. Captain Mayo offered
his assistance and the two crews made
quick time out. Captain Mayos boat
rescued four of the seven men on the
ElWOod Burton and the regular crew
took the other three and they were all
landed safely on shore. They were
made comfortable at the Monomoy sta
ton.
The schooner anchored to the west
ward of Handkerchief shoal in yester-
4 l.
wind Shifted to northwest she got a
washing. Her anchors failed to hold
and she was driven toward the shoals.
Those on board were powerless to save
her and what little sail they hoisted
was soon blown away. Their distress
signals also were torn to tatters and
she finally struck. The men said after
ward that they had given up hope OF
rescue because they were so far from
the shore that they feared their signals
could not be seen.
This forenoon, the crew returned to the
Burton. accompanied by Underwriters
Agent Mallowes, and after raising sails,
succeeded singfloating the vessel, which
proceeded apparently uninjured.
The. Elwood Burton is vessel of 39l
gross tops, built at Bath. Me-, in 1872.
She is Us feet long, 31.7 feet beam and Il
feet depth.
None Of the bodies of the lost life saw
ors or of the crews of the wrecked barge$
have yet been recovered. Charles o. Hig-
gins of Cleveland, Ohio, arrived here. to-
day, and has offered a reward of $500 for
the recovery of the body of VIM. H.
Mack, the official of the Boutelle Trans
portation Co., which owns the barges,
who was one of the victims of the disas-
ter.
Mr. Higgins also established a patrol
service by four men, who have instruc-
lions to patrol the beach for at least two
weeks in search of the body.
Capt. Herbert E!dredge of the Chatham
station. says that in his opinion some of
the bodies may be imbedded in the sand
| on Shovelful shoal where they were
| drowned. and if the conditions are favor
able, tomorrow boats may go out to see
if any can be discovered on the bottom.
The Wadena and Fitzpatrick are still
ashore and the life saving station reports
| that the former is in bad position and
that the former is in bad condition and
looks as f bilged. The Fitzpatrick, how
ever, seems to be all right and wreckers
will float her. in the morning.
| The tug Peter ID. Smith will go down
| from Hyannis in the morning to work on
| the Wadena, but if she proves to be
| bilged it will be impossible to have her
| off in one day. Her exact condition can
not be usccrtaIned until she is brought
| into Hyannis for temporary repairs.
ENrD hhNL0D