Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-18
In Performance Of Duty, In
Trying to Save Others.
Sever Chatham Life Savers Drowned
With Five Of Wrecked Barge.
Surfman Ellis Alone Survives to Tell
the Terrible Tale.


day. at their post of duty and with
them into. the treacherous sea which
oapsiZed the life boat went five men
from the stranded barge Wadena,
whom they vainly tried to bring in
safety to the shore.
one man, Lemuel Ellis, through he
roic work of Capt. Elmer Mayo of an
other stranded barge, the John c.
F'itzpa trick, was rescued from the bot
tom of the upturned boat just as he
was about to follow his companions to
their watery grave.
Among those lost was VIM ii. Mack
of Cleveland, Ohio, who was on the
barge representing his company, the
Boutell Towing and Transportation Co.
of that city, while Captain Marshall N.
EldredSe, one of the Oldest life savers
on the coast, went down with his men.
All the life savers came from Chat
ham and Harwich, and all are survived
by families or widows. The names of
those who were lost are as follows:
Life savcrs-MarshaIl N. Eldredge
keeper, South Catham.
Edgar Small Harwich.
Elijah Kendrick, Harwich.
Osborn Chase, Harwich.
Arthur ROBBERS, North Harwich.
Isaac Thomas Foye, South Chatham.
Valentine NickerSon, Harwich.
From the barge:
VIM. III. Mack, Cleveland, Ohio.
Captain Christian Olsen, Boston.
Robert Molanux, Boston, steward of
tug Peter Smith.
Walter Azeved, Cottage City.
Manuel Enos, Cottage City.
Captain Eldridge was a widower but
son and daughter survive him. Surf
man Small is survived by widow and
two children. Surfman Kendrick was
married, with no children. Surfman
Chase is survived by widow and two
children. Surfnan Rogers was mar
ried but had no children. -Surfman
F'oye is survived by widow but no
children, and Surfman Nickerson by a
widow and three children.
1t is believed Mr.. Mack was married.
Capt. Olsen's home was in Norway.
Azeved and Enos are known to have
been married.
The scene of the accident was in the
Well-known tide rips off Monomoy
point, which make down from Chatham
into Nantucket sound. Last Thursday
the barges Wadena and John c. FitZ-
patrick on the way up to Boston with
cargoes of coal, stranded on the Shovel
field shoal, about three-quarters of a
mile off Monomoy Point. Since then
every effort has been made to float the
stranded barges.
Last night, the tug Peter Smith,
which has been lying beside the barges,
ran alongside the Wadena and told
those on board that a storm was COM
ing on. All the wreckers were taken
on board the tug with the exception of
the five men who met their fate, today.
Mr.. Mack, who had come on from
Cleveland, refused to leave, and order
ed the captain of the Smith to anchor
near by.
About o'clock, the weather growing
very thick, the captain of the tug de-
cided to run into Hyannis a distance
of about Is miles, leaving the barges
still stranded. Upon his arrival in Hy-
annis, the captain of the tug tried in
vain to notify the Monomoy life savers
of the fact that there We're five men
left on board the Wadena, which being
further out on the shoal, was in a more
dangerous place than the Fitzpatrick.
This forenoon, Capt. Eldridge, who
had been watching the barges very
closely, thought he sighted signals of
distress on the Wadena. At that time
the captain was about mile below the
station, near the point. He at once sent
word to the station for the crew and
the surf boat. and about 10 o'clock the
men came down the beach. At that
ftr.aA 11a IL
gale from the southeast, so prepara-
tons were made to launch the boat on
the inside of the point where the water
was smooth.
1t was comparatively easy pull I'M
til they rounded the point. There they
met the full force of the wind and the
sea and it took the crew 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 stecred the life boat I'M
der the lee of the Wadcna and the five
men dropped into the boat. With the
wind astern Capt. Eldredge was constant
~ looking for smooth water behind the
point. When about half way he thought
he discovered one and the boat was
sheered off for it, As she did SO tro-
mendous sea caught her under the stern
and she went over, throwing all the men
into the water
All the life savers chung to the boat
and managed to pull the Wadena men
along with them. IN attempt was made
to right the boat but the life savers only
managed to get her partially cleared OF
water.
They had some hope, however, of fiBa,-
ly reaching land until another wave cap
sized her again ard left them all strug-
Cling in the water. Mr.. Mack was the
first to succumb, and one by one they
dropped away until there were only four
left, and these by the utmost exertions
managed to Chamber upon the bottom of
the overturned boat
The four men drifted down in the di-
rection of the Fitzpatrick, where Capt |
Mayo of that boat, caught sight of them |
With great daring he dropped a dory |
overheard and, jumping into it, started l
Continued nm ma 100 AZ