Gilpin observer., 1902-03-20
DOZEN MEN DROWN
SEVEN LIFE SAVERS PERISH IN
ATTEMPT TO RESCUE OTHERS.
All but One Co Down In Rough Sea
Off Monomoy Point-soiitary Sur
vivor 10 Saved by a Brave Captain.
Lifeboat Capsizes.

Chatham, Mass, March 1S.-By the
capsizing OF life boat yesterday,
seven lie savers, practically the en-
tire crew of the Monomoy station, on
the south end of Cape Cod, met death
at their post of duty. and with them
into the sea 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 Captain Elmer Mayo,
of another stranded barge. the John
C. Fitzpatrick, was rescued from the
bottom of the upturned lifeboat.
Among the lost was William H.
Mack of Cleveland, who was on the
barge representing his company, the
Boutelle Towing and Transportation
company of that city, while Captain
Marshall N. Eldredge, one Of the old
est lifesaver, of the coast, went down
with his men. All the lifesavers came
from Chatham and Harwich. The
names Of those lost are:
Lifesavers: Marshall N. Eldredge,
Edgar Small. Elijah Kendrick, Osborn
Chase, Arthur Rogers, Isaac Thomas
Foye, Valentine Nickerson. From
the barge: William H. Mack, Captain
Christian Olsen, Robert Molenaux.
Walter A. Sevedge, Manuel Enos.
The scene of the accident was in
the well known tide rips of Monomoy
Point. Last Thursday the barges
Wadena and John C. Fitzpatrick. on
the way to Boston with cargoes of
coal. stranded on the Shovelful shoal.
about three-quarters of mile off
Monomoy Point. Since then every ef-
fort has been made to float the barges.
Sunday night the tug Peter c. Smith,
which has been lying beside the
barges. ran alongside the Wadena and
told those on board that storm was
coming on. All the wreckers were
taken on board the tug with the ex-
ception of the five men who met their
fate Mr. Mack. who had come On
from Cleveland, refused to leave.
Yesterday Captain Eldredge, who
had been watching the barges, sighted
signals of distress on the Wadena. He
got out his crew and surfboat. The
wind was blowing nearly a gale. Cap
tain Eldredge steered the lifebcat un-
der the lee OF the Wadena and one
after another the five men. dropped
into the boat With the wind astern.
it seemed comparatively easy to gain
the smooth waters behind the point.
The seas were tossing AID turning
in the rips and Captain Eldredge was
constantly 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. AS she did SO
tremendous sea caught her over the
stern, and she went over. throwing
all the men into the water. Being
used to the sea all the lifesavers
clung to the boat and managed to pull
the Wadena men along with them.
An attempt was made to right the
boat, but the lifesavers only managed to
get her partially cleared. They had
some hope. however, of reaching land,
until another wave again capsized the
boat Mr.. Mack was the first to sue
cumb. and one by one the others
dropped away until there were only
four left and these climbed on the
bottom of the overturned boat. All
were fearfully exhausted. The four
men drifted down in the direction OF
the Fitzpatrick, where Captain Mayo
of that boat caught sight of them.
With much daring he dropped dory
overheard. then jumping into It,.
started after the exhausted men. Be-
fore he reached the lifeboat three of
the men had fallen into the sea. Ellis
managed to hold on and caught the
rope which Captain Mayo threw to
him. He was dragged aboard and
then Captain Mayo. being an expert
surfman. pulled around the point into
the smooth water and landed the only
survivor of the 13 who started from
the barge. Two men still remain on
board the barge Fitzpatrick, but the
storm has sabsided and they are in
I little danger.
FNcTOM STRIKE ENTIRELY OVER,