New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-25
STRANGE SHIP DISASTERS
Retired Shipmasters Recall Remark
able Incidents.

The queer accidents and disasters that have nap
pened TO Maine vessels would al volume. and
ma ny 81 the stories would he believed 10y lands
men Two old retired shipmasters were talking In
q Bangor ship chandler, tho other day about pecc-
lar disasters and one 81 them recalled the
mysterious wreckins wears ago Of little schooner
called the Active down in Eggemoggin Reach east
ern coast waters OF Maine.
n was in the fell " the year. and tho Active
going through rather narrow channel be
tween two islands She carried only two men-the
master Captain Ray. and his siNteen-year-old SON
when last seen under sail the Active was all right
the boy steering and his father below-tak'ns
nan as afterVard turned out. Next CAV 'ne
Activ. found high and dry on the rocks WIN
her stern in. the master drowned IN ms 'o'lH
snS the boy dead ~ the wheel With bullet h"ie
ir his head THIS discovery caused great scnsa-
zion and as there appeared 10 he no motiV" io'
snv one 10 murder the hoy. and as II was Known
that tho shot must have been fred 10y third per
son the whole affair mystery. AND remained
thus for wears. when man living In another S'a'e
confessed on his sthbed that il Was he VINO nr'a
fbe shot that killed che helmsman OF tho A'uNe-
The man said that he had nred AT a hawk. "h''h
was circlins low. and did not SEE the schooner
which suddenly came into range owing to an IN
ferverine cl1mp of bushes Then he was norrtled
20 see the boy tho schooners wheel 'hro" "p
his hands and fan 10 The deck. while the schooner
breaches to and driven ashore by the VIM
and ti6e The gunner. who was after guns ana
ducks fed without waiting investigate the result
Of his unfortunate shot fearing that II he reported
ne matter 10 tho authorities he might although
innocent Of any criminal intent. be imprisoned
There are on record instances OF vessels having
been wrecked or run down by reason OF 'heiF
feirnsrnen being asleep insane. and one Maine
schooner was cut down by steamer because inc
man at the wheel deaf and could not near t'e
steamers whistle signals. The Rockpori hTiB
Maria w Norwood had a narrow escape from col
lision some wears ago. OF the coast OF Georgia
under strange circumstances. The brig was run
ming along under easy sail one MOONLIGHT night
and a steamer coming up asiern- Mhen me
steamer got too close for comfort torch wds
burned over the brig's stern. but the man At ne
steamers wheel paid no attention TO IT. hoiclns
IN his course which would take him right through
Tho brig Finally a great shouting Icy the brig
people and The firing Of Q gun. awoke the steam
or's Wheelman. and he put her helm haro GOV"
fllSt in time 10 escape crash.
When The steamer had come close up il was
observed that the steering was hanging over
the wheel though half asleep Mhen asked
why ne did not keep OF, he growled;
what do you want? All the room there is!
Here you've been waving all around for an hour.
End me trying 10 dodge YOU"
Then the briggs people knew that he nad beer
asleep. IT was found that the wheelman was not
me only man asleep the steamer Most OF her
people had been taken down with the fever ana
the others from standing double watches, had
become out from loss OF sleep.
When the three masted schooner Edward H.
Blake Of Bangor was brand she was run
that have never been explained. The Blake was
bound from Bangor 10 New-fork with ice ana
was of Monhegan Island. in broad daylight WIN
the weather clear. when along came the OiTette'
then the fastest steamer in Eastern waters anu
chopped her stern of neatly as II it had been
done with an axe. The Blake's crew left her ana
she captain came 10 Bangor. hired tug ana went
looking for the wreck Of his vessel She was FOUND
drifting her beam ends. with part OF her ca'eo
washed out at the open stern. She was towed up
.s,a river and beached and a bulkhead was put in,
after which she towcd TO Bangor and hauled
out on The railway. where a new stern was built
on her. The steamers owners paid for the dam
age hut no one has ever been able 10 explain nov
,ho Ovette came 10 run the Edward H.
Flake in broad daylight. The schooner Is sun
aNoat and i'm first rate condition
ois sailors say that the collision between the
schooner Hannah =. Carleton and one OF the Bos-
ton and Savannah steamers. off Cape Cod. was the
sf-anges. disaster OF the kind that ever happened,
and tley doubt if another such Will occur.
The Carleton. q tTo masted schooner OF lS9 tons.
shen mailing from Jpnesport. Ne. was passing in
hv Cape Cod clear moonlight night. coal
laden for Boston and Captain Falkingham
she quarterback. A steamer Ias observed coming
I'D sstern but attention paid TO her Al first.
everything being perfectly clear for miles around
Captain Falkingham looked astern every little
while and presently became nervous. for the
steamer was coming right for the schooner. and
without altering her would hit the Carleton
iair I'm the stern in a few minutes.
tain Falkingham began to shout at her people.
telling them TO keep away. The men in the steam
er's pilot house were plainly visible, also
the bow lookout, but they seemed not TO see the
captain FaIkingharn's shouting awoke all hands
deck They an joined in the shouting but to no
purpose The steamer came on Ike a racehorse
end. swapping the mainmast of like pipestem
down with fearful thunp on deck The sJSmp
% she mast stove hole IN the deck. and there the
= ck an I. nd T.
ening 10 .all 81 any minute. as the rigging
The crew, Of the Carleton made a rush for the
boat az The stern dayits but captain Falking ham,
az and chopped hole in the boat. SO thai she
would not float That stopped the desertion, and
The men turned 10 and helped TO up the hole
iH the deck FOR the making over her, and
she would soon nave filed with such gap open.
he steamer came close up. after backing away,
and asked q assistance Was wanted. and Captain
ealkinghsm said he would Ike TO be lowed into
paid the damage. and Boston the Carleton
oie IN her ds5R patched Had iRe Steiner s sfrd i
her in any other place. the schooner would have
million wears" declare the old salts
rolypoly steamer Charles TIoushton that used 10
rGn IN Maine waters. One "Trip, coming from
Portland TO Bangor. the FEoughtor became lost IN
the fog. and her master was trying TO feel his
way into Boothbay Harbor. After Wondering
everybody had the earache the people i'm the
steamers pilot house caught the sound OF voices.
doomed a big lobster boat. and the Of the
steamer haileo the fishermen.
he, ne scat! Can you give me the course
a loud gursw vas tho only response. and the
ashermen fairly reared with pertinent. while 'he
Tes,er 81 ne steamer NAG a though swore large
NO We amt crazy. oapn. responded the lob
Well how about the course into Roothbav?''
-rhe master of the smack cuietod another b,,s.
- laughter. and replied. with sggrsvatng delbera-
wal yew jost sum them wheels o. ,our
steamboat over oIcei or t"1oet asin an yew'll hit