The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-13
YACHTS ARE
DRIVEN
ASHORE
Gale Causes Widespread Dam.
age to Big Fleet Of Plea
sure Craft.

Rhode Island Yacht club anchorage yes
terday has not been experienced for
long time. The wind, which was from
the southeast. having tremendous
sweep from the whole length OF the Bay
spread havoc and destruction through the
big yacht fleet at anchor When even
ing came there was about dozen craft
strewn along the beach from Still House
cove to Haywood's Point. They went up
on the top OF the highest tide which has
been seen here for many day, and driy-
en- by the full force of the powerful gale
were placed high and dry on the SANDS.
II will be difficult 10 get some OF them
without long and arduous labor, although
on last nights tide one or two were
fortunate enough 10 get out stern ancnors
and work of into comparatively deep Wa,
ter. Very fortunately the beach was OF
soft sand or mud fats, so that the cniei
damage done was In loss or ground
tackle or in chafed rigging.
When the blow began Steward Massard
and his assistant were on the alert;
knowing beyond a doubt that they would
soon have work 10 do, and Tor time
the former was kept busy letting out
more cable and putting out extra anchors
on some OF the smaller craft
1t was not long before there was a
heavy sea would
go. and then anchors would foul and and
they would start away as IL alive and go
flying among the anchored boats in a
manner that brought anxiety 10 the
anxious watchers ashore.
The sloop Wilful, owned by Charles
Stone. was anchored south OF the club
full tilt through the fleet. In an almost
miraculous manner IL went through the
maze of boats, skipping the strainins
breadth almost and travelling better than
human hands could steer her. Barcy
missing the yawl Companion. she fouled
the amona. which was In charge of Capt.
Albert salten. and carried away the foot
ropes and parted the cable on one of
that crafts anchors. Fortunately the
other held well and the Ramona rode all
into a mud bank at Bush Pasture.
Soon afterward Capt. Fred Woods
yawl Companion. by series OF mar
the fleet unscathngly and cradled herself
marsh.
Kenneth Knight and Fred Morse, parted
her mooring at the shackle and drifted
through the fleet, going ashore at Hay
WOODS Point, ns high hon on the beach.
and made an attempt to stay her pro-
gress but could find no anchor aboard
and had to give II up. Soon after he left
her deck the mainsail blew out of the
stops and was hoisted by the wind. max
ing her take the beach In fine style
when she did strike.
After riding the gale nearly out the
flagship Esperanza began TO drag her
mooring and went several hundred feet
before they caught again. No damage
resulted The mooring consisted OF two
big mushroom anchors attached 10 a 30
foot bride and there was about 100 feet
OF hawser yout. showing the force the
wind and sea exerted TO draw them from
the mud.
There was an exciting incident I'm the
afternoon when small sailboat was dis
covered drifting rapidly from the direc-
tion OF Nayatt. 1t was followed by
young man In a dory who had chased
It all the way and he reached II Just
as II struck the club house wharf. The
mast was carried away by the shock
and the boat swung under the bridge
and was secured In Still House cove
The sloop Faye Fox which belongs 10
Capt. Nap" Wilson was lying TO the
northeast of the club house and the
heavy seas started her seams and at
nightfail was nearly full OF water and was
sinking.
In the cove there was also lively
time. several small boats being stove and
sunk against the stone wall at the west
shore. A particular source OF danger
was the threatened demolition OF cabin
windows on the fleet OF launches by
swinging bowsprits and booms OF drift
ing boats.
Capt. Fuller's new launch Indus" was
threatened by the Emerald and Phyllis.
both Of which swung clear. however. and
went up the cove.
William Boutett's big sloop Mariner
drifted into the wall and only by prompt
work by Amasa Hawkins, John Nevill
and Earl Fuller. who put down planks
against the stones was the craft kept
from injury 1t was worked along the
wall In this manner and later anchored In
safety.
The catboat Lottie which was swing
ing at anchor we'll down the cove. got
adrift at the height OF the storm and
came into the stone wall with great force.
and was also caught by Mr.. Fuller and
his son.
All along shore the boatmen and friends
were kept at work in saving craft from
INJURY and II was only by great vigilance
that the damage list was as light as N is
At Edgewood also the big fleet OF pleas
ure boats on the open roadstead was n
tempting mark for the wind and when
the storm was over but scanty remnant
OF them remained unscathed.
The new catboat "fdler" which David
Stranger recently had built. went adrlft
and came with great force into the bridge
at the clubhouse. smashing the boom and
breaking the bridge railing and soaring
the crafts sides considerably
The 30-foot catboat Louise. owned by
Samuel Brown: Philip Gibbs yawl
Katherine" and Walter Woods Eliza
beth" all went against the wall al n. r.
Horizons residence and were damaged
considerably. although not beyond re-
pair
Stewart Louis West. assisted by the
Flint boys and other members OF the club.
were kept busy during the worst OF the
storm doing what they could 10 mitigate
the damage TO the various craft which
were placed In danger. They caught a
craft which had dr.fted through the feet
and dismasted Commodore Possner's Gag.
ship Grace Alice and raised ruction with
rigFings on several other boats, in time
20 prevent IL being smashed on the south
foaf stage.
Taken all together the feet is badly
shaken up and a great deal OF work will
have TO be done 10 get the crafts back
into condition again for the coming races,
which are TO be held at the Rhode Island
and Edgewood clubs
The only yachtmen who are smiling arc
lhe ones who had moorings big enough