Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-15
LIFE CRUSHED OUT.
CONTINUED from page ~

which the anchor was attached to the
chain gave way. The captain detected
the vessel was swinging instead OF
holding as she should, and put out the
other anchor, which seemed to have
fouled and did not hold.
Captain Lermond found his only hope
lay in putting on sail and trying to
claw off the shore. He got sail on all
the masts but the mizzenmast. He
thinks that If he had had time to get
sail on that mast also, he might have
succeeded in clearing the island.
The Washington 3. Thomas, of which
Capt. William ]. Lermond of Thomas
ton, is master. was due here. and it
was evident that the wreckage at Old
Orchard came from her. Capt. Ler-
mond formerly commanded the j. b.
Thomas, which accounts for the latter
name being in his trunk which was
cast up at Old Orchard. The gale
which ragged all night came from just
the quarter to send the wreckage from
the Cape shore into Old Orchard bay.
On board the Thomas with Capt. Ler-
mond were his wife, daughter and son.
The son, Bowdoin Lermond, 16 years of
age, was entered on the ships records
as cabin boy. The other members of
the crew, shipped from Portland two
weeks ago, are:
First mate-E. II. Tabbut of Addi-
son, Me-, aged 81.
Second mate-F. c. Clark of Thomas
ton, q.
Engineer-Charles Brown, age 49, a
native of Norway
Cook-W. A. Tabbut of Addison,
age %.
Apprentice-Rollin S. Tabbut of Ad
Olson, age II, son of the first mate
STANDARDIZATION Jess, age Al, of Fin
land; Andrew Anderson, Finland, 40;
Fred Watke, Australia &c; Karl War
ner, Germany, II; Frank Eklund, Fin
land, "a; II. Mellow, Germany, 80; Carl
Anderson, Finland, q.
Capt Lermond's home is in Thomas
ton, where his vessel was launched last
month. He has followed the sea con-
tinuously A years, and never before
lost q vessel
The Washington B. Thomas was the
largest craft ever launched from the
Thomaston yards. Her value was
about $4,000. Her frame was of best
Virginia oak, fastened with 1A-inch
iron and locust tree-nails. She had five
tiers of keelson, each 15x15 inches, and
three tiers of sister keelsOns of similar
dimensions. She had two full decks,
with poop deck taking the mainmast.
Her masts were whole sticks of Oregon
pine, each IFS feet long; topmasts 81
feet. Her planking was of yellow pine,
five inches thick, and ceiling of the
same material, 12x14 inches. All of her
standing rigging was of Roeblng
make. She carried four anchors, whose
total weight was 1860 pounds, and 2l0
fathoms of chain. She had three houses
and an octagonal wheelhouSe. She was
equipped with modern steam hosting
apparatus and pumps. Her full spread
of canvas was about $500 yards. She
was built by Washburn Bros, Thomas
ton.
The vessel is owned by various per-
sons in common. Mr.. Thomas. for
whom she is named, owns one-quarter,
1t is understood, and Capt. Lermond
one eighth. James Pierce of Boston,
and Washburn Bros, the builders, are
/ also part owners.
/ Capt. IermOnd lS Il natlVe OF IHoil-
aston and about 60 years old. He has
three children, including young son
of 16 and married daughter. who were
on board with him. With him on the
vessel was also his second wife,
young women whom he married, last
winter, after being a widower NUM-
Der of years. Like nearly all the men
of 1homaston. he has sailed the sea
since he was old enough to leave school,
and has invested his savings in buying
shares in vessels.
The vessel was named for Washing
ton B. Thomas, formerly OF Charles
town, now of Commonwealth avenue,
+ Boston, and Boston director of the
| American Sugar Refining Company. He
il Il son of the late Capt. Joseph -.
| Thomas of CharlestOWn, who bequeath-
| ed to him, as one of his sons. large
| fortune made in sugar long before the
| consolidation of interests in that bust
ness.