Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-15
BY A MIRACLE
Crew of Wrecked Bark
entine Emita Saved.
Taken Off While Facing Death,
by Steamer New York.
Cant. Reemie of Machias Tells
Thrilling Story.

Boston, edo. IA story of hardship
and mira cuIous escape from dedtn was
related by the crew of the New 1orh
barkentine Enita, who were brought TO
this port, this afternoon, byt the Clyue
Line steamer New York, which gal
lantly rescued them, last sunday 10
hours after they had been carrieu
adrift on a fragment of their vessel.
The Emita. which left Fernand1na,
Nee with a cargo of 100000 feet OF
nine lumber for Fall River, struck on
diamond Shoal, off Cape Hatteras, at
10 o'clock, last Saturday, during
heavy storm and was pounded to pieces
bv the furious seas, but although the
harkentine literally crumbled to pieces
beneath the feet of those on board, not
q life was lost The captain of the yes
sol was w. Z. Reemie of Machias, Me-,
and besides his craw of seven men, he
had his wife with him.
The voyage was without incident I'M
til last Saturday, when the weather APP
pard draining. At noon WIN in north
latitude "a degrees, 80 minutes. Capt.
Reemie decided to reduce sail ana
when this was done he ordered the yes
sci heade for the Diamond Shoal light
ship. The wind steadily increased from
the west northwest and in short time
more sail was taken in. A thick vapor
came over the water, followed by Occa-
sionaI.snow SQUALLS, which made it i'm
possible 20 see ahead of the bowsprit.
At $50 P. NJ, the lookout reported that
he made out the glimmer of a light, but
could not tell whether it was the ref1ec-
ton of one or two lights, as the mist
again settled. Capt. Reemie judged
that the light came from the lightship
on Diamond Shoal and he Immediately
ordered the foresail taken in in order to
haul by the wind.
Suddenly the barkentine struck bot
tom with a terrific shock and was
brought up hard and fast on what af-
forwards proved to be Diamond Shoal.
In few minutes the vessel swung
around and great waves came tum-
bling aboard, which threatened to
sweep all hands from the deck. The
deck load was torn from its moorings
and thousands of feet of lumber was
swept overheard.
The entire crew and the captains
wife found shelter in the forward
| house. A few minutes before Mrs.
Reemie was struck by huge wave
and carried to the cabin, but she es-
| capped injury.
| Within a quarter of an hour after the
vessel struck the .niz2enmast went
overheard and at the same time great
sea wrenched off the stern up to the
after hatch. Each huge billow as it
Numbered over the stranded craft lift
Cd her entirely clear of the bottom at
times and with each receding wave the
great gaps in the hull widened. Finally
the bow of the vessel began to go to
pieces and in a short time was torn
from the hull at the fore hatch.
| The main deck gradually went to
| pieces. The crew attempted to con-
struct a raft but the storm continued
and the task was undone. The forward
deckhouse remained attached to the
i main deck and when the sea swept it
| away the captain, his wife and crew
We're able To hold their positions. The
| wreCkage driftcd about 20 miles in a
southeasterly direction, and into the
path of the coast steamers.
At noon Sunday. the steward started
a fire which attracted the attention of
the steamer New York, bound from
Jacksonville Fla, and Charleston, S
c., for Boston. Chief Officer Googins of
the steamer was sent off in boat with
several members Of the crew. Although
the sea was still running high all the
castaways We're taken off safely.
When seen, this evening, in q local
| shipping office Capt. Reemie said:
II have been 80 years at sea and have
been captain for IA years and have
never been shipwrecked until the last
voyage. The weather was so thick that
it was impossible to see your hand be-
fore your face. The storm continued
until IL o'clock, Sunday. We had moth
ing to eat during the time we were
adrift except few beans which the
cook was able to save. We lost all our
effects and have had to get clothing
from the crew of the New York to
make a presentable appearance In fact
my wife is still on board the steamer
and will remain there until I provide
her with more clothing. The expert
ence was the first of the kind 1 ever
had and / DO not care to go through
such another"
Capt. Reemie said his crew were
mostly Germans. He expected to GO to
New York. tomorrow. to confer with
Swan & Sons, the owners of the bar
kentine.
The Emita was built at Harrington.
Me-, in 1883. Her tonnage was Az net
and 522. She was 143 feet long. 500 beam
and II feet in depth. The vessel and
cargo are insured.