Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-18
OUT OF COURSE.
Schooner Maggie Hurley Blown
in Opposite Direction.
Boists'ous Weather Sways Rock|aad
Craft Near Vineyard Haven.
Crew All Safe and Cargo Is Un-
injured.


the little schooner Maggie Hurley of
Rockland, Me-. was blown more than
200 miles in the opposite direction by
the boisterous weather Of last week.
But through the good seamanship of
her skipper, Capt. Huntley. she man.
aged to work up under the lee Of Block
Island and with the assistance of the
steamer Hector reached this port, to-
day, with only the loss OF few sails
and some deck fittings.
The experience Of the Maggie Hurley
| was fully as interesting as that of the
Scotia Queen. with the ice in Nantuck-
eli Sound. and. tonight. the schooners
are lying side by side ready for anoth-
| er battle with north Atlantic winter
| weather in their efforts to deliver their
| cargoes.
The Maggie Hurley started out from
Weymouth on the 4th instant. but was
| unable to leave Boston harbor, until
| four days later. She had a comfort
able trip until getting outside Thatch-
er's Island. Cape Ann. when the first
of the numerous northwesters struck
her. Within few hours she had lost
both her head sails and was forced to
turn tail to the storm and run before
IL W kecp lIOIIl III aQul-
| ton to her sails some of the deck rig
ging was carried away. but the great
| est loss was that of the pump gear,
| especially. as that night Captain
| Huntley discovered two and a half feet
| Of water in the hold.
| While the vessel was scudding along
| before the gale the crew managed to
rig a temporary pump and after some
hours cleared the vessel. About mid
night on the 10th. the gale moderated
but the interval of soft weather lasted
only few hours. for OH the morning of
the 18th it began to breeze up again.
| this time from the northeast. and soon
the vessel was once more laboring in a
heavy sea and still heading south, in a
direction opposite her course.
The next day the crew managed to
repair the mainsail and at daylight on
the 18th sighted the Nantucket Sound
Shoal lightship 40 miles off Nantucket
They were Only able to get within six
miles of the floating beacon: so that
no report could be sent ashore by
wireless biography.
After passing the lightship the wind
hauled to the northwest, but soon at
ter returned to the north northeast
and that afternoon great field Of ice
appeared to the north compelling the
vessel to run still further to the south
ward. All that night, the vessel was
blown along before the gale which was
considerable to the eastward of north
until at noon on the 14th, the south
east head of Block Island was sighted
II miles away. Then came the first
favorable shift. for the wind coming
out to the southeast enabled the little
vessel 10 get inside of Block Island and
within five miles of the Point Judith
breakwater.
With their provisions and wafer almost
sone. and oil for the lights exhausted
the crew was almost discouraged whey,
the southeastern failed them and their old
foe the Northwestern once more started
up leaving them no other alternative
than to run ont to sea again. Fortuna teIy
j the steamer Hector came in sight from
the westward. and in answer to signals
liz distress ran down alongsid" AMI Can
tain H,irtlav was advised to abandon the
shin. Put the hardy Yankee shipper after
going through six DAYS ct boistero'Is
weather with only the loss of few sails
was lofhe to give up his little vessel en-
tirelv to the mercy of the waves. so he
requested tow TO Vineyard Sound.
| 1t was a difficult task getting 4 hawSer
was made fast and the Hector started ur
for Vineyard Sound She had steamed
but a few hours when the sea increased
and Just as Gay Head light and smooth
water were sighted the hawser parted
But although darkness was coming or
: and d snow storm setting in. the caDtair
of tho Hector did not give up his charge
knowing that the Hurley had no lights
on board and that to search for her in the
thick snow that was falling would eN-
pose both vessels to the dangers Of col
lision he decided to anchor and await
the morning.
In addition TO losing the tow line the
Maggie Hurley had her wheel ropes car
red away about this time. but again Can
tain Huntlev'S good seamanShin came to
= his aid and he was able to lay to al
/ night and had rot been blown very far off
i Gay Head when the morning of the 18th
| dawned Once more the Hector sent a
/ hawser aboa I'd and this time was able to
i get inside VINEYARD Sound. and finally
anchored the schooner under the lee OF
/ Nobska light at o'clock. Monday after
i noon.
TIE Maggie Hurley lay there all day.
/ | yesterday. but being out of provisions
L p nd water the tug Eureka went over from
/ Vineyard Haven and brought her back to
/ this port.