Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-23
SIX DROWNED
Schooner Benjamin C. Crom-
we'll a Total Wreck.
Only Two Of Grew Escape to Shore
at 8e||port, RI.
Schooner Olive T. Whittier Also Lost
All Hands Saved.

New York, Feb. 22.-DurinC a dense
fog, two vessels Went ashore, today,
one near Be.lpOrt, l.. l., and the other
near Long Beach. N. j. The former
was the benjamin c. Cromwell, a Port
land, Nc, schooner. from Charleston,
:. c., for Halifax, with pine.
Six men, including the caDta;n and
mate, We're lost from the Cromwell
Two men OF the eight acme ashore on
pieces of Treckage and We're taken to
l;eliport life saving station exhausted.
The men saved We're Sam Olsen and
Neil Mcleod. The lost were Capt. Nc
Clean, Mate John MCCrmber. JOS. Por-
Ter engineer a. Lenorin, George Phil
lips and James Hall, the colOred cook.
ether life saving crews than from
Eellport, from Oak Point and Jones IN
let made six attempts to launch boats.
one boat got through the surf. but was
unable to get TO the outer bar, where.
trh Cromwell was lying. At least four
lines We're shot over the wrecked ship,
but the lines were of no avail and the
brecchcs buoy could not be used.
The schooner that went ashore at
Long Beach. n. J.. was the Oliver 4.
Whittier. Capt. Whittier of Portland.
Nc. lumber laden. bound for New
York. The crew of seven men on
board the Whittier We're safely landed
after 10 hours of hard work by the
Beach Haven life saving crew.
The lifn saving crews on both the
Now Jersey ana Long Island coasts
had feared some disaster when the fog
settled down and additional watchers
had been sent out so that attempts to
save the lives of the shpwrecled crews
were early under way.
Cronin" through the fog Can't. Nc
Lean Of the Cromwell. was taking al
prccaution possible when his vessel
went hard aground, the crush weaken
ing The masts 50 that they fell within
few hours ana the vessel began to
bronx up.
AS the fog lifted at intervals men
couli 10 seen lying to the rigging, but
the high seas beat over them and ii
nally the mate. benumbed with cold.
lost his hold and was drowned. One
of the sailors was washed off, but
%f'a:ring Il piece OF wrcckage, he man
a-,cu to reach the shore and was taken
10 the i;cliport life saving station
where he Was received.
Eepcatcd attempts of the life savers
to reach the wreck We're unsuccessful
1nd close watch was kept for any of
tn" crow who might come ashore.
The 3-masted schooner which went
ashore near Long Beach. N. j.. began
to break UP almost ut once under the
blows OF the breakers. The fog and the
heavy seas made the work of the life
savers very difficult but repeated az
tcmpts were made to rescue the crew
of the doomed vcs:cl.
Attempts to launch the life boats
proved unsuccessful. Time after time
HE lif,. savers dashed into the waves
with thci,' bnatG. but each time they
were hurled bach to the beach.
Then the guns We're trained on the
wreck, but as the fog closed in more
thickiy. hiding the vessel from view
However, the life savers. having the
direction. shot the line at the hull
Several Other lines We're discharged
within the next half hour, but with
Ws,Ht effect is rot yet known.
Several pieces Of wreck are floating
ashore, which leads to the fear that
the vessel IS breaking up.