Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-09
WEATHERED SAXON GALE
Of Schooner N. Jone. O.
Incident Of 1869.

Mhchias, Me-, Feb. S.-The rsr,-.
concerning the loss OF the schoono- :.
Jones, as recorded among the reesn,
marine mishaps, was read with Comet,
cradle interest at Machias. whero a..
vessel was formerly one OF the ia.
that sailed from this port.
By some Of the older seafariny ~.
pie it is recelled that the N. Jones NO..
one OF the very few Machias coas,,as
vessels that were out in the great eals
Of October. 1869. known as the sarnu
gale. At that ine the vessel was Gov.
Inanded by Capt. G. J. Ingalls,. nor =.
Marshfield. She had loaded at Pou,o,
and was on her way to Machias. WIG,
she was overtaken in the vicinity =,
Mt. Desert rock by the gale which is
recalled as one of the most severe tba.
ever visited this coast.
AS night came on and the wind com.
menced to blow with increased fury /,
was found necessary to shape Ia,
course with the direction of the wind
as no vessel of her size could hone 70
keep her course under such circum.
stances. Beside a captain and mate
the crew was made up of two BOYS
both SO inexperienced that when tho
vessel commenced to heave about in
wild manner they We're Obliged IN
seek their hunks below, as both wera
soon overcome by seasickness. This
left but two men to handle the Vessel
which was running under double reef.
ed sails.
AS she was dashing along through
the water i'll her mad race With thu
storm, it was discovered by those Oh
her decks that she was running clo.e
to Mt. Desert rock. Nothing. however
could be Gone to alter her course and
both men stood calmly at their posts
while the craft was running past one
end of the island, scarcely % yards
from the shore.
One of the great waves that came
rolling in upon the shore broke lust
i'll front of her jib boom. the next that
came as she was dashing madly pas,
the rocks. broke across her stern Only
4 comparatively small part OF its force
was received, but as a fragment OF the
wave came over her rail IL swept the
blocks from the tillar leaving the
wheel entirely useless.
With such grave conditions around
them ii was most critical moment Al
the time both men were on the quarter
and as the commander hastily hooked
the watch tackle to the end OF the III.
Ter his mate. with as much haste as
possible. refastened the wheel blocks 10
the end of the tiller. During the brief
time that this was being done. the craft
was successfully steered by means OF
the wotch tackle.
In few moments she had passed be.
yond the immediate danger of the
shore. but the conditions were hardy
less trying throughout the night. 9th
er emergencies confronted the men on
her deck. but m each case they were
able to meet them and at the break of
day they were confident that they were
winning the tight. When the owners Of
the vessel at<Machias learned that she
had left Boston they wired many of
the ports along the coast to see if any
thing could be learned of her where
abouts. But to every inquiry they re-
ceived the same reply. No one had
seen the n. Jones since she left Bos.
ton. This led to the gravest fears for
the safety of vessel and crew and no,
until she was seen sailing up the bay
was il learned that she had survived
the terrible gale.
I In connection with this incident Il IL
related that the schooner Senola Of
East Machias. :was in company with
fhe n. Jones udtil nightfaIl She sue
seeded in working several miles farther
up the coast, finally to be driven ashore
On Schoodic isiand.sAt the time she was
carried ashore il was high water and as
o monstrous wave struck her Just rs
she was nearing the shore she was car.
ried so far M on the land that she
never moved after the water OF the
wave receded. Her gib-boom had been
driven up into the woods that covered
part of the island and 1t was found nee
assary to go out upon the jib-boom and
With a rope descend to the ground. But
rs the shore seemed to afford no shell
Ter, and as the vessel was FIRMLY fixed
upon the beach the crew. after n short
exploration upon the shore, returned
md going below spent the night very
in their hunks.