The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-09
Exciting Experiences Of Guard
ians Of Local Oyster Beds.
ICEFLOE DRAGGED THE ANCHORS
With LssN Boat From Contact with leo
Capt. Nsxcumb Of Rocky Point Finally
Was Picked Up.

During the storm that swept the
waters Of the bay last week there were
two men tossed by the winds and the
waves whose blood Will thrill at the mem
oriss of the experience obtained then ana
in whose memories there VIII linger for
many day the facts Of the struggle
and tho seeming hopelessness OF the task
Of reaching land.
On the oyster beds OF the bay there
are employed by several interested COM
oanies men 10 watch over the oyster dis
tr,cts and two OF them were caught In
the storm OF last week. Capt. Richard
E Newcomo Is employed by the Nara
xansett Bay oyster co. 10 watch over
its beds at Rocky Poinr, and in the gale
on wednesday evening his boat broke
iron, IT'S moorings In an ice foe ana was
from Nhen on at the mercy Of the wind
and waves, being but houseboat For
three DAYS the boat was missing and
was found yesterday riding at ease just
of Kingston.
While Capt Newcomb was having his
troubles another man employed in the
ssme manner by the r. G. Rowe Co. Of
New Haven was arbitratng with the
storm fsnd also.
DRAGGED RIG STONE
Can't Newcomb when seen as 10 his
trip. stated that: 'In my Is years on the
water my trip this time was the most
terrible experienced. My boat is 30 feet
long, with a cabin I'm her rs feet wide
ard 6 feet high ffas4siHf- her about -As
comfortable as a. houseboat
last Wednesday my craft was an
ohored directly of Rocky Point. had
IN fathoms Of chain out and to the end
of that was hitched 1600-pound rock.
which served me as an anchor
'No wind has yet been strong enough
10 move the craft with that anchor out.
II was along In the early evening, while
the wind was blowing a gale, that sud
denly could SEQ the ice foe coming down
on me- II reached my boat and carried
her out 10 the end OF ths anchor shain.
She held against the ice for a time. when
suddenly felt -my-craft -heins carried
southwark. Mind you. the ice was drag
ging my stone anchor and chain along
with it
Il was tossed about during the night.
but was abba 10 keep warm in my cabin.
where have a little stove and plenty Of
provisions and tobacco. At s o'clock on
Thursday morning I was just halfway
between Patience Island and Warwick
Neck Light, and about one-ouarter OF
mile away was Hallett in his boat in
just the same predicament as myself
fast IN the ice. l waved my hat 20 him
and he responded lie had lost his an
Chor.
'iThursday night the ice was closely
packed about my boat and i was then
on Hope Island. Up to this time | had
not experienced any great trouble 20
speak OF, but Friday the wind began TO
freshen and by night IL was blowing
something terrible. about so miles an hour.
from the southeast.
BOAT LEAKED ALSO.
''At 7:2o on that evening the ice. which
had previous been about my boat like
a case. suddenly left me and nv rock
anchor held me fast just of Kingston.
but my craft sprung leak and had 20
bail
when daylight came on Saturday
morning the wind shifted. coming OF
land. With IL came a thick fog, though
the waves were not so high. AS the dav
progressed tt was quite comforta ble
aboard. and Saturday night was all right
About o clock yesterday morning. as 7
happened 10 look out OF my cabin window.
j saw the Richard w. Lowe. one of the
steamers OF the Narragansett Bay Oyster
company, coming down the river toward
me. She was In charge OF Captain Fred
Htiminston and he took my boat IN tow
and brought her hack 10 Providence.