Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-16
Of Almost Sinking Schr.
James Parker.
Captain Tied to Wheel His Wife
and Grew Benunbed.
All Helpless When Landed at
Newport by Rescuers.

Newport, r. L., Nov. 15.-With her
ensign flying union down, with Mrs.
William F. Davis, the captains wife,
and two members of a benumbed crew
dashed to the deck house, and with
Captain Davis tied to the wheel in wa
ter that continually broke over him,
trying to keep the craft headon to the
seas. the Fall River schooner James
Parker, from Bangor, Me-, from Port
Chester, n. Y, was picked up in leak
ing condition off Brenton's reef, today,
by the tug Solicitor and the United
States torpedo boat Dahlgren. Mrs.
Davis, with the two members of the
crew, Charles Lewis and Manuel Fer
nando, were taken from their precari-
Gus position by the launch Columbia
which accompanied the Dahlgren to the
scene They We're in a pitiful condition
from their long exposure to the VIM
try seas and gale, and required medical
aid rs soon as they were safely land
ed at Newport.
Captain Davis stood heroicly at his
post and with the skillful seamanship
of Captain John O'Neil of the Solicitor,
who, standing well aft on his tug di-
rected the steering of Captain Davis
with motions of his hand, brought the
Parker into Newport harbor, where she
was beached on the flats barely in time
to save her from sinking in deep wa
ter. When his lashings were cut away
Capt. Davis collapsed and was brought
to shore in an almost helpless condi-
ton.
The Parker with 12l 900 feet of lum-
nar hnnn1 from, Ronpnr for Ort
Chester. N. Y, when she encountered
a heavy southeast gale about two
miles south of Brenton's Reef lightship.
There was a heavy sea running, and
nearly every wave swept the schoon-
er's decks. One huge sea smashed into
the cabin, sweeping out Mrs. Davis.
who was prevented from being carried
overheard only by grasping the casing
of the door. The pumps were manned
but could make little progress in keep
ing down the water in the hold and
they soon broke down.
When the schooner began to settle
Capt. Davis ordered Lewis and Fer
nando to secure his wife and them
selves to the deck house after setting
signal of distress. Then tying him
self to the wheel, he tried to keep the
schooner under way until help should
reach him.
The distress signals were seen by
lookout at Prices Neck Life Saving
station, who got into immediate COM
municatiOn with Capt. ONeil of the
tug Solicitor, which was nearby. Word
was also sent to Commander Albert
Gleaves at the torpedo station, who at
once ordered the torpedo boat Dahl
gren to the scene. The Solicitor and
Dahlgren reached the sinking schCon-
er at about the same time. A boat was
at once sent from the Dahlgren to the
Parker, and Mrs. Davis taken off with
Lewis and Fernando. Meanwhile line
was taken from the Solicitor to the
schooner and she was towed into New
port harbor.
Capt. Davis refused to leave his ship,
although he was numbed by the cold
and bruised by the battering he re-
ceived from the seas, and the Dahlgren
followed closely behind ready to dash
| in and rescue him if the schooner broke
| from her tow or showed signs of GO
| ing down suddenly. However, with
close reefed jib and mainsail set and
| with skillful maneuvering, she was
safely beached in this harbor. after be-
| ing awash in the seas for over three
hours.
The James Parker was built in 1886
at Perth AmbOy, and her home port
was Fall River. Her gross tonnage was
11656, and her net, 1l1.26. She was "a
fet long % feet beam and had depth
of ~ feet She was uninsured, but her
cargo was fully covered.