Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-22
Of Unknown Vessel Off
Coast Of Nova Scotia.
Strikes Rock and Boilers Blow
up..-Fourth Disaster This Week,

Halifax, Nov. 21.-Disaster follows
disaster in quick succession on the sea.
The violent storm which swept the
coast of Nova Scotia the latter part Of
last week has apparently claimed an
other victim. A two-masted steamer
is thought to have gone to the bot
tom, Thursday afternoon, off Beaver
Harbor on the east coast, SO miles from
Halifax. Her identity has not been
established and SO far as can be ascer-
tanned not man Of her crew survived
to tell the tale. News of the disaster,
which is one Of the strangest in the
shipping history of the province, was
brought to Halifax, tonight by the
steamer Kilkeel, commanded by Capt
Allan, from Port Hastings, c. B., with
4 cargo of coal.
The Kilkeel, Thursday morning. ran
into a gale which kicked up so vicious
sea that Capt. Allan decided to run
for shelter. Heading into Beaver Har-
Dor at 10 O'Clock, he observed behind
him another steamer with two masts
and heavily laden approaching. appar-
emily also seeking shelter. The gale
was then blowing at a terrific rate, and
the seas were breaking heavily on the
numerous shoals which stud that bleak
coast. When the Kilkeel reached the
haven the unknown steamer passed
west of Horse island, near the harbor
entrance. which hid her hull. Suddenly
q great cloud Of smoke or steam shot
upward and when it cleared away the
masts Of the incoming steamer had
vanished
The officers on the Kilkeel who had
been watching the approaching steamer
are positive that she went to the bot
tom, and equally as positive that no
boat could live in the sea which pre-
vailed. They believe that she ran too
far west and struck rock and as she
foun6ered her boilers exploded. Moth
ing could be ascertained to establish
her identity. 1t is improbable that any
of the crew escaped.
Off Ship Harbor so miles east of
Halifax, a large schooner bottom I'D
was passed. Saturday morning, maxi
ing the fourth wreck reported on the
Nova Scotia coast in two days. Not
in recent years has such a number of
marine disasters and it is feared large
loss Of life been reported in Nova SEQ
tia waters. Three vessels have gone
down ard so far not a survivor has
been found.
The story Of the Beaver Harbor
wreck as told by Capt. Allan is as fol-
lows:
The Kilkeel left Port Hastings at 10
P. NJ, Wednesday. with cargo of
coal. and at 8 o'clock next morning. it
was blowing stiff gale with heavy
sea. BY that time Capt. Allan judged
they We're in the vicinity of Beaver
HaTbor and az his ship was laboring
heavily in the sea and in danger of
laundering, he decided to head in for
the land and get into Beaver Harbor.
At 10 A. NJ. as he was on his way in,
another steamer was observed about
three miles off, also making in appar-
emily for shelter. The first officer of
the kilkeel observed to the captain:
I'VE are going to have company.
there's another ship coming in
The unknown ship was then just off
the Beaver Island light, and looked
like large steamer The gale was
then at it's height and the numerous
shoals in the vicinity were breaking
heavily.
After the Kilkeel got into the harbor
and in shelter, the masts of the other