Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-27
IN COLLISION.
Two Schooners Meet Off
Port of Orleans.
The Harry L. Wilton Sunk and
Two of Crew Lost.
The Chas. Campbell Seriously Injured
Signals Misconstrued.

Orleans, Mass, April -C.-The three
masttd schooner Harry j.. Wilton OF
Boston. Captain Walter S. Mitchell.
was sunk and two Of her crew were lost
in collision with the four-masted
schooner Charles A. Campbell, Captain
l.. II. Pierce. seven miles eft this port,
during last night. The Campbell had
her jibboom and hcadscar carried away.
Capt. Mitchell his mate. L. l.. Mitchell,
two Of the crew and the captains wife
and infant child. were brought ashore
by the crew IF thu Orleans Life Say
t"S station. Mrs. Mitchell and the mat
were somewhat injured. The Wilton
was bound from South Amhoy for Bos-
ton, with coal. The Campbell. which
halls from Perth Amboy. was bound
from Salem for New York light. The
s"amen who were drowned were:
Michael Series Of South Calais. Me-;
}. Anderson of Nova Scotia.
The first news of disaster came
early today, when the Orleans life say
"rs sighted a four ma sted schooner W.
ing several miles off shore, with her
i'bhoom gone and boats plying between
III" vessel AMI a large piece Of wreck
ago. Captain Charles of the life saving
station at once put out with his crew
tn the scene. The weather was SO thick
that little could be learned from shore.
Wtcl: tho life savers returned. more
than two hours later. they brought wit,
them the survivors of the collision.
Capt. Mitchell gives the following ac-
connt of the accident
Whom we were off Marthas VINEYARD.
N"ate' day. we discovered that the
Wilton was leaking and we had to man
tie pumps. Between 10 and II o'clock.
last night. W. saw 4 sChooncr's lights
in the distance. but as she was far
away we gave all attention to tho
pumps. After q time we noticed the YES
scIs lights again. She was very near.
IhinKinG to clear her We changed our
course. but she struck us on the star
board bow. cutting US down. Two masts
went By the board and our vessel filed
RAPIDLY. She went down in ten min
utns."
when Capt. Mitchell saw that there
WIS no hope of saving his schooner he
cut away the long boat and hastily
threW lis wife and child into It. Mrs
Mitchell was badly bruised when she
struck the boat. Tho mate also was
somewhat injured when he jumped in
TO the long boat. The two men who
were lost Wore in their berths forward
When the collision occurred and they
went down with the vessel. The other
two members Of the crew. with the CAP
TAIN escaped with the remainder of the
party ir the long boat.
Tie Campbell. after rendering all the
assistance she could to the wrecked
scamen. sailed northward. intending 20
make FOR some nearby rort. as she was
leaking considerably in fdGition to th,
loss of her iibboom and headgear.
The life savers cared for the survivors
at the station and it was arranged tina;
they should so to their homes in Har
ringtcn. Me-, tomorrow.
The Harry L. Wilton registered 49,
tons net. was 1874 feet long. 81 feet in
breadth and Is feet in depth. She was
built at DuXbury in 1873. Her value is
not known. nut Capt. Mitchell who IS
4 part owner. stated that he believed
she carried no insurance.