Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-05-05
Capt Ackers, His Two Children,
Engineer and Steward
All Perish, in Spite Of the
Attempts to Save Them.
In Tow, With Two Other Barges, for
Providence With Coal.

Newport, X. l., May 4.-Ihe New
I.On'ion tug Gertrude put into Newport
lIarbnr today, and reported the loss of
The barge MoOnbeam off Point Judith.
last night. with all on board. The
barge which was being ,towed from HO-
hO!l:n. y. j.. to Providence. foundcred
during a gale and five persons. the
captain. engineer. steward and two
children of the captain, went down
with the vessel. Capt. G. w. Haly-
burton of the tOWhoat did not know the
names of those drowned. but a partial
list was furnished by the cOnsignees.
The dead are: Capt. Charles TAckers.
Providence.
- Ackers. 13-year-old daughter of
the commander of the Moonbeam.
Son of Capt. Ackers. seven years old.
Nelson w. Bowen. single. stewart.
Engineer of barge, name not yet OBJ
tainaDe.
The Gertrude had in tow the barGes
Moonbeam. Ariadn, and Snipe. in the
order named. All wcr" laden with hard
coal con:igne,i 10 the Eastern Coal Co..
of Providence.
Y"st Hrlay afternoon. n high south
westerly wind rapidly increased in
tlI'tll tNtIlNE. Ntltil IltdNN StI-
began TO wash over the tug and her
deep laden bargeS. At times all four
vessels were completely submerged by
the great seas. After dark when the tow
was off Point Judith on the southern
Rhode Island coast. those on the Ger
trude saw a torch flashed from the
decks Of the Moonbeam. Immediately by
a shrill blast from the targe's steam
whistle signalling for assistance.
In spite of the heavy seas Capt. Haly-
burton or:Iered the engine reversed and
dropping the tow put about and at
tempted to approach the NJ onbeam.
The MoOub"am was .olling and pitch
ing fcarfully and it was apparent t"
those OF the tug that the barge had
made considerable water. Seas CON
stantly made clean breach over the
vessel. Just before the tug reached the
disabled craft, tn" barge suddenly
careened. gave a final plunge and Moth
ing moro Of hor could be seen save a
few picces Of Hreckaga which had been
swept from the decks.
Can't. HalybErton remained in the vi
nees could find no trace Of the persons
WnO were OH t!ie fLc Stdleu IIlIl
when the Moonbcam went down, there
was not even time to launch the life
boats. When the captain saw that there
was no chance of picking UP anyone he
went after the Ariadn" end Snipe. The
other barges weathered tnn blow with
ont further serious difficulty and the
Gertrude was headed for Newport.
The vessels reached here today, and
can't. Halyburton made his declaration
,t thc custom house. He said that the
Noorheam had been steering badly for
sometime before the disaster and from
her behavior he was Of the opinion that
the water poured through the matches
when the seas swept over her decks
There had been evidently so little time
bctween the rush Of water into the hold
and the foundering Of the craft that
therc was no chance Cor thu men on the
hoat to assist the barge crew.
The Gertrude is owned by the Thames
Towboat Co. Of New london. The
N1oonbeam carried aO3 tons Of coal load
Cd at Hoboken. N. ]. The Moonbeam
vas huiit at Scarsport. Me-, in 1859 and
hailed from Providence. Her gross ton
rore was 675 and her net tonnage GAL.
sbe WAS 140 feet long. 81 feet breadth
,,d 20 feet deep. She had been in the
conl carrying traffic for a long time.
TIC barge and cargo were insured.
Cant. Ackers was well known in
Providence where he lived at one time.
He was a widower.
In his declaration. made at the Gus
tom house. Can't. Halyhurton stated
that the steering wheel of his tug was
ant of order for half an hour and that
10 was unable to navigate the boat
d,rne that time. Capt. Halyburton
s.o,es that the accident occurred while
- ,ros on his way to the Moonbeam.
NJ mat he doubts whether any of
.,.aso on the barge could have been
.nsc,ed had the mishap not occurred.