Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-13
BY Sinking Of Boothbay
Schooner Friday.
The Natalie B. NiCkerson Ram
med by Sim. Romantic.
Fifteen Men Escape-.Two Of Lost
Were Maine Men.

New York, July 12-Three victims
were added TO the long death roll of
New England fishermen who have lost
their lives in wrecks caused bv COLI
siOns with ocean steamships in the
thick fogs off the Massachusetts coast
when early today the White Star Line
steamer Romanic from Boston to New
York ran down and sank the two
masted auxiliary fishing schooner Ma
talie Il. Nickcrsnn of Boothbay, Me, IN
a blanketins fog off the Nantucket
1ightship. and while most OF tn"
schooncr's crew Of IS men We're sleep
ing below decks.
Three fishermen We're still missing
when the Romantic steamed away after
n two-hpurS' search. Fifteen fishermen
We're picked mp from the wrcckage by
the Romantics boats and brought to
this city. Til" last man picked up was
Bert Wvlic. Il one-armsd fisherman
from Maine. vino was found cljnginG To
a piece Of wreckagc and shouting luS-
tily for help.
cartain Headncll Of the Romanic
says that his ship was Stcaming slow
~ ar1 when the flare of the Nickcr-
sons light showed through the fog the
Romantic was not under sufficient way
to Vcer off before the crash came.
Within one minute after the sharp
steel bow pierced the little fisherman
the Nicltorspn sank in y fathoms of
water
Th" thrc" missing fishermen believed
to be drowned ar: VIM. Winchester.
It'll. 4 ,,,,I
E;wcH Gr"nnlaaf. two brothers, both
from Maine.
The smart schooner Natalie Nicker-
son sailr'i from Newport Il. T., on the
evening of July 9 for tn" Nantucket
shoals under the command OF CAPT.
John Scavey and with Il crew of Il
men. all of whom. with the exception
of Winchester We're from New Eng
land. \ water spaniel called spot
Scavy" was not on the schruncr'S list
but was Il pet of :hc crew. The FISHING,
was good and yesterday when the
weather began to set in thick. Capt.
Scavcr and his men were in hgn Spir-
its over the good latch
TIL" k"manic. under the command Of
capt. R"adn"lI, left Boston for this
voyage from Italy. to make a special
trip out of New York. off the High
land light an "aSttrly wind blew in Il
nasty mist and Whrn the big steamer
ncarcd the Nantucket shoals It heavy
fog bank shat in. and Capt. EcldnclI.
realizing The great danger Of running
down the fleet If fishermen reduced the
speed Of the ship.
About midnight" said Capt. Bead
nell. Il was on the bridge of the Rn-
manic. From the time she left Boston
until she reached here late this after
noon. We could hear the fog horns here
and thrr" on the air and from the
sounds could pick ont the location u
the many fishing schuoncrs. The Eo-
manic's Wiiistl" vas blowing continue
ally. for tn" fog was very thick and We
were barely moving along for fear Of
STRIKING Il vessel | heard the Nirkrr-
sons horn hut once. when suddenly
out of tn" fog | saw the loom of her
light. Orders W"r" given to throw the
wheel over. but the snip was hardly
under WAY and brf"r" we could yp,r
hH the Nickcrs"n was struck. We
chinE to the spot whore the :l:rdcni
occurred for over two hours searching
Tor tn" tire" missing men but we were,
unable Ia find them"
Fifteen Of the NickcrSon'S crew wore
asleep below when the two men ON
watch saw the big Romantic bearing
down upon them. Quickly they ran be-
low 10 rous" the sleeping fishermen.
hut before the men could tumble ont
or their hunks the Rumanir crashed
INTO tn" after quarter of the Nickcrson
which was moving lazily along with
foresail and maiusail set The crew
half dressed rushed to the deck. now
Crumhling - pieces from the impact
ana managed Ia get overheard and
into 4 dnry which had been carried on
deck.
Hardly had the dorv been put over
board when the Nicllersun sank ami
several Of the crew were drawn down
beneath the waters by the suction. a
few managed to reach the dory. while
Others seized bits of floating wreckagc.
Capt. Readhell gave orders to stop the
Re manic and boats were quickly low
cred. one by one the fiShcrm,n who
could be located were picked up and
"Spnt Seavy." who had swum after
Capt. Seavy. was taken into the ,lrrv.
Capt. Scavy broke down from shock
and was slightly dclirious tonight The
to Boston tomorrow.
The Natalie NickerSnn was 4 vessel
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