Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-08-14
MYRONUS SUNK.
r1IswoRTH SCHOONER RUN
nowN IN LONG ISL AND SOUND.
yora OF CREW NONE
vNowN HERE--cAPr. WELLINGTON
g. sELLArrY AND ONE NAN
SAVED.

G, BELLATTY AND ONE NAN
SAVED.
The Ellsworth schooner Myronus, Capt
wellington c. BelIatty, was run down by
tho steamer Tennessee in Long Island
sonnd at dayii ght Monday morning.
The mate, Austin Riley, the cook,
George smythe, and two seamen, names
unknown, were drowned. Capt. Bellatty
and one seaman, Henry Lundgren, were
saved. None Of the men drowned is
known here, and 1t is not known Where
they lived.
The accident happened at break Of day
in the middle Of the sound near
Eatons Neck. There was light fog, and
not more than onc-knot breeze.
The Myronus was bound from Hall
ouarry for New York with granite. The
tennessee, one Of the Joy line steamers,
but running temporarily on the Neptune
line, was bound for New York with 100
passengers.
THE STEAMER AT FAULT.
Capt. Beilatty II quoted in press des
matches from New York - saying: 1.-THE
collision was entirely the fault Of the
helmsman on the Tennessee. The
schooner he said. "was barely making
progress before . onc-knot breeze, lacking
across the course OF the Tennessee and
bound in the same direction. Both my
side lights were burning brightly. That
the man at the wheel saw me am posi-
tive, for he altered his course. But he
shifted his helm to the wrong side and
bore down upon me under half speed
was on deck with one Of my crew. Two
seamen, the cook and the mate were
below. barely had time to shout .
warning to them down the hatchway and
leap into the rigging.
"The steamer struck us abaft the port
beam and cut through the deck % II she
were blowing chunk Of cheese. Just ~
she struck saw the mate, Austin Riley,
climbing to the rigging. He was above
me in the mizzensheets when we began to
sink. / did not see anything Of the cook
and the other two mem who were
drowned"
The schooner sank in . few minutes.
Capt Bellatty, and the man who was on
deck with him at the time Of the accident,
were picked up by the Tennessee. Two
passengers on the steamer jumped into
the water and assisted in the rescue OF
Capt. Bellatty.
The Tennessee, herself only slightly
damaged, lay by while . search was
made for the missing sailors. The
Tennessee was then anchored.
The steamer Maine, for New York,
responded to her signals OF distress, and,
going alongside the Tennessee, took of
the passengers and brought them 10 New
York. The sea was SO smooth that the
two vessels lay side by side while the
passengers walked from one boat to the
other on gang planks.
Most of the steamers passengers were
asleep when the crash and jar Of the
collision awoke them, and almost q panic
reigned for some time.
THE LOST VESSEL.
The Myronus is one OF the oldest OF the
Ellsworth fleet, and the statement was
made Monday by those in position to
know, that she had been the best paying
vessel ever owned in Ellsworth. She was
built here in 1855, and has been owned
here ever since. Capt. Joseph NJ. Higgins,
who for many years sailed the vessel, is
the largest individual owner, and agent
for the vessel. Other owners here are
Capt. NJ. d. Chatto, OF East Surry, also an
ex-eaptain of the Myronus, Mrs. Lorenzo
Jordan, Samuel j. Morrison and the Dyer
p. Jordan estate. The Myronus was o..
PA tons net. There was no insurance on
the vessel.
The Myronus sailed from Hail Quarry
Aug 8, with $50 tons Of cut stone from the
Arthur McMuliin Co., for the new Man
haitian bridge, New York. The cargo was
insured for 5000, and the captains
freight was also insured.
In a letter from Capt. Bellatty received
by Capt. Higgins to-day, he attributes the
accident to the fact that the man at the
wheel OF the steamer got ratified. When
ne hrst saw the steamer she was follow
ing course which would take her clear
on the schooners bow. The schooner
barely had steerage way. Suddenly the
steamer shifted her course, and bore di-
iec'iy down upon the schooner. striking
her between the main and mizzen rigging,
ana cutting through nearly to the oppo-
site rail.
capt Bellatty says he had good horn,
ana the man on deck with him was work
ing 1t for all it was worth when the
steamer hove in sight.
.apt. Higgins left for New York to-day
10 look after the owners interests.