Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-10
By Sinking Of Gloucester
Sch. Maggie and May
Run Down by German School
Ship Freya off Halifax.
-Four Survivors Picked Up by Freya
And Landed at Halifax,

Halifax, y. s., Aug. 9.-The Glouces-
ter, Mass. fishing schooner Maggie and
May. Capt. Erick McC athran, was run
down AMI sunk by the German school
ship Freya. Cape Mas, 60 miles south
east of Halifax at 40 Z. NJ Saturday
and Capt. McCathran and eight of the
crew of the fishing schooner were
drowned. At the time of the collision,
dense fog prevailed and the fishing
schooner quickly went to the bottom
The saved are: Leo Farm Bciloram,
Fortune Bay, n. F.; Silviar White.
Bedrock, n. S; John NJ Music Eel
brook, Yarmouth, N. s.; William Mu-
sic, Eelbrook. Yarmouth, ~ s.
The drowned: Capt. Erick McCath-
ran, Gloucester. Mass; Koch Vented,
Lunenburg. N. s.; Walter Finder. Cod
roy, N. f.. Patrick English, Concep-
ton Bay, N. F.; Reuben Porter, Eel
brook. Yarmouth, N. s.; Delon Porter,
Eclbrook, Yarmouth. N. s; Gustus,
Ludeler, Bedrock, Yarmouth. X. S.
The Maggie and May was under sail
creeping along when out of the mist
the lookout of the warship sighted the
vessels lights, looming up. The warship
was going about s knots at the time,
ard the course of the ship was altered
as quickly as possible, but collision
could not be avoided. With a fearful
crash, the big steel prov of the f~reya
crashed into the side of the fishing yes
sci. cutting her almost in two
a wild scene followed as the parts
of the schooner opened up and the in
rushing waters soon sent her to her
doom, Human beings, cut and bleeding
scrambled from their hunks only to
drop into the sea and be carried down
with their craft. 1t is believed that
many of the fishermen were instantly
killed in their hunks as few were seen
struggling in the waters after the col
lision.
AS the WarShip backed off from the
sinking craft. the ships boats were
launched and life lines We're thrown,
to those men who were in tho water.
The Freya's boats picked up three of
tim. while the fourth man clung t.
the life line and was hauled aboard
The ships searchlights were kept In
motion all the time, scanning the wa
ters in the vicinity of the scene of the
collision but only four men out of the 10
that conn rsed the crew of the Mag
gle and May were saved. There was
quite heavy sea running at tie time
and the work of rescue was attended
with the greatest difficulty
The majority of the schooners crew
were in their hunks and they did not
have the slightest chance for their
lives. Several of them did reach the
deck but before they could make any
PORT of safety the schooner careened
over. the masts fell and many OF them
were carried under the big sails and
met their deaths.
The German sailors worked heroical-
ly to rescue the men on the Inflated
craft and it was no fault OF theirs that
more vera not saved. The warShip
crGised around for several hours and
boats also searched the waters with
the hopes of reScuing some of the crew.
when it was thought might be ringing
to some of the floating wreckage. but
none were ever found. The Freya re-
manned in the vicinity Of the collision
and early this morning another search
of the ocean was made but no bodies
were found.
The WarShip was from Madeira for
Halifax and the first knowledge of the
hiSdSttT NdS W Iitll size Sltdillcu l1lto
the harbOr this evening and anchored
in the stream. As soon as she arrived.
the German consul was informed of the
disaster and he at once notified United
states Consul General Wilbur The four
survivors are still aboard the German
ship. They will be landed in the morn
ing.
The Freya was badly scraped for
ward but not damaged. The schooner
was struck between Is or 20 feet from
the bow and the impact was SO great
that it was felt all over the warship
The Maggie and May registered 116
TONS was built in 1891 at Essex, Mass,
and was owned by George Dennis. 4
marine inquiry will be held as soon as
possible
The Freya will remain here until
Aug. 20.