Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-27
Off Course in Heavy Ga|e--Strikes Just Inside
Old Proprietor'S Ledge Off Grand Manan--Four
Scotch Boys, Passengers, Lost--Captain and
70 Men Are Last Seen in a Life Boat

PASSPORT, Me. Oct 26.-The north
Atlantic's annual toll of human lives
and vessels received the first 1.-THE of
the winter season in the Bay of Fun
DIV today, in the loss of at least score
of souls in the wrecking on a shoal in
side of Old Proprietors ledge, off Seal
cove, Grand Manan. of the Donaldson
Line steamer Hestia.
Four of the victims were young
Scotch lads who were passengers on
the Inflated steamer. and the others
were members of the steamers crew
Cant. Newman and 20 more members
OF the crew were last seen this morn
ing in a ships boat in the turbulen nj
waters and treacherous tides of the
Bay Of Fundy.
or the 40 persons who were aboard
the steamer when she piled up on the
shoal at / A. NJ. only six are positive
~ known to have been saved. !
They were forced to stick to then
irnpaled craft, clinging to every avail
able means of security while the
steamer was tossed by the sea.
1t was not until T. NJ. today that
the lifesavers from the Seal Cove sta
ton were able to man their boat and
roo oh tho Strapdod steamer
| When rescued the men were in a
| weakened state after their 14-hours
ordeal.
Those known to be saved are: Third
| Mate Stewart, Second Engineer Nor
gan, Seamen Keen, McKensie, Smith
and McVicker.
A heavy northeasterly gale is be-
leved to have been responsible for the
Hestia's fate, although it is supposed
believing he had picked up Came
rock while really discerning the
CLAIMS of the lighthouse on Seal is
land several miles southwest, tended
to throw him many miles off his course
to st. John, n. B., where the Hostia
was bound from Glasgow and from
whence she was scheduled to sail for
Baltimore to finish unloading he1
freight.
The sailors of the middle watch had
been out of their hammocks an hour
and oil others. together with the foul
boy passengers and the officers, OK
cept the navigating officer, were below
when the crash came an hour after
| midnight. Their rest had been broken
by the violent movements of the
steamer under the influence of Il heavy
gale from the northeast. When the men
of the midnight to 4 A. NJ. watch came
on deck for their turn they were tolG
by the relieved watch that the gale
was bad one, the worst of success
sion which they had encountered OF
| the passage across.
| Ir the belief that he was leaving
Grand Manan on the port hand, ant
| following the only navigable route t
st. John, n. b.. the navigating office
sought the distinguishing marks %
that route. But they were not to bt
seen Instead, the steamer was heading
for Seal Cove, between Gannett rock
and Machias Seal island, over sea!
which barely covered treacherou
bottom of shoals 1t was on one o
these. lust inside Old Proprietor
ledge. that the vessels nose became
inhaled. leaving the stern free in th'
surrounding sea.
Those on watch hastily summoned
Cart. Newman and the other Officers
and members/of the crew. The quartz
of Youthful passengers. none out 0
their teens, were aroused also ant
stapped into the confusion surround
ing an anxious hurry to launch thu
| hoats The sea was so violent as t
make it evident to the captain tina
further occupancy of the Hestia wa
dangerous in the extreme and his or
ders to vacate were soon shouted.
| So far as is known, the Hestia hal
| three boats. For the 40 men and boy
awaiting safety they were barely enough
But they were destined to have not evel
the use of these. In christening tn
tackle of one of the bots it dropped from
the davit into the sea and was soon be
yond recovery.
| Then preparations were made to proven
| a second similar mishap. Another boa
was made ready and was soon filled. Int
| it was put the four boys, and over ;
dozen members of he crew. They hat
batrely taken their places when thu
tackle gave way and, without warning
the boat with it's human occupants wer,
precipitated into the swirling waters.
The boat capsized and the boys ant
crew were left to their scanty resource!
to combat with the adverse element. Thu
boat soon righted and one of the boy!
was seen clinging to it, holding with the
grasp born of desperation and withou