Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-10-27
BIunder of Man at the Wheel
Lands Donaldson Liner
Broken Wreck on Rocky.
Coast of Maine.
DISASTER ATTENDS ALL
EFFORT TO LAUNCH BOATS
Two of FraiI Craft Overturned
in Boiling Surf; Third Drifts
to Sea Carrying Survivors to
Unknown Fate.
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wireI

IBy Morning journal Special Leased Wirol
Eastport, Maine, oct. 2e.-Twenty
| lives and probably more were lost to-
! day in the destruction on shoal of
Seal Cove of the Donaldson line
steamer Hestia bound from Glasgow
for St John and Baltimore. Four of
the victims. young Scotch boys were
passengers, and the others were MEM
bers of the crew. Captain Newman
and 20 or more of the crew were last
seen in ships boat which was being
tossed on the stormy sea.
OF the 40 persons who We're aboard
the steamer when she ptcd up ON the
shoal early today, only six are posi-
lively known to be saved. They were
forced to cling to the wreck, shifting
their positions as the steamer was
tossed by the seas. II was not until 8
y. m that life savers were able to man
their boats and reach the stranded
vessel.
Those known to be saved are:
Third mate Stewart, second engineer
Morgan and seamen Keene, Mckenzie,
Smith and McViekar.
A heavy northeasterly gale is be-
lieved to have been responsible for
the Hestia's Fate although it is sup
posed that a mistake of the man at
the wheel in believing he had picked
UP Gannet rock light while really dis
cernng the CLEANS of the lighthouse
on Machias Seal island, several miles
southwest. carried the ship many
miles off her course.
I he sailors Of the middle watch had
been out of their hunks an hour and
all others connected with the naviga-
tion were slowed in hunks or ham
mocks when the crash came an hour
after midnight.
III the belief that, leaving Grand
Manan ON the port tack. and following
the usual course to st John. the raw
igating officer sought the distinguish
ing marks Of that route. But they
were not to be seen. Instead the
steamer was heading ror Seal Cove
between Gannctt rock ana Machias
Seal isalnd, over seas which barely
covered Il trcacherous bottom of
shoals. 1t was on one of these that the
vessel became impaled.
Captain Newman at once ordered
his men to prepare to put the life
boats over board. Three were swung
from the deck but while the tackle
of one was being unfastened the craft
int nd Ipc
The preparations were made to pre-
vent a second similar mishap. Into |
another boat were placed the four
boys and more than Il dozen of the |
crew. They had barely taken their |
places when the tackle gave away and |
they were dropped into the turbulent |
waters. The craft capsized but soon |
righted and one of the boys was seen
clinging to the bottom. Again the |
boats was capsized and he disappear |
ed
Meanwhile those aboard the vessel |
launched the third boat. 1t was their
hope. Captain Newman
and all the remaining seamen. except |
six entered the boat. These six were
rescued by the life savers
Captain Newman and his men sue
'eeded in hauling two of those strug-
sling in the water into the overcrowd-
I'd craft but they were unable to res
'ue others whose cries could be heard
lbove the gale. Third Mate Stewart
low in charge of the steamer and the
members of the crew built
raft and placed it in readiness for
aunching with supply of water and
God.
Through the hours of darkness and |,
lawn the vessel gradually settled by I
he stern. At daylight Mate Stewart
ioistcd the union jack reversed as "A
ignal of distress hut IL was late in tho
fternoon before the vessels plight
vas discerned. l.
Many fishing craft went out to aid
ne steamer one by one however.
hey were forced to turn back. Fin
lily however. life savers were able to ,
ct TO the Hestia and make the six !
cscucs. The vessel is a total wreck. Ii
Captain Newman and his boat