Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-27
Hestia Strikes on Ledge;
0nIy Six of Crew Rescued

EASTPORT, October 27.-The North
Atlantic's annual toll Of human lives
and vessels received the first 1.-THE of
the cold season yesterday, from its trib-
utary, the Bay of Fundy, in the loss of
probably a score or more of lives and
the destruction on a shoal, inside of
Old ProprietOrs ledge, off Seal Cove,
Grand Manan. Of the Donaldson line
steamer Hestfa, bound from Glasgow
for st. John and Baltimore.
Four of the victims, young Scotch
boys. were passengers on the Inflated
steamer. The others were members of
the crew.
Capt Newman and twenty or more
members Of the crew We're last seen yes
terday morning in a ships boat Which
was being tossed and buffeted on the ag-
gravated sea, making still more danger
GUS the treacherous tides which rush into
and out of the Bay of F'undy.
OF the forty persons who were aboard
the steamer when she piled up on the
shoal at l o'clock yesterday morning, only
six are positively known to have been
saved. They were forced to cling to Their
wrecked craft, shifting their precarious
positions often as the steamer was tossed
by the great seas
Abandoned Survivors Rescued.
1t was not until :: o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon that life savers from the Seal Cove
station were able to man their boats and
reach the stranded vessel. When rescued
the survivors were In a weakened state,
after fourteen hours ordeal
Those known to lave been saved are
Third Mate Stewart Second Engineer
Morgan and Seamcn Keen, Mckenzie,
Smith and McNickar.
A heavy nertheasteriy gale is believed
to have been somewhat responsible for
the Hestia's fate. although it is supposed
that II mistake of the man at tho wheel
aided.
In the belief that he was leaving Grand
Manan on the port tack. and following the
usual course to st. John. the navigating
officer sought the distinguishing marks OF
that route. But they were not to he
seen. Instead. the steamer was heading
for Seal Cove. between Gannett Rock and
Machias Seal Island, over seas which
barely covered treacherous bottom Of
shoals.
Strikes Upon Ledge.
1: was on one OF these, just outside Old
Proprietors Ledge. that the vessels nose
became impaled. leaving the stern free In
the surrounding sea and subject to the
violent movements Of those aggravated
waters.
Capt. Newman at once ordered his men
to prepare to put the lifeboats overboat
Three lifeboats were available, and one
by one they were swung from the deck
but while the tackle of one Of the boats
was being unfastened the small craft
dropped from the davits into the sea and
was soon beyond recovery.
Preparations were made to prevent q
second similar mishap. Into another boat
were placed the four boys and over a
dozen members of the crew. They had
barely taken their places when the tackle
gave way and without warning the boat
with its occupants, was prectpitated into
the turbulent waters.
The craft capsized but soon righted and
one of the boys was seen clinging to the
bottom. holding with the grasp of fear of
death and without strength to make an
other effort. Again the boat was. cap
| sized and this time disappeared
Meanwhile those aboard the vessel
launched the third boat. 1t was their las,
remaining hope and they tarried some
little time to make certain that this craft
should not go the way of it's Predecessors
Capt. Newman and all the remaining sea
men except six entered the boat. These
six were the ones rescued by the Seal
Cove life savers this afternoon.
Cries Heard Above Gale.
Can't Newman and his men succeeded
in dragging two of those struggling in the
water into their overcrowded craft but
were unable to rescue others whose cries
could be heard above the gale.
Third Mate Stewart, now in charge %
the stranded steamer, and the remaining
members of the crew in the meantime
built a raft and placed it in readiness for
launching. a supply of water anu food
was dashed to II.
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