Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-01-26


A scene, surprising in ifsterror the most
vivid Imagination, a scene in which were
set such thrilling experiences a. the death
OF one man and the suffering and terror OF
dozen more, is the story which New
London friends heard Wednesday from q
man who was the central figure in the
episode This story was not the romance
of some favorite spinner of yarns. but the
truth, truth 50 real that it has left its i'm
press upon this man who tells the story
choked with emotion. The man is Capt.
Edward A. Richardson, of Deer Isle, Me.
Capt. Richardson is the father OF Mrs. E.
Y. Haskell, of New London, and is visit
ing his daughter and her husband, Capt.
Haskell, Of steam yacht Viking. Capt.
Richardson is one Of the most widely
known captains along the Atlantic coast,
and in this city has made many friends.
The experience which threatened death
to Capt. Richardson and his men was nat
urally one OF the seas. Capt. Richardson
was master OF the four-mastsd schooner
<AASAA0AAs WAtCA ny ~ tnC kOsCAnuACht
wharf in Key West, Florida, on Sunday,
Oct. 10, apparently as far removed from
danger as = ship model in . gentleman's
parlor. She was loaded with gravel for
the government to be used in work at the
Notifications.
In the morning there was fresh breeze
southeast by east with heavy rain squalls.
The strength Of the breeze increased with
each rain squau. Capt. Richardson de-
cided to take every necessary precsution
although q serious storm was not antici-
pated.
The fastenings were gotten outand the
schooner was made as snug IS possible.
As the wind grew furious Capt. Richard
son stationed men in the stern and gave
orders to cut the stern ropes Is soon as
the bow fastenings gave way. This was
necessary because il the bow ropes parted
the wind would throw the vessel around
upon the wharf and would smash it.
By this time the wind had grown to
fearful proportions and was full-sized
Florida hurricane. The air was howl
ing, swirling mass Of flying timbers. A
heavy sea that tossed the vessels in the
harbor about as though mere rowboats
was running, adding to the danger.
Finally the wind which was raging
about the vessel snapped the bow line out
OF the cleats which held them, and the
bow left the wharf. Then the second
mate, stationed aft with an axe, cut the
stern lines and the vessel was entirely
free. 1t was his last earthly act, for fol-
lowing the cutting of the lines, as an echo
follows a shout, q coal derrick from a
height on the government wharf, came
tumbling down, hurled by the wind in its
fury. 1t struck the second mate as he
stood on the poop deck, killing him in
stantly.
Then the Medford blew out into the
out both anchors were dropped and all
the chain. The attempt to check the
schooner in her runaway career was in
vain. The wind blew the fourmaster out
to sea, dragging the heavy anchors and
ponderous chain as though paper weights.
The chains did not even have the effect OF
pointing the Medford's bow to the wind
hurricane with its destructive force was
wrecking the wharves and shipping all
about the harbor. The Medford went out
to sea with Capt. Richardson and his crew
OF about ten men, not knowing what
minute death might be their portion.
With the heart breaking death OF the
second mate before them, they stuck to the
vessel while they we're buffeted about the
deck by the high wind and the heavy sea,
which was leaping over the vessels sides
and washing the men about the sloppy
decks to perilous positions.
Five miles out to sea the merciless wind
drove the thing Of wood. Finally it
banged upon . sunken coral reef and
'fetched up, to use nautical term. Pre-
viously the matches had been washed away
by the foaIning angry sea and the ship
was partly filed.
Soon after striking the coral reef the
Medford filed with the sea which ran into
her, and heavy with water sank until her
deck was entirely under the water.
TooK TO THE RiGGING.
Capt. Richardson and his crew to ok to
the rigging, in which they dashed them
selves. This was about p. m, the hurri-
cane having been raging about two hours.
Lashed to the rigging with the seas toss
ing the ship and washing over them the
captain and his men fought death, hoping
against hope that help might come. The
minutes, which seemed like hours and the
hours which appeared whole days, dragged
on, and still no help. Finally darkness
fell and with it added terror. Through
the long night the men stayed in the
masts without any sight Of . rescuing
party or any encouragement that one
might come. That all would not be lost
seemed almost impossible.
| At O'Clock Monday morning, after
| daybreak had brought as much en-
couragement to the captain and his men
ss it could. the masts Of the Medford were
I