Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-24
sEx-MAsTED SCHOONER
 TOTAL WRECK.
-Everyone Aboard Saved by Fishing Smack Priscilla.

Edgartown, Mass, Jan. 2s-Tht | schooner Mertie B. Crowley. one of the few six-masters flying the American I flag, lies tonight a total wreck on tue reefs three miles off the southeast enc ! of Martha's Vineyard Island. Area dy the Crowley has broken in two an6 great seas are fast smashing her once stout timbers. She was bound from Baltimore for Boston with coal. All on Board Saved. To the bravery of Skipper Levi Jackson and his crew of four men of the Edgartown fishing smack Priscilla Is due the rescue of the fifteen persons aboard-Captain Haskell, Mrs. Haskell and thirteen members of the Crowley crew. The slippers brave wife, like the others, had been lasIhed for ten hours to the rigging of the battered schooner.
 Man at Wheel Mistook Light.
 Disaster overwhelmed the schooner at 5-3o a. m. today. The wreck was due directly to the mistake of the man at the wheel in making out EdgartoWn Night as that on Block Island. The schooner had been hove-to for thirty the severe southerly storm. Round about was a heavy maze, which pre- cluded observation, so that the position of the schooner was largely a matter of guesswork.
 When the vessel struck it quickly was seen that there could be no hope of saving it. The small boats were soon swept overheard by the heavy seas.
 Captains Wife Lashed to Cross-Trees.
 Mrs. Haskell, awakened by her hus- band, had barely time to snatch a few articles of clothing, and, with the kas- sistance of Captain Haskell, climb the fore rigging, where she was lashed to the cross-trees. A pair of seamen's boots, with the captains winter hat and overcoat protecting her. Mrs. Has ken said tonight she did not suffer greatly.
 All day long everybody clung to the rigging, while the seas battered their great vessel to fragments. At 10 a. m. the Crowley broke in two beneath them and her stern settled deeper in the water. Fortunately no one was lashed at that end.
 By g o'clock this morning it was known here that a vessel had been wrecked on the northeast end reef. Eff forts were made to get out to her dur ing the forenoon, but were unsuccess- full because of the great seas.
 Rescued by Men from Little Power
 Smack.
 Captain Levi Jackson tried repeat edly to push his little power smack Priscilla through the great breakers, but combined sails and steam could Then, luffed by the schooner Viking, another of the local fishermen, he put her safely through the breakers and reached the wreck There he anchor ed, and four dories manned by as many stout armed fishermen were soon talk Ing off the crew of the Crowley.
 Successful Leap for the Dory.
 Mrs. Haskell was the first to be transferred. She was lowered from her cramped position in the erosstrees and down the forerigging as far as possible. With the same nerve which had held her up during her hours of exposure, she made a leap for the dory beneath, landed safely and was saved.
 When the colored steward jumped for the tossing dory beneath him he miss ed it and went overheard, but was res cued from the water by Patrick Kel- ley, one of the fishermen, who grapsed the vessels forerigging and cIung to the stewards closing until another dory took them both aboard.
 The schooner Mertie B. Crowley was built in Rockland, Me-, in 1907. She was owned in Boston. She was 2965 feet long, ASA in breadth and had a depth of hold of 23s. She registered 2410 net tonnage.