Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-29

The A. NJ patrol of the Block Is
| land station had just started out on
his beat when he discerned the out
lines of the schooner driving in to-
ward the west beach. He burned his
signal light and called UP the station,
but before the life savers had reach
ed the scene the schooner had struck
the lodges and was being ground into
pieces. The vessel was carried to
within a quarter of mile of the
beach when she filed and sank. Her
position was so uncertain and the gale
so terrific blowing straight from the
schooner to the beach, that the life
savers had to wait until daylight be-
fore beginning operations. In the
meantime the New Shoreham and
Sandy Point crews were summoned
and many townspeople joined the band
of watchers.
Sunrise disclosed only the schoon-
er's four masts above the water with
the seas sweeping up to the mast
heads. where we're clinging a dozen
sailors, who Were being drenched by
everv wave.
The schooner apparently had been
driven off her course in trying to
round Point Judith in the gale, and
fetching up on the island finally
struck and sank not far from the
north jetty that protects the New
Harbor on the west side of the is
land.
The schooner's misfortune was due
to the helmsman installing the Block
Island north light for the Point Ju
dith light Formerly the island bea
con was fixed one and the Point Ju-
dith flashing light, but within the
past few months the north light has
been made TO flash. The first attempts
to launch q lifeboat in the roaring
surf proving Intellectual, the breeches
buoy was resorted to. Three times the
line was shot from the beach to the
stranded craft and on the third at
tempt the weighted end of the rope
reached its mark. The sea had now
abated in fury, however, and it was
decided TO send a boat, manned by
the pick of the Sandy Point and West
Side crews. 1t was believed that could
the lifeboat live in the breakers and
reach the schooner the rescue would
be speedier.
From the shore the comrades of
the daring crew and their friends
watched the little boat, with its crew
headed by Captain William Teal of
the Block Island station, push
through the surf at times being lost
to view under the big breakers until
finally it brought up alongside the
vessel. The schooner's crew clambered
down from their perches in the rig
yit,o into the boat and were DroiI ehf
ashore. They were taken to the Sandy
Point life saving station, where they
were cared for
For time after the vessel struck
things looked SO gloomy for the crew
Of the vessel that hope was practically
given up. The schooner went ashore
about 1.30 a. NJ. and about 2 o'clock.
before her plight had been discovered
by the beach patrol, Capt. Randall
assembled his crew of eight men in
the cabin and told them that it look
ed as though they had sailed their last
voyage. He then read a verse from the
Scriptures and offered prayer. An
hour later the welcome signal that
their predicament had been discov-
cred came from shore.
The schooner is not believed to be
a complete wreck and wrecking light
ers and tugs We're expected from New
London. later in the day.
The Mary Adelaide Randall was
built at Bath, Me, in 1891. She regis
tered 110s tons net, is 1872 feet long. AZ
feet beam. nd IS feet depth of hole
She is owned by Fl. NJ. Randall, and
halls from Port jefferson. n. Y.