Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-23

st. Johns. N. F., May 22-(By A.
PA night of fasting was in store
FOR many OF the 436 passengers and
crew OF the Canadian Pacific liner
Marvale when they weer saved in the
lifeboats when the vessel went down
near st. Shots on the southern coast
OF New Foundland late yesterday,
after striking on Cape, Freels Rock.
The story Of the rescue. as told by
Captain Lewis of the Marvale at Ire
passey last night, was brought here
by the crew of train that left that
place early this morning.
Inc Marvale'S company, received
Hospitality by the fisher folks of the
little fishing hamlet of St. Shots,
learned that famine conditions pre-
vailed in the place owing to the ter
rible ice blockade along the New
Fcundland coast last winter. What
little food there was was given glad
~ to the women of the party, the 20
babies, the children and the aged. The
other passengers and members Of the
crew went hungry until this morning,
When relief steamer sent by the
New Foundland government to feed
the starving along the blockaded
coast. arrived from BURN and placed
It's supplies at their disposal The
castaways We're taken on board this
steamer, the Seal, and fed in relays.
Later the vessel brought them to Ire
pGssey, which is the terminus of a
branch line Of the New Foundland
railway.
According to Captain Lewis the
Marvale had wandered out of her
course in dense fog when she
struck on Cape Freels Rock about
one mile off Cape Freels and Cape
Fine, the extreme point of the PENN
sula on the western side of Trepassey
Bay OF which Cape Race forms the
eastern side.
We thought we We're four niles off
shore" the captain said. We were
working along the coast in the fog by
the sound OF the Cape Freels fog
alarm. believing ourselves safe, when
the ship struck sidelong blow on
the reef and tore her side out. She
hung on the rock for a moment and
then slid into deep water again. l
knew she was lost. and decided to
make for tho beach"
Two Of the Marvale's seaLien who
C'toiiI pdlIleu SdptdIu LEWIS " Ire
pa ssey said that the people Of the
liner owed their lives to the captains
seamanship and judgment, and the
fact that The water was smooth A
situation with all the possibilities Of
disaster was present, but not a person
was even injured.
Immediately after the Marvale
struck the captain headed her for
st. Shots where there was a sandy
spot to beach her and hamlet to
shelter the survivors. Taking no
chances with his people. however,
he ordered the boats oversize at
once and began loading them with
passengers. The fine weather and
smooth sea made this task fairly
easy. The women and children took
their place in the boats first. the
other passengers and most of the
crew followed. and within AN hour
the boats had been filled and drop
ped. The seamen in charge of the
boats were instructed to follow the
ship in the direction Of the land,
which was becoming visible through
the fog by this time. The first life
boat dropped overheard held 20
babies and their mothers. The babies
on landing appeared none the worse
for their experience.
The fisher folk of the hamlet,
eager to assist the shipwrecked com
pany. gave Of their best. but it was
pitifully small. There was little
food but the unexpected visitors
were all housed after a fashion.
while the captain and two of his
men proceeded to Trepassey. IA
miles away. to take further meas
ures for their safety. The reports
sent here by Captain Lewis held the
authorities to divert the steamer
Seal with her cargo of provisions
from BURN to st. Shots.
It was said by sailors who visited
the scene Of the wreck that the Mar
vale would not be refoated as on
that wild coast she would be broken
TO pieces in a few weeks. The coast
at that point bears grim reputa-
ton among mariners for many ira
gedies in the past. The Marvale
lies on an even keel with her bridge
deck showing. Several members Of
the crew who could not escape be-
fore the sinking remained on the
bridge deck and were taken off in
boats.