Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-30
Founders at Entrance
to Vineyard Sound in
Dense Fog - One
Woman and % Men
Reach Lightship
! Vessels Answering
! S. O. S. Find No
! Trace of Steamer

BOSTON, April 29-The steamer
seaconnet sank today at the en-
trance to Vineyard Sound, carrying
down with her at least seven men.
according to wireless messages in
tercepted here.
One woman and 90 men were able
N reach the Vineyard Sound light
.h;n in small boats and tonight pre-
pared to spend the night there
awaiting dawn and smoother seas
before the coast guard cutter Acush-
net. which responded to the appeals
for aid broadcast by the Seaconnet.
would be able to take them off.
Meanwhile details of the sinking of
the vessel were lacking as only
meagre cryptic wireless reports told
the tale of the disaster.
Two rescue vessels. the coast
guard cutter Acushnet and the
steamer City of Rome responded to
the frantic calls for assistance
broadcast by the Seaconnet, but
when they arrived at the position
given bv the SeacOnnet they found
no trace of the steamer.
Mystery shrouded the sinking of
the steamer The distressed Nessers
calls for assistance were intercept
ed soon after six o'clock. Within
an hour the City of Rome was
cruising the waters of the Sound
four and five miles southeast of the
| Vineyard Sound Lightship but could
find no trace of the stricken vessel.
few hours later the AcuShnet
! searched the same waters with SIM
| liar results. How the survivors
reached the lightship without being
sighted blythe rescue boats was I'M
explained.
The Scaconnet actually sank one
mile south. one half west of the
Vineyard Sound lightship although
her first calls for help broadcast at
about q o'clock this morning, gave
her position as farther south. The
wind and currents were sufficient.
however, it is believed, to have car
red her that distance toward the
lightship before she sank.
! The Seaconnet was bound for
Boston from Norfolk with coal.
while the City of Rome was bound
for Savannah from Boston.
Vineyard Haven, Mass. April %
The coast guard cutter Acushnet
was tonight anchored off Menemsha
| Blight awaiting the lifting of the
| heavy fog and lower winds before
continuing her search for survivors
Of the steamer Seaconnet which
foundered early today at the en-
| trance to Vineyard Sound.
Captain Shea of the AcuShnet in
formed Captain Larkin of the Gay
Head coast guard station when the
latter came alongside tonight that
one woman, believed to be the wife
Of Captain Miller of the Seaconnet
and - men had reached the Vine
yard Sound lightship and that seven
men were missing. The fate of these
men was unknown. but it is feared
that they down down with the ship.
The Acushnet will take the sur
ylvors to New Bedford from the
lightship tomorrow if the weather
permits. Captain Shea was reported
as saying.
y The Seaconnct. originally built for
the United States Shipping oBard. was
owned by c. II. Sprague & Son of this
city. 1t was stated at the offices of the
owners tonight that owing to the re-
cent marine labor troubles the last
~
and the only correct list was aboard
ship
The officers were. Captain. Donald
Miller Jr, of Boston; chief officer,
lharles Gregory of Boston; second offi-
YER Vincent j. Charte, Gloucester:
,nlrd officer. Romi J. Hudgins, Newport
news Va; chief engineer. Herbert
Aalcom New London. Conn; first as
MNant engineer, Edward McShane.
BOSTON; second assistant engineer.
.smes E. Murphy. Stonington. Me:
nira assistant engineer, Frank H.
rrrafton. Atlantic. Mass; chief cook,
eugene Gillpin. New Bedford.
according to officials of the company
7" seamen complete the crew.
A wireless message intercepted here
%'e tonight from the Acushnet stated
nav the coast guard cutter had no
wen able learn the names of the lost
VI ol the survivors. nor in what man.
We, the Seaconnet met her fate.
az was learned that the lightship
snoer Anenome would 60 to the Vine
;Na Sound lightship early tomorrow
som New Bedford and would assist in
sa.s.nslerring the refugees to the Acush-