Page 30. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2009
Maritime History:
Various Articles from the 1800s
Continued from Page 29.
was in a collision with the schooner JOHN C. water. When young he commanded fishing she rolled over on beams end and was high
BUTTRICK off Martha’s Vineyard last week. schooners, taking his catch either to Boston, and dry. Her owners, the Boston Ship Broker-
tug ASTRAL, wrecked on Mount Desert One man from the LUCE was drowned and Gloucester or Portland. age Company, were contacted and Captain
Rock a month ago. Captain Sorensen was in two others made their way onto the * * * * * Hurd thought that they will want her cargo
Bangor with his tug CLARA CLARITA and BUTTRICK. The crew of the BUTTRICK 5 July – The fishing schooner HELEN, removed and then strip her, since it would
the wrecking lighter TRILBY, which was said that she was severely damaged and the Captain Edmund Doughty, went ashore on probably not be worth trying to salvage her.
removing the railroad bridge, which was sunk lifesaving crews of Cape Cod have been on Chebeague Island. Captain Doughty was The ODELL was built at Bowdoinham in
in the Penobscot River. He also had the the lookout for her. The LUCE was sighted getting ready to take a party of friends sail- 1873 and was 141 gross tons, length 97.2 feet,
contract to raise the schooner DAVENPORT, Monday night and the crews from the Old ing, but could not get his engine running. beam 26.2 and draft 7.5 feet. For a number of
which was sunk off Mount Desert Island. Harbor and Chatham lifesaving stations put With the strong wind blowing it was not long years she carried lumber out of Calais. This
While he was in Rockland he heard of the out, but due to the high seas running follow- before he was aground near Western land- was Captain Hurd’s first voyage in this schoo-
wrecked ASTRAL. A revenue cutter had ing the blizzard on Sunday were unable to get ing. She was refloated at high tide and suf- ner.
made two attempts to rescue the crew of the out passed Chatham bar. This caused an fered no significant damage. * * * * *
ASTRAL, but all attempts failed. Captain immense amount of anxiety because they A. W. Poole of South Bristol has just 12 July – The Bath schooner LEORA M.
Sorensen brought his tug in within 500 feet knew that there were four men still on board completed one of two dories for Professor THURLOW struck a reef near Cozumel Is-
of the rock and launched a dory. All told her. The lifesavers than noted that the Sa- Donald B. MacMillan and the schooner land and sank. The crew of seven men were
seventeen men were saved, albeit starved vannah steamer heading to Boston, sighted BOWDOIN. Over the last 20 years Poole has saved by a Mexican launch. The LEORA M.
and frostbitten. The rescued sailors were the LUCE and looked as if she had gone built 103 dories and 62 pontoons and a num- THURLOW was built as the HARRY H.
then landed at Boston on 15 December. Cap- alongside. Then a tug happened by and she ber of skiffs and small freighting scows. The DONNELL in 1891. Her dimensions were 213
tain Sorensen was also given award for the went to the schooner’s assistance. dories have been sold from Lubec to Port- gross tons, length 106.8 feet, beam 29 feet
rescue of Daniel J. Lawler of Somerville off The LUCE had departed Vinalhaven, via land. and draft 8.3.
the Boston lightship on 29 July 1900. Rockland, with a cargo of cut granite for New The schooner seen on fire off the coast * * * * *
* * * * * York. of Florida several days ago has been identi- 19 July – Captain Arthur Crenshaw,
19 January 1903 – The three masted fied as the three master CELESTE D., Captain USN of Greenville, AL, has passed away at
schooner CARRIE BELL, Captain Gayton, 1921 Z. H. Richard, which was making a passage the age of 46 following an operation for
left St. John, New Brunswick with a cargo of In doing research for a schooner that from Pensacola, FL to Havre in ballast. Cap- appendicitis at Newport, RI. Those in Bath
283,543 feet of deals from Stetson, Cutler & was in a collision off Martha’s Vineyard in tain and crew were landed at Jacksonville, FL. will remember him as inspector of machinery
Company on 8 January bound for New York. July 1921, I discovered the following other The schooner LAURA ANNE BARNES, at Bath Iron Works. He was then commanded
Information from Mink Cove, at Digby Nova marine related items in several different news- which was built by Frank Bowker of the naval reservation at Gulfport, MS and
Scotia says that the schooner is northeast of papers. Phippsburg last year and launched in Octo- was just recently transferred to the Naval
Petite passage, ashore, upside down and is 3 July – The new steel steamer ILLI- ber, has been partially purchased by Captain War College at Newport.
breaking up. The crew is reported to be at NOIS, which was recently launched by the Charles H. Barnes of Saugus, MA. She was * * * * *
Southwest Harbor, Maine. The 250-ton CAR- Texas Steamship Company, underwent sea launched unchristened and was named by 20 July – It was announced that the four
RIE BELL was built at Kennebunk in 1873. trials. Once these were complete she headed Captain Barnes for his wife. It is thought that masted schooner CLARA A. DONNELL,
The Machias schooner EMELINE G. to the measured mile course off Owl’s Head. she will be ready for sea in a couple of weeks Captain Martin, has been purchased from the
SAWYER, Captain Keith, went ashore on She arrived back at Portland at 0200 Sunday, and will probably be employed in general Globe Line of New York, by Captain O. A.
Common Flats Sunday and will probably be where she dropped off pilot Captain Blair of trade. Gilbert of Boston Ship Brokerage Company.
a total loss. The Chatham Lifesavers were Bath and several others before proceeding to * * * * * The 900-ton CLARA A. DONNELL was built
able to get out to the wreck and rescue the sea for Port Arthur, TX. 6 July – Captain George Harward at Bath in 1889. Her first voyage under the
five crew members. She was built at Jonesport * * * * * Theobald of Richmond passed away. He was new owners will be from Philadelphia to
in 1868 and was owned in Machias. 4 July – The oldest fisherman on the born in Dresden on 1 February 1830 and was Calais with coal.
* * * * * coast of Maine, Captain Daniel Donnell of the son of Captain Francis R. Theobald. His It was also stated that the five-masted
26 January 1903 – The three masted York Harbor, at nearly 100 years old. For grandfather was Captain Robert Theobald, schooner GARDINER G. DEERING has fi-
schooner HATTIE G. LUCE, Captain Heal, years he had never been out town except by who was a surgeon in Burgoyne’s army. He nally completed the unloading of her stone
moved to Richmond with his parents in the ballast, which was put in at Sancos, Brazil.
early 1850s. He attended the local schools This stone was unloaded on the north end
TOOL OF THE MONTH
before going onto Litchfield Academy, fol- wharf of the Giggons Coal Company, before
lowed by Bowdoin College, from which he returning to her berth at the Deering com-
graduated in 1852 and Bowdoin Medical pany.
School in 1854. He never practiced medicine Captain Omar J. Humphreys of Seattle
but did operate a drug store for a time. He then WA, formerly of the U. S. Shipping Board
entered the shipbuilding business at vessel WEST MODUS, was honoured by the
WHILE
Bowdoinham, Richmond and Kennebunk. British government with a silver cup. The
SUPPLIES
He was also president of Richmond National award was for the assistance afforded the
LAST!
Bank from 1880 to 1910 when it was voluntar- British steamer FAZIIKA, which wrecked on
ily liquidated. Great Nicobar Island on 31 October 1919. The
It has been announced that the shipyard WEST MODUS was able to transfer the 600
Milwaukee 0824-24P
established at Machias by the Job Shipyard deck passengers to their vessel without a
Includes
0824-20 - 18V 1/2" Hammer Drill
Corporation is out of business. The build- single loss of life. Captain Humphrey has
0881-20 - 18V 1/4" Hex Mid Size
ings and machinery will be placed up for since left the U. S. Shipping Board and is now
Milwaukee 6176-20
Impact Driver auction. One building has already been sold employed by the American Line, which is
Metal Abrasive Cut-off Machine
2 - 18V Lithium-Ion Batteries
to the Machias Valley Co-operative Canning headed by Captain Eugene C. Tobey of Bath.
1 - 1 Hour Charger
$139.95 REG. 169.95
Association and will be used to pack blue- He had also been awarded a chronometer
1 - Carrying Case
$299.95
berries. from the owners of the vessel and a silver
* * * * * platter from the London Board of Trade for
Bath Industrial Sales, 56 New Meadows Rd. West Bath ME
9 July – The 48 year old two-masted his rescue of those on board the FAZIIKA.
(207) 443-9754 WWW.BISTOOLS.COM
schooner ODELL, Captain C. G. Hurd of * * * * *
Winterport, was hard aground after striking 22 July – Captain Ira W. Lewis of
on House Island. The ODELL was making a Georgetown was the son of Thomas and
Buying a Boat? trip from Boston to Winterport with a load of Clarissa Lewis. He was captain of the steamer
coke. Early last night she was hit by a squall DELLA COLLINS, which was the transfer
Be SURE Before You Buy!
and had all her headsails torn to pieces. steamer on the Kennebec River between
Captain Hurd then decided to make Portland. Augusta and Gardiner. He was to command
Over 20 years of marine experience
As she was attempting to get into the harbor their new steamer, CITY OF AUGUSTA, built
during the night in thick of fog, she grounded. at East Boston, but he refused saying that
means you’ll know if it’s sound...
Captain Hurd said that they saw Ram Island she was not fit for this duty. Time would
light, but never did see Portland Head. He prove him correct as she was rebuilt and the
or NOT. then hoped to make Spring Point light, but captains of the river nicknamed her ‘Hinky
the ODELL failed to answer her helm and she Dee.’
hit with a dull thud. When the tide went out
Reasonable Rates Power or Sail

Wood & Fiberglass to 60 feet
Kent Thurston ~ Marine Surveyor
Phone/Fax - (207) 948-2654
E-mail: marinesurveyor@thurstoncreative.com
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