May 2009 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 27.
Maritime History: News From 1901 & 1904
Jack knew if we were not saved within a few
Continued from Page 25.
hours we should all go made and die, so he
Uncle Jack and Aunt Mary and I could only drove the men mercifully on for the Cape of
sit shivering in the cabin and wait for what Formosa. Never shall I forget the dreadful and
was to come. The roar of the wind was deaf- indescribable expression of their faces. At
ening. No human being who has not experi- midnight on the fourth day of our wanderings
enced a typhoon can imagine how fearful it they sighted Garambi Light off the Cape.
was. Round and round roared the typhoon Delicious tears of joy rolled down my cracked
gradually moving its centre toward us and at and blistered cheeks as I saw that barren rock
the same time dragging us toward it. At two with its light – emblem of civilization. Trem-
o’clock in the morning the centre struck us. In bling we rounded the point and pulled into
less than ten minutes the ship was a complete the bay close by the light. We could not land
wreck. As soon as it was light, Uncle Jack as there were breakers on the beach, so Mr.
began to examine her and found the ship half Stenke, and a Japanese sailor swam ashore
full of water. There was a great hole at the foot and went to the light to get help. After a long
of the mainmast. They patched it up and time the two Japanese officers came and
started the steam pumps, but it was useless, guided us into a safe landing place. We were
and at 7 o’clock Uncle Jack came in to tell us happy people to get on land once more. I
that we must take to the boats at once as the seemed to have awakened from a dreadful
A view of the Jacksonville, Florida back in 1904.
ship was sinking. nightmare after four days at sea.”
She then described the four days in the the fo’c’sle, made their way over the bowsprit The BRAINARD was making a voyage to
boats, saying, “As I look back on it now the 15 January – It was learned that two tugs and onto the HAYDEN. In five minutes the New York with a cargo of paving stones.
cruelest part of it all was when we feasted our had left Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in search of MAY slid beneath the waves. The only dam- * * * * *
eyes on the beautiful shores so near by and the schooner LIZZIE DYAS. The DYAS was age to the HAYDEN was a broken headstay. Ashore off Brunswick, Georgia is the
yet, famished for a drink of water, Uncle Jack making a voyage from Church Point to The MAY was built at Harpswell in 1895 and schooner SARAH C. ROPES, which was
shook his head and made the men row out to Rockland with a cargo of lumber. This lumber was coming in with 2,000 pounds of cod. She making a passage from Boston. She is in a bad
sea in spite of our begging and pleading. was for the Cobb, Butler & Company, which was owned by Sargent, Lord & Company, position, but tugs have been sent to her
Then it was that women-like, we broke down, was to use it in the construction of a new four- Captain Dyer, H. A. Sargent and K. J. Fowler. assistant from Savannah and Brunswick.
and our delirious ravings must have made it masted schooner. If the schooner can not be She was not insured.
all the harder for the captain and the patient located this will delay the construction of the 22 January – During the storm Lightship
sailors.” new schooner for about two months. 19 January – A New London based tug 74 broke her chains and drifted towards the
The shores she was talking about was an of the firm T. A. Scott Company headed out rocks. Fortunately Captain John E. Ladd was
island 50 miles off the mainland and inhabited 18 January – The pilot boat FANNIE to the wreck of Rockland schooner G. M. on deck and was able to steer her to safety.
by very dangerous savages, which the cap- HAYDEN ran into by the fishing schooner BRAINARD off Milford, Connecticut. On The storm raged and was a trying time for the
tain knew to well to allow and landing there. LETTIE MAY, Captain Augustus Dyer, two board the tug was Captain Sprague, the Lightship. She was back in her proper posi-
His niece continued by saying, “Out boat miles off Green Island. The night was clear, schooner’s owner’s representative. Captain tion on 26 January.
rowed so near to the shore that we could see but the seas were rough and the MAY was Sprague informed the company after a quick
parties of natives wildly brandishing their laying to and the HAYDEN was making her inspection that he thought that the crew had 23 January – The three masted schooner
spears. Their war canoes were just off the way out to Half Way Rock. MAY was struck left the vessel before it sank since the sails AUGUSTUS HUNT, Captain Blair, went
beach and Uncle Jack would not get any on the starboard side just aft of the fore were out and the compass was gone. He also
nearer for fear that they might attack us. Uncle rigging. The crew, which most were asleep in thought that she had been crushed in the ice.
Continued on Page 28.
Help Save this 102 Year old former Reading Railroad Tug
Join the "Friends of Saturn" for as low as $25.
We have moved to Brewer where she has spent the winter. Now spring is coming at work will begin in ernst, some by volunteers and some
by Kustom Steel. Plans are to paint her from keel to top of pilothouse, get heating system ready for next winter and begin engine work!
SATURN is a 117-foot railroad tug built as the BERN for the Reading Railroad in 1907. She is one of the last railroad tugs in existence and
should be saved for future generations to enjoy. For further information : (207) 223-8846 or make out check to: Friends of SATURN, P.O. Box
710, Winterport, ME 04496.
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