Page 20. MAINE COASTAL NEWS March 2010
Maritime History:
August to December 1876
ments to change her rig to that of a barkentine, were in the lower hold, boring the sides to by Capt. William A. Rogers, of Searsport,
Continued from Page 19.
besides raising the deck. They have per- ascertain whether the planks were sound, who will command her. At Bath, 5
th
inst., bark
every kind of general business , but the many ceived the disadvantages and financial loss while the caulkers had brought their oakum, FRED LITTLEFIELD, 1000 tons. At Freeport,
faults of their rig will probably render the resulting from placing a three masted schoo- oil and pitch into the lower hold, so as to have same date, ship SAM JOCQUIN, about 1000
number built in the next few years, very small. ner in the foreign trade; hence the change. it close at hand when required. A ship carpen- tons.
The superiority of the bark or barkentine is ter named Casey was with the rest in the fore
too plain to be dwelt upon at length. This rig MARINE DISASTERS. Schooner JAMES hold of the vessel, occupied in testing the 26 October
admits vessels to business from which the W. BROWN, Captain Kane, of this port, planks. He struck a match for the purpose of Page 2.
other would debar them, and the wear of sails hence for Jacksonville with hay, lime and lighting a pipe, and, having done so, incau- Terrible Disaster to a Whaling Fleet.
is very much less. A bark of 800 ton would be bricks, encountered the hurricane of the 16
th
, tiously threw the burning match to the floor. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 21. The whaling
worth in the New York market, say $40,000; a and 17
th
inst., off Cape Hatteras, and suffered A large pile of oakum was close by, and the bark FLORENCE arrived this afternoon from
schooner of the same size – and many of this considerable damage. The vessel was blown match, falling on a thread of hemp, set the pile the Arctic Ocean with 190 men on board,
tonnage and larger, have been built of late – on her beam-ends, and lost jib-boom, three on. Casey, in endeavoring to smother the being part of the crews of an Arctic whaling
would bring hardly $30,000. There isn’t one jibs, foresails, water casks and chain box, flames, was so badly burned that his life is fleet, twelve of which she reports lost in the
half this difference in their cost, which shows broke down the forecastle deck and burst in despaired of. The flooring of the vessel, hav- ice with portions of their crews. The remain-
conclusively how they are regarded as in- the main hatch. The water, soaking through ing become saturated with kerosene and ing survivors have gone to Honolulu on the
vestments. In this connection it will be well to the hay, set the lime on fire, which with the hay other highly inflammable liquids, in a mo- bark THREE BROTHERS. The following is
mention that the owners of schooner JOHN was thrown overboard. The hull remained ment, caught fire, which spread with light- the list of the abandoned vessels:
C. SMITH of this port have made arrange- perfectly tight. Two men were injured, not ning rapidity, and in a second the entire hold Barks ONWARD and CLARA BELL, of
severely. The BROWN arrived at from stem to stern, was a massive fire, which San Francisco; ships ST. GEORGE and
New York on the 21
st
inst. and will gained consistently. John Sever, another MARENGO and barks CORNELIUS
probably be repaired so as to resume workman, was badly burned. The numerous HOWLAND, JAMES ALLEN and JAVA, of
the voyage this week. workman in the hold of the ship were shut off New Bedford; ship CAMILLA and
from the air, and they were as in a tomb filled barkentine JOSEPHINE of Boston; bark
& COMPANY, INC.
MEMORANDA with fire. Several of their number who were at ACORS BARNS of New London; and Hawai-
Schooner ISRAEL SNOW,
BOATBUILDING
work amidship were completely surrounded ian barks DESMOND and ARCTIC. The ves-
Hatch, for New York, was totally by the flames, and those who were not in the sels had on board altogether 1000 barrels of
& wrecked at Baracoa during a hurri- midst of the flames were exposed to the fumes oil besides a large amount of whalebone and
CUSTOM JOINERY
cane September 13
th
, having which arose from the fire. The firemen were ivory.
dragged her anchors and been promptly on hand and succeeded in extin- A thrilling report is given of the suffering
Current Projects:
driven ashore. The ISRAEL SNOW guishing the flames in about half an hour. A and perils of the survivors who had to make
Fife 8-Meter yacht "Quest" in for structural repairs.
registered 158 tons, and was built in search was made in the hold of the vessel, and their way across the ice packs of the frozen
1867 at Rockland, ME, where she the officers soon found, in various parts of region to reach the open water where they
34' Herreshoff yacht "Aida" - new construction.
was owned by Snow, Farwell & Co. the bark, the bodies of five men. With the were rescued.
Just launched:
and others. exception of one, all appeared to have been It is the undivided opinion of every mas-
29’ Stephens, Waring & White launch powered by a
suffocated, and the fifth man, one Gill, was ter that no hope can be entertained of the
Steyr Hybrid diesel/electricsystem.
12 October also badly burned about the head, hands and rescue of the ships or of those on board of
See us at the 2010 Maine Boatbuilders Show. A Shocking Disaster.
body. The bodies were identified as Thomas them, who returned rather than risk the perils
New York, October 8. The Ingraham, William Furlong, John McDonald, of the march across the ice.
EUROPA, which for several years George Gill and Dennis Sullivan. Gill shows All are undoubtedly lost, carried away to
has been engaged in the kerosene marks of having met with a hard death, and all the Northeast in the immense ice pack which
carrying trade between the United the others appear as if they had been suffer- closed them in for miles around.
21 FRONT STREET States and Germany, was placed on
ing the terrible agonies of suffocation. The law student abetted by the disaster
BELFAST, MAINE 04915
the large balance dry dock at the foot to the whaling fleet in the Arctic is near
207~338~6706
of Rutgers Street for the purpose of MEMORANDA $500,000, mostly insured in New York and
www.frenchwebb.com
receiving a general overhauling. LAUNCHED. At Damariscotta, 5
th
inst., Boston offices.
The ship carpenters and caulkers ship JOSEPHUS, 1470 tons, partially owned
Support Maritime Research & Computerization
Changing Careers?
Need to Update?
DONATE YOUR BOAT
Portland Yacht Services is proud
Good quality boats are wanted to raise funds for the
to introduce their comprehensive
International Maritime Library. IML is computerizing
Marine Learning Center
maritime information for easy online access.
NOW OFFERING:
For More Information contact: The library at:
PO Box 710, Winterport, ME 04496
Boat Safety Courses
207-223-8846
igmatats@aol.com
Professional Certifications
ABYC classes
Buying a Boat?
USCG Licensing for
Be SURE Before You Buy!
- Launch/Tender or A/B
- 6 Pack/100 Ton
Over 20 years of marine experience
- 200 Ton Masters & Mates
means you’ll know if it’s sound...
or NOT.
And much more... For more information
call 207-774-1067 or go to portlandyacht.com
Reasonable Rates Power or Sail

Wood & Fiberglass to 60 feet
Kent Thurston ~ Marine Surveyor
Phone/Fax - (207) 948-2654
E-mail: marinesurveyor@thurstoncreative.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32