March 2010 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21.
Maritime History:
August to December 1876
Loss of an Islesboro Brig, and death of increased to a strong gale from Northeast.
Two Men. The weather became hazy and the vessel
Boston, Oct. 23 began to leak. Next day, Tuesday, the
A despatch to the Merchants’ exchange weather moderating, we made all sail. During
states that the schooner G. F. HUNTER of the night of Wednesday, the 18
th
, it blew a
Gloucester, arrived at Provincetown today, fresh gale from the Northeast. We put the
having on board Leonidas Pendleton, mate, vessel under short sail, and as she was leak-
and Hobart Dodge, cook, the only survivors ing badly all hands were put at the pumps.
of the crew of the brig ALMIRA, of Islesboro, Wednesday morning the wind moderated
which sail from Portland 14
th
inst., and was and came more from the eastward. At 10 AM
wrecked the first night at sea. we wore ship to the northward and set the jib,
Captain Pendleton and a colored seamen with a heavy sea running from the southeast
died from the effects of exposure. The survi- and the vessel laboring heavily and still leak-
vors were found on a raft ninety-three miles ing badly. At the same time we were in latitude
East-Northeast from Highland Light Cape 29 degrees 12 minutes north longitude 77
Cod. degrees 36 minutes west. On Thursday, at
The following is the report made by noon, the wind and the weather stood the
Captain Rose to James Gifford, Esq., Deputy same. In the afternoon the wind increased
collector at Provincetown: and we shortened sail. The barometer was
A four-masted schooner being towed out of the Penobscot River by a tug.
“Saturday last at 1 PM, ninety-three very unsteady. By midnight it was blowing
miles East Northeast from Highland, fill in heavy, the vessel being under three reefed doubt all hands met a watery grave. A body bodies were found on the 23
rd
, very much
with a raft having on it the above named sails and all hands at the pumps. Friday, at was picked up on the 19th of a man apparently disfigured. One, a big man, 6 feet in height,
survivors and the dead bodies of Captain daylight, there was every sign of a hurricane. 18 or 20 years of age, with dark brown hair, and with brown hair. The other man had light hair
Tolman T. Pendleton and a colored man. From All hands were kept at the pumps, and the marked on the right arm G. J. C. and an anchor and whiskers, and seemed to be not more than
the survivors he learned that the brig barometer Falling fast. At 9:30 AM the vessel mark on the left arm. Another body, that of a 20 years of age. From a memorandum book
ALMIRA sail from Portland Sunday, 14
th
in- was thrown on her beam ends, and we had to man over 30 years of age, 5 feet 7 inches in found in the latter’s pocket his name was
stant. She blew away her sails and was cut away the mainmast to right her, which height, with light hair and red whiskers and found to be Delmont Ober of Calais. It is also
wrecked the same night, the captain and crew, carried away the foremast. When she righted mustache, was picked up on the 22
nd
. He was stated that the owner shipped at Calais on 8
five in all, taking to a hastily constructed raft, the decks were swept of everything – dressed in a black suit of clothes very much
on which they were found, having with them deckload, forward house and loose spars and worn. There was nothing in his pockets. Two
Continued on Page 22.
only a part of a gallon of molasses for nour- gear. The vessel was full of water. It was
ishment. The survivors have no recollection blowing a hurricane. At 11 AM the barometer
of time, but suppose the captain died Thurs- stood very low, and the sea making a clean
New England Fiberglass Company
day. The other members of the crew jumped breach over the vessel and through the cabin,
from the raft into the sea the forenoon on staving the bulkheads and everything in the
Yacht Repair/Restorations
Saturday and were drowned. The bodies of cabin and driving all hands on the top of the
the captain and seamen were buried in the house, where they lash themselves as best POWDER COATING
sea.” The two survivors are improving, and they could for safety. My wife with her child
are well provided for at the Central House. in her arms was washed off the house, but
58 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
having a rope made fast around her she was
(207) 773-3537 Phone (207) 874-7926 Fax
MEMORANDA hauled on board but without the child, which
www.nefiberglass.com email: newenglandfibe@conversent.net
FATAL EFFECTS OF YELLOW FEVER ON A was drowned. Myself and the other child
MAINE SCHOONER. Schooner C. W. LEWIS, of were washed in the cabin and nearly
Thomaston, Hupper, from Savannah for New drowned. When I recovered myself the child
York, put into Fortress Monroe, October 15
th
, was gone, having been washed through the
with crew sick. She left Tybee on the 6
th
, where cabin. At midnight the wind shifted to the
PAUL E. LUKE, INC.
the mate, Mr. Hupper, a brother of the captain, northwest, which made directly easier and
took yellow fever, was sick 12 days, and died gave us a little shelter in the after companion- Fireplaces - Automatic Feathering Propellors - 3-Piece Storm Anchors
six days before the schooner left that place. way, which was not washed away. The
He was buried there. A portion of the crew weather moderating we took a look around
Full Service Boat Yard
had been in Savannah. The captain was sick and found her to be the brig NELLIE WARE,
15 Luke's Gulch, East Boothbay, Maine 04544
10 days before he left Tybee, but says he had Captain Ashbury, from Minatitlan, for New
TEL. (207) 633-4971 A. Franklin Luke FAX: (207) 633-3388
not the yellow fever. Two of the crew were York. Captain Ashbury did everything in his
also taken sick, but, with the captain, were power to make us comfortable, and our
convalescent. The steward, Mr. Pease, of St. thanks are due to him for the kind of manner
George, ME, died of yellow fever on the 16
th
, in which he treats us. My wife was badly
RALPH STANLEY, INC.
and not being permitted to land for the pur- bruised, and had very little clothing on when
WOODEN BOATS
pose of burying his body, it was weighted we were rescued.”
for work and pleasure
and thrown overboard in the Roads. There LOSS OF A CALAIS VESSEL. Schooner
were three men who had not been sick, and MARY G. REEVES of Calais, was undoubt-
were able to work. A steam tug towed the edly the vessel before reported wreck Octo-
CUSTOM-MADE
vessel to the quarantine station near Carney ber 6 at Sable Island. She was bound from
INDIVIDUALLY DESIGNED
Islands. Labrador for New York, with a cargo of her-
Steamer BRISTOL, from Fall River for ring. The superintendent at Sable Island
Southwest Harbor, Maine 04679 (207) 244-3795
New York, was in collision at 5 AM October writes as follows, under date of October 18
th
:
21, during a heavy fog, off Eaton’s Neck, “on the 16
th
we had a very heavy gale of wind
Long Island Sound, with schooner S. J. from the southwest late in the afternoon. MAINE COAST LUMBER, INC.
GILMORE, from Bangor for New York. The Morrison saw a large two topmast schooner
schooner was cut to the water’s edge on the on the northwest bar, about three quarters of
port side, and all her four in main rigging, a mile from the end of the dry bar; she was in 4 Warren Ave.
17 White Birch Lane
house, &c., demolished. She was subse- the Breakers, the sea breaking half mast high Westbrook, ME 04902
York, ME 03909
quently towed to New York. No damage to over her. He also says he thought he could
(207) 856-6015
(207) 363-7426
steamer is reported. see three or four men in the rigging. She was
(877) 408-4751
(800) 899-1664
reported to me at half past 4 o’clock AM. I
Fax (207) 856-6971
Fax (207) 363-8650
M-F 7:30am-4:00pm
9 November immediately placed the rocket gear in the cart M-F 7am-5pm
Saturday 8am-12pm
Rescue of a Maine Crew. and proceeded to the west end. When we
The brig NELLIE WARE, at New York, arrived at the bar it was very dark and we may
from Minatitlan, brought the captain and attempt to go out on the bar, but when we got
crew of the schooner KATIE P. LUNT of out half a mile to see was breaking over it so
*HARDWOOD LUMBER*SOFTWOOD LUMBER*
Tremont. Captain Lopans relates his hard we were surrounded with water and had to
*HARDWOOD PLYWOODS*MELAMINE*MDF*MARINE
experience as follows – return to the lighthouse, weary remained until
PLYWOODS*MDO*PARTICLE BOARD*SLATWALL*LAMINATE*
*EDGE BANDING*VENEER*HARDWOOD MOLDINGS*
“We sail from Brunswick, GA, on Sun- daybreak next morning. We then made an-
*CUSTOM MILLING*DOVETAILED DRAWER BOXES
day, October 15, with light westerly winds other attempt to go out on the bar, the sea still
and fine weather. That night the wind shifted breaking over it, but we succeeded in waiting
to the north and east, blowing fresh. On out to the end of the bar. When we arrived
We Deliver www.mainecoastlumber.com
Monday it was blowing a strong breeze and near the vessel was not to be seen. She
ME, NH, VT, MA, RI mainecoastlumber@yahoo.com
We Ship UPS
we shortened sail. During the day the wind must’ve gone to pieces in the night, and no
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