Page 22. MAINE COASTAL NEWS May 2012 Maritime History HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Bangor Daily Commercial 1907


Over the past month a number of articles have been transcribed that were extremely interesting. I am a believer that there are a lot of facts buried in these newspapers articles that will fill in gaps that has been forgotten over the years.


13 July 1907


MAINE VESSEL SENT TO BOTTOM The NICKERSON of Boothbay Sunk in Collision Three Men Drowned. Three victims were added to the long death toll of New England fishermen who have lost their lives in wrecks caused by collisions with ocean steamers in the thick fog off the Massachusetts coast when early Friday, the White Star line steamer ROMANIC from Boston to New York, run down and sunk the two masted auxiliary fishing schooner NATALIE B. NICKERSON, of Boothbay, ME, in a blanketing fog of the Nantucket lightship and while most of the schooner’s crew of 18 men were sleeping below decks.


Three fishermen were still missing when the big ROMANIC steamed away, after a two- hour search. 15 fishermen were picked up from the wreckage by the ROMANIC’s boats and landed in New York. the last man picked up was Bert Wylie, a one armed fisherman from Maine, who was found clinging to a piece of wreckage and shouting lustily for help.


Capt. Bendell of the ROMANIC says they his ship was steaming slowly, and when the flare of the NICKERSON’s light showed through the fog, the ROMANIC was not under sufficient way to veer off before the crash came. Within one minute after the sharp steel bow pierced the little fishermen, the NICKERSON sank in 27 fathoms of water. The three missing fisherman believe to be drowned are: William Winchester, Digby, Nova Scotia; Everett Greenleaf and Elwell Greenleaf, two brothers, both from Maine. The smart schooner NATALIE NICKERSON sail from Newport, RI, on the evening of July 9, for the Nantucket Shoals under the command of Capt. John Seavey and with a crew of 17 men all of whom with the


exception of the Winchester, were from New England. A water spaniel called “Spot Seavey,” was not on the schooner’s list but was a pet of the crew. The fishing was good and Friday when the weather began to set in thick Capt. Seavey and his men were in high spirits over the good catch.


The ROMANIC, under the command of Capt. Beadnell, left Boston for New York at noon Thursday, after a long voyage from Italy to make a special trip out of New York. Of the Highland light an easterly wind blew in a nasty mist and as the big White Star liner near the Nantucket Shoals an impenetrable fog bank shut in, and Capt. Beadnell, realizing the great danger of running down the fleet of fishermen, reduced the speed of the ship. “About midnight,” said Capt. Beadnell, who was on the bridge of the ROMANIC from the time she left Boston until she reached New York, “we could hear the foghorns fear- ing they are on the water and from the sounds I could pick out the location of the many fishing schooners. The ROMANIC’s whistle was blowing constantly, for the fog was very thick and we were barely moving along for fear of striking a vessel. I heard the NICKERSON’s horn but once, when sud- denly out of the fog I saw the rule of her light. Orders were given to throw the wheel over but the ship was hardly underway and before we could veer off the NICKERSON was struck. We clung to the spot where the acci- dent occurred for over two hours searching for the three missing men but we were unable to find them.”


Fifteen of the NICKERSON’s crew were asleep below when the two men on watch saw the big ROMANIC bearing down upon them. Quickly they ran below to rouse the sleeping fisherman but before the men could tumble out of their bunks the ROMANIC crashed into the after quarter of the NICKERSON which was moving lazily along under foresail and mainsail. The crew, half dressed, rushed to the deck, now crumbling to pieces from the impact and managed to get overboard and into a dory which had been carried on deck. Hardly had the dory been put overboard, when the NICKERSON sank and several of


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the crew were drawn down beneath the wa- ters by the suction. A few managed to reach the dory, while others seized bits of floating wreckage. Capt. Beadnell gave orders to stop the ROMANIC and boats were quickly low- ered. One by one the fisherman who could be located were picked up and “Spot Seavey,” who had swam after Capt. Seavey was taken into the dory.


Capt. Seavey broke down Friday from shock and was slightly delirious. The surviving fisherman will be sent back to Boston.


The NATALIE E. NICKERSON was a vessel of 128 tons gross register and 68 tons net. She was 106 feet in length, 24 feet beam and 10 feet deep, and was built in East Boothbay, Maine, in 1901.


12 August 1907


Ellsworth Schooner Sunk in Long Island Sound


The MYRONUS was Bound Rockland to New York, with Granite. Four sailors were drowned Capt. Belatty Rescued by Passengers From the Steamer; Dense Fog in the Sound


New York, August 12. – The three- masted schooner MYRONUS bound from Rockland, ME, for New York, with a load of granite, was sunk in the middle of Long Island sound early Monday, in a collision with the Neptune line steamer TENNESSEE bound from Fall River to New York. Four members of the MYRONUS’ crew were drowned but Capt. Belatty was rescued by passengers on the TENNESSEE and one of his crew was also saved by swimming to the steamer. The passengers of the TENNESSEE were taken off by the New Bedford line steamer MAINE and brought to New York.


The TENNESSEE anchored in the sound. She did not appear to be much damaged. There was a heavy fog over the sound at the time of the collision.


The TENNESSEE was crowded with passengers and was making very nearly her schedule time when the schooner was sighted only a short distance ahead and following a course across the bow of the steamer.


The sailing vessel was so near that a collision was inevitable and the TENNESSEE’s bow struck her on the side amidship tearing a great hole in her wooden planking. The MYRONUS sank immediately. Capt. Belatty, her commander and one of her crew who were on deck, jumped overboard. The sailor swam to the TENNESSEE and was hauled on board but Capt. Belatty was a poor swimmer and shouted for help. Joseph Kenney, a clerk, of New York, and Michael J. Coffin, an oiler, of the U. S. battleship NEW JERSEY both passengers on the TENNES- SEE jumped into the water and brought him alongside the steamer and supported him until a boat was launched. He was taken on board the TENNESSEE. Capt. Belatty said that four of his crew were missing and must have gone down with their vessel. The masts of the sunken vessel were showing above water and the TENNESSEE herself only slightly damaged lay by while a search was made for the missing sailors. The TENNES- SEE was then anchored.


The New Bedford line steamer MAINE for New York, responded to her signals of distress and going alongside the TENNES- SEE, took off the passengers and brought them to New York. The sea was so smooth that the two vessels lay side-by-side while the passengers walked from one boat to the other on gang planks.


JOHN'S BAY BOAT CO. Continued from Page 1.


DELUSIONAL is a 38 footer designed by Peter. Originally she was designed as a 36 footer for someone else to build on Chebeague Island. However they wound up building a 36 footer for a fisherman from Stonington. She was followed by a 38 footer for another fisherman from Stonington, then a 40-foot pleasure boat and a 36 footer for Alan’s brother Scott.


The backbone is 5 ½-inch white oak, with oak frames and cedar planking. The frames are 2½ x 1 3/8-inch on 10 inch centres, bronze fastened. The decks and washrails are two layers of plywood glued together. This time he covered the decks and washrails epoxy and fiberglass and then Awlgripped it. This made for a very nice finish.


Down below she has a V-berth, an upper berth on the starboard side, head and galley with an all varnished interior. Most of the interior is mahogany, but the ceiling is cedar and the sole is Douglas fir. The galley has the


usual stove with a cook top, but there is also a microwave oven.


For power she sports an 8.3 liter QSC Cummins diesel. Those that took a ride all came back and were amazed at how quiet she was. Peter said, “I think it is the engine more than anything. She has got more Soundown than most of our work boats and a better muffler. Still I give most of the credit to the engine.”


The other comment was the shifting of the gear, which everyone said they could not feel.


What did impress Alan was how much support he got from his kids, especially his daughter Molly. In fact the launching date was set so she could be there.


When asked what was next Alan replied, “retire.” Well, most of us know that is a distant dream. He added he was going to haul some traps like he always has, do some tuna fishing and hopefully a little bit of cruising. You might also see him at a lobster boat race or two.


SEVENTIES MEMORIES... Continued from Page 20.


34' Wooden Lobster Boat - Built by Bert Frost of Jonesport in 1964. She is powered with a gasoline engine. Needs platform, deck and house. Hull rebuilt 2 years ago by Richard Stanley. Best offer.


26' Stamas, built 1970s. Powered with twin Ford 6 cylinders. V-berth, enclosed head and small galley. Great weekender. $6,000


For More Information contact: The library at: PO Box 710, Winterport, ME 04496 207-223-8846 igmatats@aol.com


was a perfect example. He’d been managing the produce section for “Shop and Save”, realized this really wasn’t what he wanted to do with his life, and came looking for a new direction. Wasn’t long but what he knew everything the rest of us knew and was making suggestions such as just mentioned. And it wasn’t but a few years as we began to grow, that the crew were coming to him for answers and direction. Yet, John really never wanted the title “Foreman”. Preferred to be one of the guys, though he did consent to


“Crewleader” when we decided, as expansion took place, to split people into separate crews per boat. John was one of those key individuals that a successful business is based on. Someone you could always depend on no matter what the circumstances, ranked high in the pecking order, yet selfless when it came to the greater good. Later, supported by his wonderful wife, Linda, John’s son Anthony joined us to carry on a tradition at the shop of sons and daughters following in their parents tracks. To be continued, Fair winds and good roads,


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