December 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 25. HISTORY FROM THE PAST - Bangor Daily Commercial - Early 1900s


about half tide when the sloop was beached and at low water she can be seen as she lies on shore.


The removal of the sloop will give a better chance to sue the trawls. While the sloop has been in the way it has been necessary to sink the trawls near the sloop and work away from it. In this manner considerable of the bottom has not been covered. Now with the sloop out of the way the searchers can cover every foot of the bottom with their trawls and it is hoped the remaining bodies will be brought to the surface very soon. If the bodies by any chance were covered by the mud on the bottom possibly the removal of the sloop has disturbed them so that they may be more easily caught by the trawls. Every foot of the bottom for a long distance about the spot where the sloop sunk will be covered by the trawls now and it seems certain that the remaining bodies will be found.


9 August 1907 Steamer Wrecked off Vinalhaven The FREYSDEL of Norway Hard and Fast on the Malcolm Ledges. Left Stockton Springs Late Thursday Night


Is Partly Loaded with Spool Bars and was Bound to Halifax – May be Salved. Rockland, August 9.


The Norwegian steamer FREYSDEL,


Capt. X. P. Frantzen, was wrecked early Friday on Western Malcolm ledges, about 20 miles from here and is expected to be a total loss.


She left Stockton Springs at 7 o’clock Thursday night with two-thirds of a cargo of spoolwood, values at $35,000, for Glasgow and was bound for Halifax, N. S., to complete her cargo with lumber. The steamer is valued at $100,000 and is insured. Capt. Frantzen, who was brought here in a lobster smack by Capt. H. J. Ames of Matinicus, who sighted the stranded steamer and put off to her in his lobster smack, said that when he reached the vicinity about midnight he saw Seal and Wooden ball islands, one on each side of him, and believed he had a clear channel. He passed Wooden Ball island on the starboard bow and supposed he was clear of the rocks and at sea. The fi rst he know of trouble was when he felt the ship strike the submerged ledges known as the western Malcolm ledges. An examination was made and a hole was found in the forward ballast tank, but no other damage was visible. When Capt. Frantzen left the vessel Friday forenoon, one-sixth of her length was clear of water and the forefoot was smashed and possibly some of the keel. Capt. Ames, who well knows the character of the ledges, is of the opinion that there is no possible show of clearing the steamer. Capt. Frantzen hopes to save her if the weather holds good and has wired the insurance agents in New York to send aid at once from the nearest port which probably will be Bangor. The steamer W. G. BUTMAN, with a scow, was preparing to go out for the purpose of saving a portion of the cargo which consists of 637 standards of spoolwood, each standard representing 2,000 feet.


The 18 men in the crew remained aboard the steamer with their boats in readiness to leave at any moment. They were in no danger. After fi ling his despatches to the insurance people and the owners, who are J. Johanson & Co., Christiana, Capt. Frantzen, returned to his ship. The ship is fully insured but Capt. Frantzen did not know about the cargo. The steamer FREYSDEL is 2609 gross tonnage and 300 feet long.


12 August 1907 Ellsworth Schooner Sunk in L. I. 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, Maine, 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 member 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. Coffi n, an oiler, of the U. S. battleship NEW JERSEY both passengers on the TENNESSEE 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 there vessel. The masts of the sunken vessel were showing above water and the TENNESSEE herself only slightly damaged lay be while a search was made for the missing sailors. The TENNESSEE was then anchored.


The New Bedford line steamer MAINE for New York, responded to her signals of distress and going alongside the TENNESSEE, 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.


Meanwhile the Norwich liner


CHESTER W. CHAPIN and the Providence liner PROVIDENCE reached the scene and offered assistance which was declined. The MAINE proceeded to New York where the TENNESSEE’s passengers were landed safely.


The TENNESSEE was left at anchor in


the Sound. The TENNESSEE is a Joy line drafted for service on the Neptune line while one of the boats of that line is undergoing repairs.


Capt. Belatty is a Resident of Ellsworth Ellsworth, August 12. The fi rst news received here regarding the sinking of the MYRONUS came through the Associated Press. As far as can be ascertained none of the crew came from this section with the exception of Capt. Belatty. A brief despatch received by Mrs. Belatty gave


no particulars of the collision. Capt. Jos. M. Higgins of this city was the principal owner and agent. There were several other small owners including Capt. Belatty. There was no insurance on the vessel.


The MYRONUS was built here in 1865. Her dimensions were: length 118.5, breadth 27.5, depth 11.6, gross tonnage 283 and net tonnage 244. She carried a crew of six men.


19 August 1907 Wrecked at a Calais Pier


Schooner MOONLIGHT Run on to Remains of Old Pier and Filled.


Calais, August 19. After buffeting the waves along the New England coast and arriving at a safe anchorage at the Ledge, six miles below the city, the Calais schooner MOONLIGHT was wrecked, Saturday evening, just alongside the pier at which she was to have discharged her cargo of coal. The MOONLIGHT was brought up river by the steamer HENRY F. EATON of the Frontier line and was assigned to the southerly side of the Washington Country railway coal dock which is known as a bad berth. Not daring to risk his steamer too close to the pier Capt. Waite of the EATON, gave the MOONLIGHT a run for her berth but he schooner failed to swing in time and went crashing against the pier, her jibboom being snapped short off. Before the EATON could get to the assistance of the MOONLIGHT the schooner grounded on a rock pile, the remains of an old pier, and was held hard and fast in an extremely bad position. Her seams were opened and the water rushed in with the incoming ride, there being about six feet in her hold when the tide left her in spite of the efforts of the crew who labored incessantly at the pumps. On Sunday the full extent of the damage sustained by the schooner was not known, but it was feared that her back had been broken. Caulkers were set at work repairing the damage as far as possible, and the schooner will be towed to the dry dock as soon as her cargo is discharged. The MOONLIGHT is commanded by Capt. Andrews Mantil, who was absent at his home at the Ledge when the accident occurred, the vessel being in charge of the mate. She is practically a new vessel, having been extensively repaired two years ago and was one of the best schooners sailing out of the port. On Sunday, at low tide many curious persons visited the scene of the wreck and watched the men engaged at work upon her. A wreck right in the city is something out of the ordinary, and many snapshots were taken of the stranded vessel.


24 August 1907 A Launching at Rockland The MERTIE B. CROWLEY Added to the Fleet of the Coastwise Transportation Co.


Rockland, August 24.


Rockland will contribute the largest schooner built in her yards to the Atlantic coast service Saturday with the launching of the six-masted schooner MERTIE B. CROWLEY, to be christened by the wife of Capt. J. G. Crowley, manager of the Coastwise Transportation company, after whom the vessel was named. The CROWLEY was ready to start on her fi rst trip Saturday so far as her equipment was concerned, but a few fi nishing touches will be applied before she sails for her fi rst consignment of coal. The schooner is the twelfth of the Coastwise Transportation companies fl eet. Capt. E. W. Babbitt will command the CROWLEY. The CROWLEY has a length of 296.5 feet, a breath of 48.4 feet and a depth of 28 feet. The gross tonnage is 2,834 and the net


2,310. She has a carrying capacity of 4,850 tons.


Many Boston people accompanied the launching party, which included Mr. and Mrs. Crowley and officials of the Coastwise Transportation company from the company’s offi ces in Boston.


3 September 1907 Cherryfi eld Vessel Sank in Boston Harbor


The PHINEAS H. GAY Probably will be a Total Loss – The Crew was Saved. Boston, September 3. – The crew of the schooner PHINEAS H. GAY of Cherryfi eld, Maine, which sank Monday night landed Tuesday on Long Island and were brought up to the city.


The schooner which was loaded with clay from Perth Amboy will probably be a total loss. The GAY Tuesday night in a thick southerly storm sprang a leak and sank between the Graves light and the bell buoy. Her crew of four men including Capt. F. R. Perkins of Brooksville, Maine, rowed to Long Island. The GAY was owned by Capt. Perkins and his brother W. R. Perkins and was valued at $2500 with no insurance. The cargo was valued at $700.


6 September 1907 Sch. DECORAH a Total Loss


Machias Vessel Wrecked Off Moosabec Head in Thursday’s Gale. Machiasport, September 6.


The two-masted schooner DECORAH of Machias, loaded with coal and bound from New York to Eastport, is wrecked off Moosabec head and Capt. Fred Berry of this place and crew of four men were brought here Friday by the tug ETHEL. She is supposed to be a total loss.


The schooner had been having bad weather for a week and nearly everything movable had been washed away. She sprang a leak Thursday afternoon and was quickly abandoned by the crew who after two hours’ rowing through the fog reached one of the lighthouses and remained over night. Capt. Berry was of the opinion that the schooner sank within an hour.


The DECORAH was 181 gross tonnage, 97.8 feet long, and was built at Machias in 1866.


9 September 1907 Str. RUTH Aground


Excursion Boat Went Ashore on Bars Below Ayer’s Mill Damage Believed Slight


Left Bangor at 3 o’clock Monday Morning and Grounded While at Anchor in the Fog.


Starting down river at 1 o’clock Monday morning in fog and darkness so thick that her crew could not see from one end of the boat to the other the steamer RUTH of Brooksville & Bangor Steamboat Co. ran aground on the sandy bars below the Orrington house of the American Ice Co. with the tide going out and remained there until pulled off by the tug STELLA about 10:30 Monday forenoon. The steamer was towed up to her wharf in Bangor and the extent of her damage will be ascertained on the marine railway at South Brewer. It is thought the steamer is not badly injured and will soon be able to resume her runs. The RUTH arrived in Bangor about 7 o’clock Sunday night after having taken an excursion down river. She fi lled her coal bunkers and the crew then turned in for some sleep to await the ebb tide before starting down river again. The steamer had to get back to Brooksville Monday morning so as to start out from there and take the TREMONT’s run, the TREMONT being


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