USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Truro > Truro-Cape Cod; or, Land marks and sea marks > Part 39
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They started at the hour of ten, They started like five gallant men ; While thoughts of home their hearts did fill, They little thought of coming ill.
In the fall of 1836, James Needham, aged 25, master of schooner Coral Rock ; Caleb Hopkins, aged 31 ; Nathaniel Paine, aged 28 ; - Babstock, and perhaps others, were lost
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on their homeward passage from the Grand Banks. They were spoken on the Banks with a full cargo. The Coral Rock was a large, first-class vessel, and Captain Needham and his crew valued citizens.
August 3, 1836, Ebenezer Paine, aged 37 ; James Russell, aged 22, and Jonathan Paine, aged 19, part of the crew of schooner Turk, were towed under in a skiff-boat, by a large blackfish on Georges, and perished in sight of their vessel and crew, who could not help them, it being calm. The skip- per was Elkanah Paine; the lost were his relatives and neigh- bors ; he not only had to leave them behind, but meet their families with the painful news.
In the winter of 1838, Captain Ephraim Doane Rich Jr., aged 29, was lost with his crew in the Bay of Mexico.
Lewis Smith, aged 22, d. at the West Indies about 1840. Alvin Collins, aged 19, was washed from the jib-boom of brig Chief, March 17, 1835, from Boston to Charleston, S. C.
In August, 1839, Captain Shubael A. Thomas, aged 30, of the schooner Comet, and his crew, were murdered by the Indians at Cape Carnival, Florida. He was wrecked by striking a hidden reef near the Cape. Captain Thomas had previously been captain or pilot on the East Boston Ferry. Theodore Lyman, a younger brother, was lost overboard from brig Kremlin on the coast of Africa.
December 27, 1839, the little schooner Senator was lost on the Jersey coast. Her crew were Captain Bernard French, aged 26; Albert Robbins, aged 21 ; Frank De Acenaro, aged 19. They were engaged in trading on the coast. Captain French and De Acenaro were brothers, natives of Havre, France. They left home with thousands of the flower of the French youth of that time, to avoid conscription. They had lived many years in Truro, and attended the district school. Bernard was an intelligent fellow, had become a citizen, adopt- ing the name of French. Albert Robbins was a young man of considerable originality, and some innocent eccentricities - the gifted Hopkins of the neighborhood. I have referred to his poetry. His compositions were mostly elegiac- pen- tameter verse. Though several years my senior, I grew up
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by his side, and can say to his memory as Mrs. Browning said over the grave of Cowper : -
With quiet sadness and no gloom, I learn to think upon him ; With meekness that is gratefulness, To God whose heaven hath won him.
Edward Pendergrace, aged 40, left his vessel at Norfolk, February, 1840, and took passage for Boston in the schooner America ; Captain Samuel Cook Jr., of Provincetown ; were never heard from. Henry Johnson, aged 36, d. at Port au Prince, February 14, 1841 ; Thomas Kenna, aged 20, March 5, 1841.
The most appalling calamity that ever befel Truro, over- shadowing all others, was the losses by the October gale of 1841. The monument that commemorates that event has often been referred to by travellers and writers. It is a plain marble shaft on a brownstone base. A good representation is here presented. It bears the following inscriprion. The first side : -
Sacred To the memory of FIFTY-SEVEN CITIZENS OF' TRURO who were lost in seven vessels, which foundered at sea in the memorable gale of October 3, 1841.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.
The names, with ages in single columns, cover the other sides. Regarding a list of these lost vessels, with their respective crews, as an historical acquisition, and as perhaps gratifying to the friends of the long-lost, we have, after the lapse of forty-one years, been able by much labor and the valued assistance of Mr. Joshua Dyer, to place every name correctly.
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LIST OF TRURO VESSELS LOST WITH THEIR CREWS IN THE GALE OF OCTOBER 3, 1841.
Dalmatia. - Daniel Snow, master, aged 27; Isaac S. Paine, aged 30; Gama- liel S. Paine, aged 41 ; Henry l'aine, aged 14, son of the last; Barnabas Cook, aged 50; Isaiah Snow, aged 22; David C. Snow, aged 21 ; William J. Smith, aged 23; Benjamin F. Bridgman, aged 14; Nayor IIatch Jr., aged 20.
Cincinnatus. - John Wheeler, master, aged 28; Alfred Mayo, aged 27; Eze- kiel Atwood, aged 39; Henry Brackett, aged 22; John Cordes, aged 22; An- drew W. Cordes, aged 12; Stephen Rider, aged 21; Nehemiah H. Paine, aged 25; Benjamin Rich, aged 29; Joseph Wheat, aged 13.
Pomona. - Solomon H. Dyer, master, aged 23; Jeremiah Hopkins, aged 24; John Doyle, aged 17; William R. Atwood, aged 17; Reuben Snow, aged 14 ; Francis P. Inzerilla, aged 18; Edward Ryan, aged 20.
Altair. - Elisha Rich, master, aged 26; Joseph Kich Jr., aged 24; William S. Rich, aged 22 - the last three were brothers; David Knowles, aged 28; Jesse Rich, aged 18; Ephraim Snow Jr., aged 18.
Prince Albert .- Noah Smith, master, aged 29; Israel Paine, aged 27; George E. Anderson, aged 30; Atkins Paine, aged 32; Samuel King, aged 24; James R. Smith, aged 17; John Ryan, aged 17 ; Henry Bradley, aged 14.
General Harrison. - Reuben Snow, master, aged 29; Joshua Snow, aged 35; Richard Cobb, aged 34 ; Zoheth Rich, aged 25; Samuel Russell, aged 33; John WV. Peterson, aged 17. She carried a large crew ; the remainder belonged out of town.
Arrival. - Freeman Atkins Jr., master, aged 28; Richard H. Paine, aged 30 ; Joshua G. White, aged 23; Cullen A. Rider, aged 19; Thomas Cotter, aged 19; Richard F. Atwood, aged 14; Moses C. Snow, aged 16; Charles W. B. Nott, aged 11; Thomas C. White, aged 12.
Elisha Paine, aged 39, was washed overboard from schooner Reform. Some of the additional names not belonging in Truro were Decatur Phillips, Luther Hain, William Gill or McGill, and Hugh McLane. Gamaliel S. Paine, being left at home, walked to Provincetown the Sunday before the gale, went out in another vessel, was transferred to his own, while another man who belonged on the same vessel refused to take the walk, and is now alive.
Barnabas Paine, town clerk, very properly spread upon the
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records an account of the deplorable loss of life and property, and such particulars of the storm as he was able to gather from various sources. My first intention was to copy this valuable record, but fortunately, have since been furnished an accurate ac- count of the personal expe- rience of Joshua Knowles, of Truro, master of the Garnet, and Matthias Rich, now of Boston, of the Water Witch, which I am glad to hand down through the pages of this history.
MONUMENT IN MEMORY OF THE OCTOBER GALE IN 1841.
It may add interest to these narratives and to the vivid impressions such ex- periences make on the mind, that they were made without preparation more than forty years after the events described.
THE ACCOUNT OF JOSHUA KNOWLES.
We left Provincetown Saturday, second; at sunset were off Head of Pamet, one league east. Soon after spoke the l'esper of Dennis, direct from Georges, bound home ; reported good fishing. For Georges we shaped our course, set- ting all sail. Wind light from the northeast, but soon began to breeze. At ten, took in light sails. At twelve, took in mainsail, the wind now blowing a gale. At four Sunday morning took in the jib, had thirty-four fathoms of water. Judged myself on the southwest part of Georges. At six, double-reefed the fore- sail, which soon after parted the leachrope and tore to the luff. We crossbarred the sail, and put on a preventer leachrope quick as possible, and set it close- reefed. The gale increased every moment. At ten, a heavy sea took the boat and davits. By sounding found we were fast drifting across South Channel, and knew the shoals were under our lee. Determined to carry sail as long as it would stand, to clear the shoals, if possible. To the close-reefed foresail, set a balanced-reefed mainsail and reefed jib, and, blowing as it was, she carried it off in good shape ; and had our sails stood, I have little doubt we should have car- ried out clear.
The foresail again gave out, was repaired and set ; as soon as up, it blew to ribbons. Mainsail soon shared the same fate. We had only the jib left. It was now about eight o'clock Sunday evening. We could do no more. Sounded
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in fifteen fathoms of water and knew we were rapidly drifting into shoal water The next throw of the lead was six fathoms. As the sea was breaking over fore and aft, advised all to go below but brother Zack. We concluded to swing her off before the wind, and if by any possibility we were nearing land, should have a better chance. Put up the helm. Just as she began to fall off, a tremendous sea or a breaker completely buried the vessel, leaving her on her broadside, or beam ends. Brother Zack was washed overboard, but caught the mainsheet and hauled himself on board. The foremast was broken about fifteen feet above deck, the strain on the spring-stay hauled the mainmast out of the step, and tore up the deck, swept away the galley, bulwarks, and everything clean, and shifted the ballast into the wing. I thought at once of a sharp hatchet that was always kept under my berth, which was soon found. A lanyard was fastened to the hatchet and a rope to brother Zack, who went to the leeward, and when she rolled out of water, he watched his chance and cut away the rigging. I did the same forward, cut the jibstay and other ropes, so we got clear of spars, sails and rigging, sheet anchor and chains. The men got into the hold through the laza- ret, and threw ballast to the windward, so that she partially righted. We were now a helpless wreck. I had noticed that immediately after the great breaker the sea was more regular. With a few of the waist-boards left, and spare old canvas, we battened the hole in the deck, and with the remaining anchor out for a drag, we made a pretty good drift considering the circumstances, though mostly under water. It was now nearly daylight, and the gale unabated. As soon as fairly day, I saw by the color of the water that we were off soundings, and had a fair drift. During the afternoon the wind moderated considerably. Tuesday morning, the fifth, wind was more moderate. Saw a schooner under reefs standing by the wind to the northwest; made every effort to attract their attention, but as we lay so low on the water she did not notice us, and soon passed out of sight.
We put a stay on the stump of the foremast, set the staysail for a foresail, and the gaff-topsail for a jib, so we could steer. At ten A. M., weather was fine. We opened the hatches, found some potatoes floating in the hold -fortunately the teakettle was in the cabin when the galley went overboard. The boys built a fire on the ballast and boiled potatoes, the first mouthful of food since Sunday morning, the third. Just before sunset discovered a sail approaching from the east. Our flag on a long pole served as a signal and we used every effort to get in her track lest we should not be discovered. We were soon satisfied she was steering for us, and that there was great interest in our behalf, as the yards and rigging were full of men on the watch.
As soon as within hailing distance, the Captain inquired what assistance he could give. I had before determined to abandon my vessel, and so replied. A quarter boat was soon alongside ; the crew and luggage were mostly taken in the first boat ; during her absence, with the same hatchet that had done such good work, I let in the blue water and stepped on the boat, leaving the Garnet which had been my home for several years, to find the bottom. Never was rescue more fortunate. I found myself and crew of ten men on board the New York and Liverpool packet ship Roscius, the first merchant ship of her day, commanded by John Collins, a Truro boy, and formerly my nearest neighbor, and a connection by marriage. One of the officers was Joshua Caleb Paine, a Truro young man, nephew of Captain Collins. I need not say we received cvery attention and
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were regarded by the passengers, of whom there were four hundred in steerage and cabin, with much interest. We were two hundred miles from the highlands of Neversink, which we sighted the next day, landing at New York on the seventh, receiving the most generous offers and kindest attention, and in good time all arrived safely at our homes.
THE ACCOUNT OF MATTHIAS RICH.
Saturday, Oct. 2d., preceding the gale, the wind was N. E., about half a wholesale breeze. We did not get up with the fleet till after sunset, caught about half a dozen wash-barrels of mackerel, all large and fat. By calculation I was 90 miles S. E. by E. from the Highlands of Cape Cod. We lay to under foresail to the E. carrying jib all night. All the other vessels lay to the N. W. under foresail only. At 4 o'clock Sunday morning I was called, weather bad, a smart wholesale brecze N. E. Wore ship and started for the Cape, which I then calculated distant 120 miles N. W. by W. At five o'clock put on whole sail and steered N. W. by W. On account of heavy sea, was sometimes obliged to swing off the course. Sun rose clear, but looked wild and immediately went into black clouds, showing two sun-dogs. Between 7 and 8 passed the fleet still lying very comfortably to the N. W. under foresail, two or three with bob jib. We passed so near the Dalmatia and Gen. Harrison of Truro, could have spoken them. We thought they had each twenty or thirty barrels of mackerel salted on deck. About 10:30 25 miles N. W. of the fleet we passed the Pomona, Captain Sol. Dyer, laying under double reefed foresail. Seeing us running in for the land, they immediately kept off and followed. I saw a man go out on the bowsprit and loose a part of the jib, which they hoisted. Jeremiah Hopkins was an expert at vessel-telling and knew us doubtless at once. About 11 o'clock my crew urged to tack ship. I said it was too late and that we must now make a harbor or run ashore, as I clearly saw there was no chance for us to fall to the leeward. I had made up my mind if we could not weather the Highlands to run on where the shore was bold and take our chances for being saved. At 11.30 caine up with another vessel laying W. She also kept off, both vessels keeping in sight till 12.30. Then judged myself nearly up to the land and was about to make some observations, when a squall struck, driving the sea completely over our vessel. Hauled down the jib and mainsail, and lay under double- reefed foresail, both other vessels doing the same. When we came up to the wind, Cap- tain Dyer was just off our weather bow, and the other vessel nearly in our wake. I had noticed as we approached the land the wind farther N. At 1 o'clock the force of the squall passed by, at same time clearing slightly to lee- ward. I was then standing in the gang-way, all the crew below, as could not remain on deck; when I saw land under our lee and well along to the windward -our desperate condition was at the first moment a terrible shock, but quickly recovering, I sprang on deck, called up my crew, ordered the jib set. Under the first pressure of the jib, she fell off so far that the land was windward of the bowsprit. I knew we had a good sea-boat ; I had tried her in a hard scratch, and knew our race was life or death. The mainsail had been balanced reefed before laying to; this I ordered hoisted; the sail was small, but before half-way up, our vessel lay so much on her broadside, that the halliards were lost, the sail came
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down by the run, and blew to pieces, the main boom and gaff going over the lee rail. We first tried to cut them away, but fearing the main top-in-liff would carry away the mainmast, got on a tackle and pulled the boom and part of the mainsail out of the water. Then righted and came up to the wind, making good headway and gaining to the windward under the only sail we could bear; double reefed foresail and reefed jib, the sea making a breach fore and aft. Soon as this slight hope dawned, I looked around for our neighbors, but not to be seen. I questioned each of the crew, but all like myself had been so engaged and absorbed with our own danger had not thought of them. The Pomona was much smaller and less able than our boat, and I have good reason to believe she was disabled in the squall. She was found bottom up in Nauset Harbor, with the boys drowned in her cabin. Her boat and some other articles were picked up between 3 and 4, only about two hours after we lost sight of her. The other vessel was probably the Bride of Dennis, which shared the same fate as the Pomana.
We hung on sharp as possible by the wind, our little craft proving herself not only able but seemingly endowed with life. In this way at 3.30 we weathered the Highlands with no room to spare. When off Peaked Hill Bars the jib blew away, and we just cleared the breakers ; but we had weathered ! the lee shore was astern, and Race Point under our lee, which we rounded and let go our anchor in the Herring Cove at 6.30- just at dark. I left the helm, where I had been lashed since 6.30 in the morning, except during the half-hour or so, while we were lying to.
The gale was probably at its height about 2 o'clock Monday morning, as sev- eral lights from vessels anchored near us, then disappeared, going adrift. When morning dawned ours was the only vessel in the Cove.
OTHER NOTES OF THE GALE.
The fate of the Pomona, the only vessel of the lost ever heard from, has been referred to. John Doyle, Reuben Snow 2d, Richard F. Atwood, were the boys found in her cabin, all of whom were brought home for burial. The Cincinnatus was a large able vessel, the only one lost not on Georges. She was fishing in the hook of the Isle of Sable.
A few years ago an English paper of Hull speaks of " The most remarkable case ever recorded in connection with ship- ping of this or any other port, that occurred on the Dogger which seems increditable, of a vessel turning completely over," etc.
The Reform, Isaac S. Lewis, master, accomplished this in- creditable feat in the October gale of 1841. They were lay- ing under barc poles, with a drag-out to keep head to the wind. As it was impossible to remain on deck on account of
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the sea making a breach fore and aft, all hands fastened them- selves in the cabin and awaited their fate, at the mercy of the storm. During this time Elisha Paine Jr. ventured on deck. A moment after a terrific sea fairly swallowed them many fathoms below the surface. The vessel was thrown com- pletely bottom up, as the men were huddled together, with everything movable, on the carlines, the water bursting into the cabin. The crew had no doubt it was her final plunge. A few seconds only, she was again on her keel, Two or three men crawled on deck; they found the masts gone and the hawser of the drag wound around the bowsprit. She had turned completely over, and came up on the opposite side. Mr. Paine was never again heard from.
The incidents connected with this disaster, the far-reaching and heart-rending recitals, would fill a volume. The anxious waiting and painful giving up, are illustrated by the following from the Provincetown Advocate of April, 1877, referring to to this event :-
We saw a father, who had two sons among the missing, for days and weeks, go morning and evening to the hill-top which overlooked the ocean, and there seating himself, would watch for hours, scanning the distant horizon with his glass, hoping every moment to discover some speck on which to build a hope.
This was indeed a forlorn hope, as there was not one chance in a million ; but love clings to a phantom, and finds consolation thereby. As soon as possible, a vessel was sent out, and for weeks cruised wherever a disabled vessel might be found, or some clew to the lost discovered ; but not a speck was found, nor the shadow of a trace ever made. If they had gone upon any of the shoals between the Cape and Vineyard, reasonably some fragments, sufficient for identifica- tion could have been found. However or wherever they went down, it is thought that it was all over with them not much later than 12 o'clock Sunday night. The monument referred to was erected through the efforts of Mr. J. H. Davis and the late Captain Atkins Dyer. It was dedicated about July, 1842, by appropriate services, and an oration by Mr. Davis,
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LOSS OF THE COMMERCE'S CREW.
Early Sunday morning, September 15, 1844, occurred a disaster that in mystery and agonizing detail paralyzed the community. The lost were Solomon H. Lombard, master, aged 30; James H. Lombard, a brother, aged 25 ; Reuben Pierce, aged 39 ; Solomon P. Rich, aged 36; son Charles Wesley Rich, aged 12; Elisha Rich, aged 16; John L. Rich, aged 13; Thomas Mayo, aged 23; Ezra Turner, aged 20 ; Sewell Worcester, of Wellfleet, aged about 30. Captain Lombard was a young man of excellent character and much promise. He had for several years followed banking and coast- ing in the Commerce with good success. At the time of the disaster was mackereling. His crew were mostly neigh- bors, and with himself, were members of the M. E. Church in South Truro, towards which they were prominent sup- porters. Sunday, September 15, was noticeably a beautiful day. The first charming touches of early autumn brightened the landscape. The valleys lay in soft sunshine ; the brown hills were lovely in repose, and the blue waters of the Bay rested in quiet splendor. Such a day-picture Herbert must have realized when he wrote :-
Sweet day, so pure, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and sky.
The Commerce was well-known along the shore, and Mon- day morning, when the boats went out of the harbor, they saw her lying at anchor in the roadstead off Truro shore, as is customary in fine weather. They supposed she had come in during the night, and as there was no boat, that the crew had gone home. Later in the morning, and the boat not being seen, and none of the crew moving, one of the neighbors went to Captain Lombard's house ; his wife said her husband had not been at home, and no news from them since they went away.
The vessel was then boarded. She was found carefully secured, but no sign of life. The crew had evidently left in the boat. It soon transpired that the Commerce had been
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seen by several persons during Sunday ; but lying abreast a high hill near the Captain's house, she had not been ob- served by the friends. General search was made, and near noon the boat was found ashore some mile or more south, with a plank started from her bilge. More than this was never known ; all else was conjecture. How a crew of ten active men, many, if not all, expert swimmers, could all be drowned in smooth water, so near the shore, probably having the usual compliment of oars, thwarts, etc. - how the leak occurred, and why it could not have been stopped, with many other queries, will ever remain a mystery. With Captain Lombard was found his watch, stopped at four-thirty, showing the time of the accident. From time to time during three weeks, from Barnstable to Beach Point, a distance of thirty miles, all were found, received the sacred rites of home burial, with solemn services, and were committed dust to dust.
Upon the breezy headland, the fishermen's graves they made ; Where, over the daisies and clover bells, the oaken branches swayed ; Above them the birds were singing in the cloudless skies of fall, And under the bank the billows were chanting their ceaseless call ; For the foaming line was curving along the hollow shore,
Where the same old waves were breaking, that they would ride no more.
The possible casualties of a sea-going neighborhood or community, can be no better told than by the history of a single family, which we here present. Capt. Shubael Snow, a retired master-mariner for many years, was found drowned from his boat in Pamet Harbor, July 3, 1844, aged 68. His sons were :
Anthony Snow, officer of ship Swiftsure, died at sea, Dec- ember 28, 1828, aged 25.
Jonathan Snow died at home, August 21, 1825, aged 28.
Shubael Snow, officer of ship Gold Hunter, died at sea, 1829, aged 23.
Isaac Snow died in New Orleans, 1835, aged 28.
Isaiah Snow lost in October gale, 1841, aged 22.
Reuben Snow, one of the boys found in the cabin of the schooner Pomona, lost in October gale, 1841, aged 14.
Edwin Snow, washed overboard, March 1, 1843, aged 19.
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Shubael A. Snow served three years in 24th Mass. Reg. Vol. ; contracted disease from which he died 1876, aged 43.
Ephraim Snow, the only surviving brother, having escaped the dangers of flood and field, is spending the evening of his days at the old home, the scene of so much life and death. " It is significant of the change during the last generation, that of his seven sons, not one follows the sea, and only one remains at home.
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