Page 28. MAINE COASTAL NEWS December 2008
Maritime History:
Various Articles from the 1800s
FROM THE SALEM GAZETTE 1821 not be able to discover any thing, were sion of contrary winds, and several fresh and laboring to reconcile her mind to death,
LOSS OF BRIG PARAGON. obliged to traverse the Beach the whole of gales. On the morning of April 6th, being on she urged in reply the severe pain her mother
Capt. Harding and Mr. Burrill, master this dreary night, in the midst of the pelting the banks of Newfoundland, we discovered would feel to hear of her death. Thro’ her
and mate of the brig PARAGON, have arrived storm, all of us being wet through, and some several pieces of ice floating along near our persuasion, I went on deck again, taking her
in this town from the wreck, and politely being so frozen as to make it difficult to keep vessel, and in the forenoon some very large with me. The water now rushed into the
communicated to us the following account of in exercise during the night; but happily for pieces like mountains, and some of them very forecastle, and all hope of saving the ship
the disaster. The PARAGON was from Ha- us, the next morning, after traveling through nigh, approaching us. Our danger was great, had fled. i assisted the sailors in hoisting out
vana, bound to Wiscasset, belonging to the snow about three hours, we came to the yet about mid-day it abated a little, but to- the long boat, after having, with great diffi-
Whitney & Sewall. house of Mr. Jonathan Knowlton, where we wards night, became still more threatening. culty, got my wife into it. We lay in the boat
Abstract from the log-book. -We sailed were hospitably received, for which, we re- About half past 12 o’clock our vessel struck one upon another, till the sailors cut her from
from Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, Friday turn our grateful thanks. against a large piece of ice. The shock was the ship, fearing so many would jump in as to
February 9th, but owing to scant wind re- N. B. The saving of the crew was ef- dreadful. We immediately tried the pump, sink her. It pained me that several of my
turned on the morning of the 10th. Saturday fected in the following manner: The long and found she had sprung a fresh leak. We friends were left. In 30 minutes after she went
went to sea, and over the shoals safe, and boat being stove to pieces, one of the men, set a pump to work, but all in vain. The fatal down. I then put up my last prayer for my dear
discharged our pilot. After being at sea 6 by the name of Young, threw himself at great blow was now struck. Our captain perceiving departing parent and friends, whom I hope I
days, our provision getting short, and en- hazard into the sea and fortunately reached the danger, and without giving the steerage shall meet again when parting will be no more.
countering several severe snow storms, we the shore, when the end of a line was con- passengers the least notice, he immediately This was Sunday morning, and we were
concluded to bear away for the first port for veyed to him by means of a buoy, by which left the ship in the small boat. I met Thomas about 300 miles from land; we continued
provision. Nothing remarkable occurred till all the rest were enable to get ashore also. Tice just as he came on deck and said, “We among islands of ice, the whole of that day
the night of 17th at 3 P. M. made the land, [Salem Gazette, 21 February 1821] must all perish; shall we go down and die with and the succeeding night.
appearing to be the highlands of Cape Cod, * * * * * our friends below? He hesitated a moment, On the 9th in the afternoon, the wind
about 5 miles distant. At 5 P. M. came on a [Mr. Henry Merritt (whose death was and replied, “We can do them no good,” and arose, and the sea began to roll, so that we
thick snow storm, and the wind and sea mentioned in our last) arrived in this country then immediately left the ship to join the expected nothing but death. Till this time the
increasing, we judged it imprudent to run any through great peril, a disaster which hap- captain in the small boat. However, I imme- small boat was made fast to our stern, but
further to leeward, being so thick as not to be pened to the vessel proving fatal to many of diately went down; Oh! my dear brother, how now the captain begged that it might be cut
able to discern any thing the length of the his fellow passengers and some of his dear- shall I describe the heart rending scene! I ran from us, fearing it would be drawn under
vessel ahead, consulted, and concluded to est friends, an affecting account of which to my dear wife, and found her in bed about water; but after they were clear, they begged
haul to, and lie off and on till morning, if was given in the following letter from the half drest. I embraced her as I did my dear to be taken into our boat. A desire of self-
possible to carry sail. The wind increasing, deceased soon after his arrival.] parent and sisters. I apprised them of their preservation compelled us to deny their en-
and sea making so fast, we were obliged to Marblehead, May 23, 1805. danger, & exhorted them to pray and look to treaties, and soon left them. [Mr. M. ob-
shorten sail. At 6 we judged Race Point to Dear Brothers, the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their serves also, that 8 persons were saved in the
bear about south, distant 8 miles. At 10 P. M. I have the happiness to inform you, that, souls, telling them, I was come down to die small boat, and 39 in the large boat - in all 47;
getting in readiness for wearing ship, she through the mercy of God, Mary and myself with them, which was then my full intention. and that 27 were left on board the ship, and
struck on Norman’s Woe, Cape Ann, & beat are both alive and well. But before you I was at that moment possessed of a firmness perished. From which it appears the small
river, and went ashore on Norman’s Woe. proceed any further in this sad tale of woe, let which is not very usual on such occasions; boat reached a place of safety.]
The sea being so violent as to make a fair me entreat of you to fall down before God, but the cries, tears and prayers of my friends At length we got clear of the ice on the
breach over us, we concluded to abandon and get your mind prepared to receive that soon overcame me, and I lost that courage 9th, and having partook of a scanty mean
the wreck as soon as possible, which we which is very painful for me to relate, and no which I at first possessed. I could, however, which had been allowanced out, the steward
effected by getting a line ashore, and hauling doubt, will be extremely painful for you to willingly have gone down with my wife in my of the ship announced, in accents of joy, “a
ashore by this line. At midnight we all hear. arms, but she endeavored to persuade me to sail ahead.” Hope revived in every breath,
effected our escape from the wreck, and got We sailed from Gravesend the first of use another effort for life. And while I was and beamed in every countenance. After
safe ashore; the weather being so thick as to March, and had almost a constant succes- pointing out the impossibility of our escape, three or four hours, we perceived the vessel
Help Save this 101 Year old former Reading Railroad Tug
Donations are tax-deductible
We have moved to Brewer where she will spend the winter and have some minor work done at Kustom Steel. Sitting in pure fresh water is
a plus, little to no electrolysis. Plans are also being developed for next summer and what we can do to get her up and running. We need your help!
SATURN is a 117-foot railroad tug built for the Reading Railroad in 1907. She is one of the last railroad tugs in existence and should be saved
for future generations to enjoy. For further information : (207) 223-8846 or make out check to: Friends of SATURN, P.O. Box 710, Winterport,
ME 04496.
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