Article Published - August 5, 1886 in the New York Times Seven Persons Drowned
Sad Ending of a Day’s Pleasure in Portland Harbor
Portland, Me., Aug. 4. - This morning, about 8 o’clock, a merry party left the wharf for a day’s sail among the islands. They occupied two small open sailboats, and in all numbered 15 persons, as follows: Welling Masters and wife, John R. Cleveland and wife, James Whitten and wife, Emma and Harry Cleveland, children of J. R. Cleveland; Benjamin, Maud, James, and Owen Whitten, children of James Whitten; and the members of the family of Edward Masters, Misses Linny and Maud Masters and James Masters. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten also had with them a young baby. All the members of the party were related to each other. The morning was pleasant, but a cool breeze, blowing across the water from the northwest, came in treacherous flaws.
Welling Masters had charge of one of the boats, a Hampden boat having but one sail. Mrs. Masters was in this boat with her husband, and with them were James Masters, Emma and Harry Cleveland, Maud Whitten, Benjamin Whitten and their older brother, James. The remainder of the party were in the boat under the charge of Mr. Cleveland. All went well until about 9:30, when the two boats were some distance beyond the wharf of the Diamond Island Company on Great Diamond Island, both being near the shore and Mr. Cleveland’s boat some distance ahead of the other. Mr. Cleveland looking around for the other boat, saw her in the act of coming about. She rolled from side to side and suddenly, right before the eyes of the occupants of the other boat, turned completely over. One of the ladies screamed that the boat had been capsized, but Mr. Whitten who had also seen the accident, pointed out another boat a short distance away , and for a moment the women were satisfied that it was the boat containing their friends. Mr. Cleveland at once made for the shore, but before he could render assistance to the occupants of the other boat all but one were beyond help.
The returning boat first encountered floating upon the surface of the water the body of Wellington Masters and this was taken on board. The ladies and children in the boat could no longer be deceived as to the accident.
Some distance away was floating the upturned boat, and shortly after the body of Mr. Masters was reached. Jamie Whitten was seen swimming in the direction of the capsized boat nearly exhausted. The boy was taken on board and the boat then made a landing. The boy saved is the only survivor of the occupants of the boat, and he alone can tell how the accident occurred.
He said that as the boat approached in shore she was put about, but the centreboard, which had been drawn up while the boat was running before the wind , was not lowered. The wind filled the sail as the boat was turning and she rolled from one side to the other and then turned completely over, plunging those in her into the water. James swam toward the shore. he looked back once and saw his grandfather and Emma Cleveland standing on the boat’s bottom. When only a short distance from shore young Whitten turned and retraced his course, swimming toward the boat. Before he reached there, however, he was picked up by the other boat nearly worn out. Either from the excitement or possibly a desire on the part of Mr. Masters to see if he could aid any of the others, he and Mrs. Cleveland attempted to stand upright on the insecure floating boat and when the first heavy wave washed over the boat they were again thrown into the water, and were drowned before assistance could reach them.
When Mr. Cleveland, after landing those person in his boat, looked back, there were three bodies floating upon the surface of the water. Help now arriving, the boadies were brought ashore, that of the old lady, Mrs. Masters being the first to be recovered, and then those of Emma Cleveland and Janie Masters. The ladies made every effort to resuscitate the children, but their efforts were useless. Following is a list of the persons lost, with their ages:
Wellington Masters, 71 years
Mrs. Jane Masters, 69 years
Jane Masters, 9 years
Emma Cleveland, 12 years
Harry Cleveland, 7 years
Maud Whitten, 12 years
Benjamin Whitten 7 years
Of these the bodies of the first four mentioned were recovered. The bay is being dragged for the bodies of the others. The place where the accident occurred is one of the worst along the coast being exposed to gusts and flaws between the island. Mr. Masters had had experience in the management of keelboats, but not of centreboards.
Coroner Gould will hold an inquest tomorrow morning.
Sad Ending of a Day’s Pleasure in Portland Harbor
Portland, Me., Aug. 4. - This morning, about 8 o’clock, a merry party left the wharf for a day’s sail among the islands. They occupied two small open sailboats, and in all numbered 15 persons, as follows: Welling Masters and wife, John R. Cleveland and wife, James Whitten and wife, Emma and Harry Cleveland, children of J. R. Cleveland; Benjamin, Maud, James, and Owen Whitten, children of James Whitten; and the members of the family of Edward Masters, Misses Linny and Maud Masters and James Masters. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten also had with them a young baby. All the members of the party were related to each other. The morning was pleasant, but a cool breeze, blowing across the water from the northwest, came in treacherous flaws.
Welling Masters had charge of one of the boats, a Hampden boat having but one sail. Mrs. Masters was in this boat with her husband, and with them were James Masters, Emma and Harry Cleveland, Maud Whitten, Benjamin Whitten and their older brother, James. The remainder of the party were in the boat under the charge of Mr. Cleveland. All went well until about 9:30, when the two boats were some distance beyond the wharf of the Diamond Island Company on Great Diamond Island, both being near the shore and Mr. Cleveland’s boat some distance ahead of the other. Mr. Cleveland looking around for the other boat, saw her in the act of coming about. She rolled from side to side and suddenly, right before the eyes of the occupants of the other boat, turned completely over. One of the ladies screamed that the boat had been capsized, but Mr. Whitten who had also seen the accident, pointed out another boat a short distance away , and for a moment the women were satisfied that it was the boat containing their friends. Mr. Cleveland at once made for the shore, but before he could render assistance to the occupants of the other boat all but one were beyond help.
The returning boat first encountered floating upon the surface of the water the body of Wellington Masters and this was taken on board. The ladies and children in the boat could no longer be deceived as to the accident.
Some distance away was floating the upturned boat, and shortly after the body of Mr. Masters was reached. Jamie Whitten was seen swimming in the direction of the capsized boat nearly exhausted. The boy was taken on board and the boat then made a landing. The boy saved is the only survivor of the occupants of the boat, and he alone can tell how the accident occurred.
He said that as the boat approached in shore she was put about, but the centreboard, which had been drawn up while the boat was running before the wind , was not lowered. The wind filled the sail as the boat was turning and she rolled from one side to the other and then turned completely over, plunging those in her into the water. James swam toward the shore. he looked back once and saw his grandfather and Emma Cleveland standing on the boat’s bottom. When only a short distance from shore young Whitten turned and retraced his course, swimming toward the boat. Before he reached there, however, he was picked up by the other boat nearly worn out. Either from the excitement or possibly a desire on the part of Mr. Masters to see if he could aid any of the others, he and Mrs. Cleveland attempted to stand upright on the insecure floating boat and when the first heavy wave washed over the boat they were again thrown into the water, and were drowned before assistance could reach them.
When Mr. Cleveland, after landing those person in his boat, looked back, there were three bodies floating upon the surface of the water. Help now arriving, the boadies were brought ashore, that of the old lady, Mrs. Masters being the first to be recovered, and then those of Emma Cleveland and Janie Masters. The ladies made every effort to resuscitate the children, but their efforts were useless. Following is a list of the persons lost, with their ages:
Wellington Masters, 71 years
Mrs. Jane Masters, 69 years
Jane Masters, 9 years
Emma Cleveland, 12 years
Harry Cleveland, 7 years
Maud Whitten, 12 years
Benjamin Whitten 7 years
Of these the bodies of the first four mentioned were recovered. The bay is being dragged for the bodies of the others. The place where the accident occurred is one of the worst along the coast being exposed to gusts and flaws between the island. Mr. Masters had had experience in the management of keelboats, but not of centreboards.
Coroner Gould will hold an inquest tomorrow morning.
Article Published - August 5, 1886 in the New York Times Seven Persons Drowned
Sad Ending of a Day’s Pleasure in Portland Harbor
Portland, Me., Aug. 4. - This morning, about 8 o’clock, a merry party left the wharf for a day’s sail among the islands. They occupied two small open sailboats, and in all numbered 15 persons, as follows: Welling Masters and wife, John R. Cleveland and wife, James Whitten and wife, Emma and Harry Cleveland, children of J. R. Cleveland; Benjamin, Maud, James, and Owen Whitten, children of James Whitten; and the members of the family of Edward Masters, Misses Linny and Maud Masters and James Masters. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten also had with them a young baby. All the members of the party were related to each other. The morning was pleasant, but a cool breeze, blowing across the water from the northwest, came in treacherous flaws.
Welling Masters had charge of one of the boats, a Hampden boat having but one sail. Mrs. Masters was in this boat with her husband, and with them were James Masters, Emma and Harry Cleveland, Maud Whitten, Benjamin Whitten and their older brother, James. The remainder of the party were in the boat under the charge of Mr. Cleveland. All went well until about 9:30, when the two boats were some distance beyond the wharf of the Diamond Island Company on Great Diamond Island, both being near the shore and Mr. Cleveland’s boat some distance ahead of the other. Mr. Cleveland looking around for the other boat, saw her in the act of coming about. She rolled from side to side and suddenly, right before the eyes of the occupants of the other boat, turned completely over. One of the ladies screamed that the boat had been capsized, but Mr. Whitten who had also seen the accident, pointed out another boat a short distance away , and for a moment the women were satisfied that it was the boat containing their friends. Mr. Cleveland at once made for the shore, but before he could render assistance to the occupants of the other boat all but one were beyond help.
The returning boat first encountered floating upon the surface of the water the body of Wellington Masters and this was taken on board. The ladies and children in the boat could no longer be deceived as to the accident.
Some distance away was floating the upturned boat, and shortly after the body of Mr. Masters was reached. Jamie Whitten was seen swimming in the direction of the capsized boat nearly exhausted. The boy was taken on board and the boat then made a landing. The boy saved is the only survivor of the occupants of the boat, and he alone can tell how the accident occurred.
He said that as the boat approached in shore she was put about, but the centreboard, which had been drawn up while the boat was running before the wind , was not lowered. The wind filled the sail as the boat was turning and she rolled from one side to the other and then turned completely over, plunging those in her into the water. James swam toward the shore. he looked back once and saw his grandfather and Emma Cleveland standing on the boat’s bottom. When only a short distance from shore young Whitten turned and retraced his course, swimming toward the boat. Before he reached there, however, he was picked up by the other boat nearly worn out. Either from the excitement or possibly a desire on the part of Mr. Masters to see if he could aid any of the others, he and Mrs. Cleveland attempted to stand upright on the insecure floating boat and when the first heavy wave washed over the boat they were again thrown into the water, and were drowned before assistance could reach them.
When Mr. Cleveland, after landing those person in his boat, looked back, there were three bodies floating upon the surface of the water. Help now arriving, the boadies were brought ashore, that of the old lady, Mrs. Masters being the first to be recovered, and then those of Emma Cleveland and Janie Masters. The ladies made every effort to resuscitate the children, but their efforts were useless. Following is a list of the persons lost, with their ages:
Wellington Masters, 71 years
Mrs. Jane Masters, 69 years
Jane Masters, 9 years
Emma Cleveland, 12 years
Harry Cleveland, 7 years
Maud Whitten, 12 years
Benjamin Whitten 7 years
Of these the bodies of the first four mentioned were recovered. The bay is being dragged for the bodies of the others. The place where the accident occurred is one of the worst along the coast being exposed to gusts and flaws between the island. Mr. Masters had had experience in the management of keelboats, but not of centreboards.
Coroner Gould will hold an inquest tomorrow morning.
Sad Ending of a Day’s Pleasure in Portland Harbor
Portland, Me., Aug. 4. - This morning, about 8 o’clock, a merry party left the wharf for a day’s sail among the islands. They occupied two small open sailboats, and in all numbered 15 persons, as follows: Welling Masters and wife, John R. Cleveland and wife, James Whitten and wife, Emma and Harry Cleveland, children of J. R. Cleveland; Benjamin, Maud, James, and Owen Whitten, children of James Whitten; and the members of the family of Edward Masters, Misses Linny and Maud Masters and James Masters. Mr. and Mrs. Whitten also had with them a young baby. All the members of the party were related to each other. The morning was pleasant, but a cool breeze, blowing across the water from the northwest, came in treacherous flaws.
Welling Masters had charge of one of the boats, a Hampden boat having but one sail. Mrs. Masters was in this boat with her husband, and with them were James Masters, Emma and Harry Cleveland, Maud Whitten, Benjamin Whitten and their older brother, James. The remainder of the party were in the boat under the charge of Mr. Cleveland. All went well until about 9:30, when the two boats were some distance beyond the wharf of the Diamond Island Company on Great Diamond Island, both being near the shore and Mr. Cleveland’s boat some distance ahead of the other. Mr. Cleveland looking around for the other boat, saw her in the act of coming about. She rolled from side to side and suddenly, right before the eyes of the occupants of the other boat, turned completely over. One of the ladies screamed that the boat had been capsized, but Mr. Whitten who had also seen the accident, pointed out another boat a short distance away , and for a moment the women were satisfied that it was the boat containing their friends. Mr. Cleveland at once made for the shore, but before he could render assistance to the occupants of the other boat all but one were beyond help.
The returning boat first encountered floating upon the surface of the water the body of Wellington Masters and this was taken on board. The ladies and children in the boat could no longer be deceived as to the accident.
Some distance away was floating the upturned boat, and shortly after the body of Mr. Masters was reached. Jamie Whitten was seen swimming in the direction of the capsized boat nearly exhausted. The boy was taken on board and the boat then made a landing. The boy saved is the only survivor of the occupants of the boat, and he alone can tell how the accident occurred.
He said that as the boat approached in shore she was put about, but the centreboard, which had been drawn up while the boat was running before the wind , was not lowered. The wind filled the sail as the boat was turning and she rolled from one side to the other and then turned completely over, plunging those in her into the water. James swam toward the shore. he looked back once and saw his grandfather and Emma Cleveland standing on the boat’s bottom. When only a short distance from shore young Whitten turned and retraced his course, swimming toward the boat. Before he reached there, however, he was picked up by the other boat nearly worn out. Either from the excitement or possibly a desire on the part of Mr. Masters to see if he could aid any of the others, he and Mrs. Cleveland attempted to stand upright on the insecure floating boat and when the first heavy wave washed over the boat they were again thrown into the water, and were drowned before assistance could reach them.
When Mr. Cleveland, after landing those person in his boat, looked back, there were three bodies floating upon the surface of the water. Help now arriving, the boadies were brought ashore, that of the old lady, Mrs. Masters being the first to be recovered, and then those of Emma Cleveland and Janie Masters. The ladies made every effort to resuscitate the children, but their efforts were useless. Following is a list of the persons lost, with their ages:
Wellington Masters, 71 years
Mrs. Jane Masters, 69 years
Jane Masters, 9 years
Emma Cleveland, 12 years
Harry Cleveland, 7 years
Maud Whitten, 12 years
Benjamin Whitten 7 years
Of these the bodies of the first four mentioned were recovered. The bay is being dragged for the bodies of the others. The place where the accident occurred is one of the worst along the coast being exposed to gusts and flaws between the island. Mr. Masters had had experience in the management of keelboats, but not of centreboards.
Coroner Gould will hold an inquest tomorrow morning.
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