1861 — Nov 3, Hurricane, Ship Maritana grounds on Shag Rocks off Boston Harbor  –26-27

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-9-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

Blanchard note: We note 26-27 deaths in that we have multiple reports for those numbers. We do not use the number 33 found in Rappaport and Fernandez-Partagas in that we cannot determine where any additional deaths other than from the 26-27 reported for the Maritana come from. They were using sources for a NC and MA hurricane and it is possible there were deaths elsewhere we have not located and thus cannot confirm.

Hurricane Total:

—  33  Rappaport and Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1994. 1995.[1]

Maritana         (24-27)

— 27  Nash, Jay Robert.  Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 684.[2]

— 27  NYT.  “The Great Storm, Terrible Shipwreck near Boston Light…Maritana…” 11-4-1861.

— 26  NYT.  “The Great Storm, Terrible Shipwreck near Boston Light…Maritana…” 11-4-1861.

— 26  Snow. Great Storms & Shipwrecks of New England. 1943, p. 248.

— 24  NYT.  “The Great Storm; Effects of the Gale Along the Coast…”  Nov 5, 1861.

Narrative Information

Snow. Great Storms & Shipwrecks of New England. 1943, p. 246-249:

“Boston Harbor’s Worst Shipwreck

 

“The Maritana, a ship of 991 tons, was built in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1857, and owned in Providence by Suchet Mauran, 2nd….The ship’s career was fairly uneventful until she sailed from Liverpool, September 25, 1861, with a great cargo of coal, wool, potash, steel, and iron, headed for Boston.

 

“The Maritana sighted Highland Light at Cape Cod, November 2 at four-thirty in the afternoon; four hours later she took a bearing on Race Point light which was then fifteen miles away to the east southeast. Keeping on her course for Boston Light, the Maritana ran into a south-easterly gale while far out in the bay. Shortly after midnight Captain Williams obtained a brief glimpse of Boston Light’s welcome flash before snow came down so thick that the light was obscured. Captain Williams ordered the crew to tack ship, but before she could be brought to the wind, breakers were discovered. With a grinding crash, the Maritana struck on Egg or Shag Rocks, half a mile to the eastward of Boston Light.

 

“Although the ship was seaworthy, its position on Shag Rocks was almost hopeless….Courageous Captain Williams made plans to reach the rocky ledge. A heavy sea was smashing against the hard, unyielding pinnacles which jut out from the water, so that his plans were foredoomed to failure. The ship’s longboat was got over, but it was stove in almost at once, while the other ship’s boats were crushed to pieces in the davits. At three in the morning the masts were cut away.

 

“A brave seaman named Thomas Haney now swam ashore with a line. Since he could not climb high enough on the ledges to escape the direct force of the mighty billows, he signaled to be hauled back to the boat where he was hoisted over the side, bleeding from scores of jagged cuts. The captain now realized that there was little hope for most of the crew and passengers.

 

“The Maritana was new and strong, however, and there was no water below decks at all, hours after the crash. Grinding and chafing on the ledge, the vessel dropped lower and lower as the tide receded. The strain was too great even for a new vessel. Suddenly the captain noticed the ship was beginning to break in two. ‘Look out for yourselves!’ shouted Captain Williams, and fell to his death in the crevice of the break….Five seamen were able to swim over to Shag Rocks, while seven persons on the ship’s poop deck floated against the ledge when the poop came free. All the others, twenty-six in number, were drowned….”

 

Newspaper

 

Nov 3, NYT. “The Great Storm, Terrible Shipwreck near Boston Light…” 11-4-1861, 1:

 

“Boston, Sunday, Nov. 3.

 

“A heavy north-east gale commenced at 9 o’clock last night, lasting ten hours. A great quantity of rain fell.  The noon tide, to-day, overflowed several of the wharves, doing considerable damage to goods, &c., stowed in the cellars. So high a tide has not been known for several years. We learn of the following wrecks:

 

“The bark N. Coggswell, of Providence, [Capt.] Hamblin, from Malaga, for Boston, struck on Scituate Beach, and will be a total loss. The crew were saved.

 

“The ship Maritana, [Capt.] Williams, of Providence, from Liverpool, for Boston, with a  cargo of coal, wool and cotton, struck at midnight on Egg Rocks, near Boston Light, the sea making a clean breach over her. At 3 A.M. cut way the masts and mizzen-masts, and stove one boat.  Launched the other boat, but she stove alongside. Five of the crew then succeeded in getting on the rocks. At 8 A.M. the ship went to pieces, and seven of the passengers and crew reached the rocks on a piece of the poop.  The following persons were drowned:

 

Capt. Williams,

Mr. Carner, Mate;

John McGinnis,

John Ellis,

Henry Green,

Wm. Jackson,

Winfield West,

David McLaune,

Augustus Chiveric, seamen;

Ed. Barrett, cook;

Mrs. Pratt and two daughters,

Mr. Clark and wife,

Mary Flanagan,

Maria Bryan,

Lucy Pratt,

Elizabeth Bryan,

Eliza Bosier,

  1. Hunter,

Patrick Reagan, passengers;

A Swedish passenger, and

three unknown.   [26 fatalities]

 

“At noon to-day the weather cleared up, and the twelve seamen were discovered clinging to Egg Rocks. The life-boat was launched at Hull, and they were taken off.  Not a vestige of the ship remained….”  (NYT. “The Great Storm, Terrible Shipwreck near Boston Light…” 11-4-1861, 1.)

 

Nov 5: “Accounts of disasters resulting from the recent storm continue to reach us. It appears not to have extended below Cape Hatteras, and to have spent its principal fury between that point and Cape Race. The following account of the disasters at the entrance of Boston harbor is from the Courier of yesterday morning:

 

“The ship Maritana, of Providence, R.I., Capt. G.W. WILLIAMS, which sailed from Liverpool Sept. 25, for Boston, was in the Bay during the storm, and just as she was making Boston Light, the weather being thick, breakers were discovered ahead, and she almost immediately struck on Egg Rock,[3] about one-eighth of a mile from Boston Light. The masts were cut away, which, in falling, stove one of the boats. At about 6 o’clock, a boat with five seamen, endeavored to get a line to the shore, to save the lives of those on board, but being unsuccessful, they were called back. The ship held together until 7 o’clock, when she parted amidships, and the Captain fell into the open chasm, and was instantly killed by a falling beam. His body was got up on the deck, when the vessel began to go to pieces fast, and in a very short time her fragments were floating towards the shore. Thirteen persons, who were on the after part of the vessel, succeeded in getting ashore, some on the poop deck, and some by swimming, but those forward, numbering twenty-four persons, were all lost.

 

“The following are the names of those lost: Capt. G.W. Williams, of Providence; W.B. Carnes, first mate, of Boston; John McGinnis, of Prince Edward Island, Winfield West, Henry Green, David Laurie, John Ellis, Daniel Hunter, Wm. Jackson, seamen; Edward Barrett, ship’s cook; Thomas ——-, passengers’ cook, who leaves a wife in Cambridge; a French boy named Auguste Shiverie — all belonging to the ship; Mrs. Pratt and two daughters; Eliza Bozier, Mr. and Mrs. —– Clark, Mary Flannagan, Maria and Elizabeth Byron, sisters, of Dublin; Patrick Reagan, boy; and a lady and daughter, the two latter having friends in Concord.

 

“Those saved are as follows: James Dunagh, second mate; the steward, name unknown; John McDonnell, John Manning, Henry Tucker, Richard Moore, Walter Munson, Thomas Haney, William F. Marble, Charles Hanson, Joseph Rodan, all seamen; Charles Rhodes, and John Flannagan, (brother to Mary Flannagan, who was lost,) passengers — I3.

 

“The bodies of Capt. WILLIAMS, ELIZA BOZIER, LUCY PRATT and WM. JACKSON, and the passengers’ cook, floated ashore at the Boston Light-house, and were rescued from the heavy surf and brought to the city last evening in pilot-boat No. 2, the W.W. Starkey. The body of a lady passenger, name unknown, was picked upon Lovell’s Island, and brought to this city in the Harbor Police boat. All of the bodies have been removed to the Dead-house in North Grove-street. The ship has gone entirely to pieces, and the lower part of the harbor is filled with the fragments of the wreck and that part of the cargo which would float. Some of the wrecked portions are on Lovell’s Island and on the Spit. The ship’s cargo consisted of 900 tons coal, 100 bales wool, a quantity of cotton, dry goods, steel, iron, &c., and was consigned to Page, Richardson & Co. Mr. Barrett, keeper of the Light, illuminated his residence during the night, and rendered every assistance to those who escaped from the wreck. The Maritana was an A 1 vessel, of 991 tons, built at Quincy, Mass., in 1857, and was owned by S. Mauran and others, of Providence.

 

“Bark Nathaniel Cogswell, (of Providence,) Hamlen, from Malaga for Boston, with a cargo of fruit, went ashore at 1 o’clock on Sunday morning, at Scituate, near the south end of the Third Cliff, and bilged. Her crew were saved. At sunset, last evening, her mizzenmast only was standing, and the vessel had nearly gone to pieces. All of the cargo forward of the mizzen chains was washed out and was picked up on the reach….The Nathaniel Cogswell was an A 1½ vessel, of 308 tons, built at Charlestown, Mass., in 1858, by Mr. J.T. Foster.

 

“Schooner Canton, (of Newburyport,) Martin, from Bangor for Lynn, with a cargo of lumber, wood, &c., anchored off Lynn at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, and drifted ashore on Sunday morning, on Chelsea Beach, where she lies full of water, her masts and jib-boom gone, and deck-load washed away. Her crew had landed.

 

“These are all the wrecks that have come to our knowledge. From the terrible violence of the gale, there is every reason to fear that there are other vessels which have not escaped its fury.

 

“BOSTON, Monday, Nov. 4.

Bark Mary C. Porter, ready for Surinam, parted chains in Gloucester harbor, and drifted ashore. She will have to discharge her cargo to get off. The brig Tyro, of Eastport, cut away masts in Gloucester harbor to prevent going ashore.

 

“BOSTON, Monday, Nov. 4.

Several long stretches on the Eastern railroad in Hampton marshes, between Portsmouth and Newburyport, were washed away during the storm. Travel over the road will be interrupted for somedays. The schooner Canton, from Bangor for Lynn, with a cargo of lumber, went ashore on Chelsea Beach during the gale last night, bilged, and is full of water. Crew saved.

 

“PORTLAND, Me., Monday, Nov. 4.

The storm has been very severe here. The tide rose higher than has been known for 31 years, flooding Commercial-street and the lower stories on Back Cove, damaging the contents of cellars, and washing away portions of bridges and wharves. Tukey’s and Vaughan’s wharves are rendered impassable.  The snipping is but little damaged.

 

“PROVINCETOWN, Monday, Nov. 4.

The gale has been very severe here. One hundred and fifty fishing vessels at anchor in the harbor suffered great damage. About twenty of them went ashore, and a large number were fouled and stove.

 

“The Schooner Elliott Abandoned. 

“BALTIMORE, Sunday, Nov. 3.

The schooner Elliott, [Capt.] Peeling, from New-York Oct. 27, for Demarara, was abandoned at sea next day, full of water. Crew have arrived here.

 

“The British bark Agnes, Capt. Garland, (previously reported ashore at Quogue, after the northeast gale,) lies head to the southeast; is over on her starboard side, her sails even with the sand. She is high and dry at any common tide, but is now full of water. It is thought she is not bilged; her hatches are off, and she is a little crooked on deck amidships; her rudder is gone.

 

“During the gale of Saturday night the schooner Union, from Machias, with a cargo of lumber, was ashore on Riker’s Island, where she now remains. She will have to be launched to be got off.

 

“SANDY HOOK, Monday, Nov. 4.

The bark Edward, Capt. Wm. MCINTYRE, of New-Bedford, thirty-five days from Monrovia, west coast of Africa, to Bayaud & Beraud, in ballast, came ashore north of the Highlands at 2 o’clock this morning. The crew and ten passengers — all hands — were saved. The chances of getting off the bark are poor, as she has lost her rudder, and is thumping severely.

 

“SANDY HOOK, Monday, P.M.

The bark Edward has succeeded in getting off the Hook and is now going up the bay in tow of the tug Achilles.” (NYT. “The Great Storm; Effects of the Gale Along the Coast…”  11-5-1861.)

 

Sources

 

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

 

New York Times. “The Great Storm; Effects of the Gale Along the Coast. The Wrecks at the Entrance of Boston Harbor, &c. Other Damage in Massachusetts Bay.  Damage to Portland.  Damage to the Fishing Fleet.  The British Bark Agnes Ashore. The Schooner Union Ashore.  The Bark Edward Ashore.”  Nov 5, 1861. Accessed at:  http://www.nytimes.com/1861/11/05/news/great-storm-effects-gale-along-coast-wrecks-entrance-boston-harbor-c-other.html

 

Rappaport, Edward N. and Jose Fernandez-Partagas. The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1994 (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS NHC-47). Coral Gables, FL: National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, January 1995, 42 pages. Accessed 8-20-2017 at:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/NWS-NHC-1995-47.pdf

 

Snow, Edward Rowe. Great Storms and Shipwrecks of New England. Boston: Yankee Publishing Company, 1943.

 

 

[1] Cites Ludlum, D. M. Early American Hurricanes, 1492-1870. American Meteorological Society, Boston, 198pp., and Hughes, P. “Hurricanes Haunt Our History.” Weatherwise, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 134-140/

[2] Nash incorrectly has the year listed as 1857.

[3][3] Egg Rock was not near the Boston Light, being further north. The Shag Rocks were near the Boston Light.