FISHERMEN'S MEMORIAL AMD RECORD BOOK. 



79 



Incidents of the Gale of September 8th, 1869, 



On the evening of September 8th, a most terrific gale sprang up, 

 which, for a short time, was the most severe, on the Eastern coast, 

 within the memory of some of our oldest fishermen. The weather in 

 the early part of the afternoon was quite warm and pleasant, and no 

 one ever dreamed of such a sudden change. At about half-past three 

 o'clock the wind began to breeze up from the south-east, accompanied 

 with rain, and, at half-past five, it had increased to a perfect hurri- 

 cane, which for two hours raged fearfully. Vessels dragged their an- 

 chors and were driven ashore, trees and chimnies were blown down, 

 awnings ripped from their fastenings, windows blown in, and general 

 destruction prevailed. Fortunately there were but few vessels at an- 

 chor in the harbor at the time. In addition to the pilot-boat YOUNG 

 RAVEN, mentioned among the lost vessels, two Cape Cod fishing ves- 

 sels, the WINSLOW, of Plymouth, and the RICHARD P. HIGGINS, of 

 Wellfleet, also an Eastern coaster, came ashore on the beach, and 

 were got off next day, having received but little damage. The life- 

 boat was launched and did much service in saving the crews of the 

 wrecked vessels. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to reach 

 them, and it was finally deemed an utter impossibility, such was the 

 fearful power of the sea. But just at this moment, Mr. SYLVANUS 



