THE PORTLAND TRANSCRIPT, August 11, 1886

                                                                LOCAL NOTES

          The city was thrilled Wednesday forenoon by the announcement that a sail boat
     had capsized off Indian  Cove, Diamond Island, and that seven persons, all relatives,
     were drowned. It was a number of hours, owing to the lack of telephone facilities, before
     definite information concerning the disaster was obtainable.  It appears that a party
     of fifteen persons, comprising the families of John R. Cleveland and James S. Whitten,
     and immediate relatives, were on their way in two small boats to Diamond Cove, and
     when nearing that point the boat in advance was capsized by a sudden gust of wind. Of
     the eight aboard but one escaped-little Jimmy Whitten-who sustained himself by
     swimming until the second boat reached the scene. The following are the names of the
     drowned; Wellington Masters, 71 years old; Jane Masters, his wife, aged 69; Benjamin
     Whitten, aged 7; Maud Whitten, aged 12; Harry Cleveland, aged 7; Emma Cleveland,
     aged 11;  Jane Masters, aged 11. The boat containing the unfortunate  was of the center
     board description, and Mr. Masters, who had the tiller, was not familiar with the boat of
     that class. Five bodies have been recovered,  those of two children not having been found.

          The calamity by which seven persons had lost their lives last week, adds another to the
     list of accidents caused by the mismanagement of sail boats in sudden squalls. In this case
     the accident was due to the attempt to jibe the boat with the center board up. The lesson
     often taught and so constantly disregarded in the danger of inexperienced persons
     attempting to manage sail boasts, especially when crowded with women and children.
     Doubtless in the hands of an experienced boatman there is little danger in a sail boat, but
     they are often cranky and require constant watchfulness on the part of those who manage
     them. We can recall three or four instances in which parties of six or seven have been
     drowned by their capsizing in our harbor.  One  occurred in Diamond Cove, when five or
     six young men lost their lives. In July 1848, by the capsizing of the pleasure boat Lee, near
     Hog Island Ledge, the wife and three children of Mr. Smith and four children of John
     Whyley were drowned. Instances in which one or more persons are drowned by similar
     accidents are frequent. on the other hand though it is now about forty years since steamboats
     began to run to the islands,we do not recall the loss of a single life among the hundreds of
     thousands transported by them.Those who go a sailing should be sure of their boat and
     their boatman.

          Mr. Fuller who had his hands blown off while firing a salute at Mechanic Falls July
     3rd, married Olive Swallow, daughter of  Larned Swallow, who had both arms blown
     off , July 4, 1834 at Fort Preble. The accident was caused by the carelessness of the man
     attending the vent of the gun. Mr. Swallow had enlisted in the service of the United
     States as an artisan, and was stationed at Fort Preble. He was detailed on the morning by
     the commander to assist in firing a national salute. He was then twenty-eight years old.
     The following October he was married, and drew a pension from the government until
     his death in 1862. He lost two sons in the War of the Rebellion, one serving in the Union
     Army, the other in the Confederate.  C. Swallow.

          The wife of Mr. H. B. Brown, the artist, died suddenly Monday morning at their
     residence on Cushing's Island. She had been for time in delicate health, but benefit
     was expected from the pure air of the island, and she retired Sunday night apparently
     as well as usual. The family have returned to their residence on Danforth Street, where
     funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The sudden death of
     Mrs. Brown was a sad surprise to a large circle of refined, artistic tastes, and highly
     esteemed for many admirable qualities. Her husband and daughter have the sympathy
     in their bereavement of all who knew her.