Branford, CT Schooner Anna Melia Sinking, Nov 1899

SCHOONER ANNA MELIA SUNK

Went Down in 40 Feet of Water Off the Branford Beacon

CAPTAIN AND CREW WERE SAVED

Vessel Was Loaded with Brick, From New York for New London---Suddenly Sprung a Leak and Went Down in a Few Minutes Crew Narrowly Escaped Drowning.

Branford, Nov. 7.---The schooner Anna Melia, bound from New York to New London loaded with brick, sprang a leak about one mile and a half south and east of the Branford Beacon about 2:30 Monday afternoon, and sank in about 40 feet of water.

Walter Averill, of the Ark, who was fishing off Spectacle Rock, seeing that some accident had happened to the schooner, made for her in his sailboat, but she went down so quickly that the men aboard had only time to get into their yawl and put off.

Walter Averill towed them into the Thimble Islands, and they went ashore at Stony Creek, and from there took the evening train to New Haven. They had put into New Haven harbor on Sunday and remained over night.

The schooner was built in 1853. Her tonnage was 17,54-100; length, 67 feet, [ineligible] inches; breadth of beam, 29 feet, [ineligible] inches, and she drew 6 feet of water. She was built in Brook Haven, N. Y., and her port of register was Port Jefferson.

At the time of the accident the Melia was in command of Captain Hallock. There were only three persons on board. The sinking of the ship caused much excitement here. Nothing can be seen of her now above water but her masts.

New Haven Evening Register, New Haven, CT 7 Nov 1899
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Transcribed by Linda Horton. Thank you, Linda!