Cape Elizabeth Shipwrecks


Rescue of Oakey L. Alexander crew, Cape Elizabeth, 1947

Rescue of Oakey L. Alexander crew, Cape Elizabeth, 1947
Item 5738   info
Maine Historical Society

The crew gathered on deck and the engineers stayed below to keep the motors running.



The captain proceeded slowly as he was afraid that the already compromised vessel would buckle due to the force of the waves.



At 6 a.m., over an hour since they had lost the bow, the ship ran aground near High Head.



Rescuers on the shore 600 feet away shot a line to the ship that was then secured to the bridge. As breakers pounded against the stranded vessel, the crew crossed above the swirling whitewater on a system of lines and pulleys.



Over a tense two-hour period, all 31 men aboard were safely evacuated.

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