By this Public Instrument of Protest
Be it known and made manifest unto all whom it doth or may concern that on the day of the date hereof before me Robert Langrishe Mare of the city of Saint John’s in the Island of Newfoundland, Notary Public by lawful authority duly admitted and sworn personally came and appeared Nathaniel Stringer, Master and Josiah Stringer, First hand both of the Schooner or Vessel called “Ocean Wave”of the burthen of Eighteen Tons or thereabouts belonging to the aforesaid port of Saint John’s the said Master having Duly Noted his Protest in this behalf before me the said Notary who all solemnly declared:
That at 1 pm on Tuesday the 17th day of this present month of November said vessel having on board a part cargo of timber, they the said appearers with others forming together a full and competent crew left Caplin Cove, South West Arm, Random, Trinity Bay in this aforesaid Island bound for Long Cove in same Bay, to get the timber sawn at the mill, wind S.W. very light, weather fine. 3 pm arrived at Long Cove and anchored with 30 fathoms chain on port anchor, 4 pm commenced to discharge timber which they finished at 5 pm. They then slackened the chain and made a line fat to the shore from the stern of vessel and then started for Caplin Cove aforesaid in their trap skiff where they arrived at 6 pm. That during the night and early morning of Wednesday 18th wind veered S.S.W. and blew a strong gale with heavy sea on. That they were unable to cross to their vessel at Long Cove aforesaid until Friday the 20th. That at 6 am wind and sea having gone down they started in the skiff for Long Cove aforesaid where they arrived about 7 am and found the vessel sunk on the Point nothing but part of the masks being over water. That said Master learned from local people at Long Cove aforesaid that about 2 am on Wednesday 18th said vessel dragged her anchor, drove on rocks at the Point of Harbour and sank. That said Master after leaving everything in charge of the First Hand, wh was making arrangements to try and raise vessel, came on to Saint John’s aforesaid where he arrived on Wednesday 25th And the said appearers do further declare that at the time of the loss of sunk Vessel she was securely anchored and moored and that the hatches was securely covered and Vessel was tight, staunch, and strong. Therefore the said Nathaniel Stringer did declare to Protest as by these presents he doth most solemnly protest against all and every person or persons whom it doth or may concern the loss of said Vessel having been occasioned by the dangers and accidents of the seas in the manner herein mentioned and set forth and not by or through the inefficiency of said Vessel neglect of said appearers or any of the crew.
Act Whereof being requested of me the said Notary have granted these presents under my Notarial Form and Seal of Office and the said appearers have also subscribed the same in my presence this Twenty Sixth day of November in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Three.
Nathaniel X Stringer (his mark)
Josiah X Stringer (his mark)
Newfoundland
Saint John’s
To Wit: Nathaniel Stringer, Master and Josiah Stringer, First Hand both of the schooner or vessel called “Ocean Wave” do severally declare and say that the foregoing Instrument of Protest was clearly and distinctly read over to them these declarants and that the several matters and things therein contained are in all respects right and true as the same are therein particularly alleged, declared, and set forth.
Declared before us
Nathaniel X Stringer (his mark)
Josiah X Stringer (his mark)
RLMare
Notpub
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Transcribed by Lester Green, June 2015
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.