1925 — June 28, Gloucester MA fishing schooner Rex sunk by liner in fog 200M E of N.S.–15

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-22-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–15  Lowell Sun, MA.  “15 Drowned, 9 Rescued.” June 29, 1925, p. 14.

–15  Sheedy, R.  “The Rex.”  Out of Gloucester.

Narrative Information

Sheedy, R.  “The Rex.”  Out of Gloucester:

“Rammed by one of the Cunard liners during a dense fog on the southeast part of Quero yesterday morning, Captain Thomas O. Downie and 13 members of the crew of the fishing Sch. Rex, and a 10-year-old boy, the son of the cook, met their deaths in a watery grave, after being trapped like rats in their bunks with not even a fighting chance to escape with their lives.

“According to the wireless report, the accident occurred in latitude 44.24, longitude 57.15, which would place the Rex will to the eastward of Sable Island, and on a direct line out of Halifax.  It is believed the Tuscania was off her course, evidently due to the thick weather.  Yesterday morning, while a blanket of fog wrapped the fishing banks of Quero, the Rex lay swaying gently at anchor.  Nine of her crew were on deck, and the rest, including the youngster, enjoying his school vacation, were below.

“A sharp watch was being maintained, and the horn was being blown at frequent intervals.  But through the silence no sounds of a steamer’s whistle came to the ears of those on deck.  Unmindful of any danger, the men were conversing, debating on the weather, and speculating as to the chances of getting to their gear today.   Below, some in their bunks, others sitting around the lockers, the remainder of the men were discussing various subjects, as is always the case on board of a fisherman when there is no fishing going on.

“….Suddenly, to the startled crew on deck, came the groaning sound of a siren, a rushing of water as heavy screws of the Tuscania churned up a nasty whirlpool of water, and then came confusion.  Straight out of the fog came a deep black hull, headed right at the schooner amidships, her sharp knifelike prow ploughing through the wooden hull of the Rex. sending her under water with the force of the impact.

“Not a warning could be shouted to those below.  It was a case of look out for yourself, with no time to be spared.  In fact, it is doubtful if any of those trapped below could have escaped had a warning been shouted, so quickly did the Cunarder come out of the fog and bear down upon the little halibuter.  The nine men on deck leaped wildly in all directions into the water below them.  Fortunately the sea was calm, and there was not wind. otherwise the loss of life would have been much greater.

“Following the crash, the bells on Tuscania jingled and she came to a stop.  Life boats were immediately lowered over the side and a rescue of the men begun.  The Rex had disappeared from sight, only small pieces of wood and her shattered dories spread themselves over the water where just a few moments before lay one of the best schooners out of this port.

….

“Lost on the Rex were:

Capt. Thomas O. Downie
Austin Firth,  cook
Charles Austin Firth, 10-year-old son of the cook
George Johnson
Joseph Dalton
Angus D. McDonald
Angus Smith
Clyde Larkin
Samuel Tibbetts
Charles Goodick
William Roach
William Turner
Archie Hill
Oscar Williams
Charles Wieball.”

Newspaper

June 29, AP: “Gloucester, June 29 (A.P.) – Fifteen men were drowned and nine other members of the crew of the fishing schooner Rex of this port rescued when the boat was sunk in collision with the Cunard Anchor line steamer Tuscania, 200 miles east of Halifax yesterday….The Tuscania, which struck the little fishing craft during a fog, reported herself standing by searching for possible survivors and bodies.  The master of the sunken vessel, Thomas Downey of Lowell, was picked up dead.

“Officials of the Fred L. Davis Co., owner of the Rex, believe many of their ship’s crew were killed below deck in their bunks and that others, stunned by crushing timber, drowned before they could recover consciousness….

“The Rex sailed from Gloucester on June 17 and was returning laden with halibut at the time of the accident. 

“Among those who lost their lives was Charles, the 10-year-old son of Austin Firth, the schooner’s cook, who also went down….

“The spot where the collision occurred was on the east end of the Quero back…”  (Lowell Sun, MA.  “15 Drowned, 9 Rescued.” June 29, 1925, p. 14.)

Sources

Lowell Sun, MA. “15 Drowned, 9 Rescued [Schooner Rex sinking]” June 29, 1925, p. 14. At:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=56396948

Sheedy, R.  “The Rex.”  Out of Gloucester.  Accessed 7-23-2011 at:  http://www.downtosea.com/1901-1925/rex.htm