February 21, 1940
Fisherman Swept From Deck of Pollyanna
After weathering the strongest northeast
blizzard, the local 98 foot auxiliary sch. Pollyanna, Capt. Robert
O'Brien, lost a man overboard, 70 miles east of Thacher's Island, Rockport, about
5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, on her way into Boston Fish pier, after a seven day dory
haddocking trip to Brown's bank.
The unfortunate man was Lawrence
Doucette, 44 years, single, and a native of Nova Scotia, who roomed near Boston
Fish pier. It was his third trip aboard the Pollyanna
which is owned by the Gorton Pew Vessel Company of Gloucester. The trawler arrived
at Boston Fish pier early this morning with her American flag at half-mast, telling of the
tragedy at sea.
Capt. O'Brien told reporters
that Doucette had been at the wheel and surrendered it to Able
Meuse, 10 minutes before he disappeared over the rail. The weather was
clear, and only an average sea was running, though it was blowing considerably, the
skipper said.
The last that Muese and his
dory mate Scotty D'Arcy, both of whom were in the pilot house, saw of Doucette,
he was standing o deck between the house and the main rigging. When they looked in
that direction again, Doucette was gone. Realizing he could not
have gone below, they summoned the skipper and started searching the waters for a trace of
the man. Capt. O'Brien and his crew cruised around the vicinity for
a couple hours before they gave up. The skipper believes that Doucette
slipped on the deck in trying to buck the stiff breeze and losing his balance was thrown
overboard. Weighted down by oilskins and heavy boots, he had no chance and his cries
were not heard above the wind.
Doucette signed up with the Pollyanna
a month ago. He was an able fisherman and a likable dory mate according to the
skipper and crew. He had been fishing all his life. His father, a member of
the crew of a the Gloucester sch. J. M. Marshall, a dory
trawler, who was at the Boston pier when the Pollyanna arrived
today, was informed of this son's death. |
