March 29, 1938
Local Vessel Lost Man on Grand Banks
Hervie White, 58, Drowned When Heavy
Sea Upset Dory
Companion Clung To Craft Until Rescued
Washed overboard when his dory capsized in
rough weather on Grand Banks last Wednesday afternoon, Hervie White, 58
years, married, six children, Haven street, Reading, formerly of this city, was drowned
while his dorymates aboard the local halibuting schooner Joffre,
Capt. Simon P. Theriault, labored in vain to save him. The
Joffre arrived at Boston fish pier late yesterday afternoon her flag at
half-mast.
The threat of stormy weather forecast by rough
seas caused Capt. Theriault to signal for the dories to
return. Levi Meuse of this city and White were in
the same dory and since they had only left the Joffre a shore
time before, had no fish. They rowed to the side of the vessel safely, and were
about to clamber aboard when a sea smote the dory and capsized it, spilling both men into
the icy waters. Meuse managed to grasp the bottom of the overturned
dory, and struggled to reach White, but the latter disappeared, weighted
down by his high hip boots and oilskins. Those aboard rushed to Meuse's
aid, and hauled him aboard the Joffre. None of the crew
saw White after he vanished beneath the turbulent sea.
White had fished out of
Gloucester since his youth, pursuing dory fishing and had gone with many of the leading
skippers, including Capt. Theriault. He leaves his widow, Mrs. Josephine
Meuse White, of Reading, and six children. White was born
at Amero's Hill, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.
The Joffre had 40,000 pounds of prime halibut
in her holds after being out of Gloucester for 24 days. |
