Sleeping in a Watery Grave

I had no sooner shared the story of Charlie Verge — the tale of a man’s alleged rescue(?) after being swept off a brig — when I happened across the story of Stephen Dodge.

It’s presents a similar set of circumstance but with a decidedly more tragic outcome.

The Loss of Stephen Drodge

It was June 7, 1897 and the schooner Jesse was bound for Trinity Bay. She was under the command of Joseph Drodge and crewed by his three younger brothers — the youngest, Stephen, was not yet 18-years-old.

The Jesse was in St. John’s for provisions. She had set sail from Steers Wharf just before 10am.

When they’d cleared the narrows the sea was choppy but, by the time they reached Sugar Loaf, they realized they were battling rising swells and a strong N.N.E. breeze. Joseph, not wanting to take any unnecessary chances, decided to turn back and return to St. John’s.

Pearson Scott Foresman, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

He attempted to bring the bow into the wind. At the front of the boat Stephen was on the port side holding the jib tightly, his brother William Thomas was at the starboard.

Then it happened — a sudden jerk. Stephen was knocked off his feet.

William Thomas made a dash toward his brother, but it was too late. Stephen tumbled into the bulwarks, and toppled over the bow into the swells below.

The Jesse seemed to pass clear over him. They didn’t see Stephen again until his body resurfaced some 100 yard astern of the vessel.

The boy didn’t know how to swim, but even if he had, he was in no condition to fight the ocean. It looked as if the fall, or perhaps, a strike from the Jesse hull as he passed beneath her, had rendered him unconcious.

The crew could do nothing but watch in horror as the boy —their brother— was taken by the tide and pulled beneath the waves.

The Jesse returned to St. John’s and Stephen was never seen again.

In a split second a tragic accident killed a young man and forever changed the lives of his family.

Contradictions

The story of Stephen Drodge’s death was carried by several newspapers I’ve based my account on reports from the Telegram and the other from the Daily News. They don’t entirely square with one another.

The two reports differ in tone and detail. Most notably in regard to Stephen’s condition in the water. The Telegram suggests (as I chose to recount above), that Stephen was likely unconscious in the water. The Daily News takes a different tack, shifting from condolence to blame. They suggest the drowning was the result a lack of life-saving equipment aboard.

They wrote:

We have often heard old sea-faring men say that every well-appointed ship should be provided with life preservers, and if this be so of foreign-going vessels, it is equally so of our local fishing and trading schooners. Had there been a life-belt on board the Jessie yesterday the probability is that poor young Drodge would not now be sleeping in a watery grave.

We can’t know whether a life preserver would have saved Drodge or not, but obviously, as the Daily News suggest, it’s a good idea that ships be equipped with them.

Doesn’t it seem like a terrible — and somewhat cruel — time to argue it though?

• Sources & Further Reading

  1. Stephen Drodge Drowned, The Telegram, June 8, 1897

  2. Knocked Overboard and Drowned, Daily News, June 8, 1897

  3. Auld Lang Syne, The Daily News, June 8, 1927

  4. Found Dead and Floating, The Telegram, August 04, 1897