During the night of December 3^rd, 1890 a heavy gale blew from the southeast and the accompanying sound of driving rain and booming surf made those manning Seguin Light restless and uneasy. Dawn on the morning of the 4^th revealed to the lighthouse keepers a medium sized schooner anchored in a precarious position close by Seguin Ledges just north of the island. The vessel, subsequently identified as the 185 ton GONDOLA of St. John, New Brunswick, had apparently blindly anchored some time that night and safely ridden out the worst of the storm under the lee of Seguin Island. Daybreak that morning however, coincided with a tide change and it was obvious to all that when the tide turned and the strong ebb came out from the Kennebec River the schooner was doomed.

Sure enough, even before the ill fated craft started swinging toward the breakers of Seguin Ledges a yawl boat dropped from the stern and the crew was seen to pull for safety toward Seguin Island. The wind had subsided somewhat, but had shifted and now blew steadily toward the west, pushing the yawl in that direction. It was soon apparent that the boat was making little headway and the attempt to land at the island would fail.

In the meantime the schooner had crashed broadside onto the ledges and almost immediately rolled over on its side or "beams ends". To the horror of those on shore it was now observed that someone was still aboard. A solitary figure was seen to climb up on the exposed side of the hull and flag desperately for help. This, it turned out, was GONDOLA’s captain, P. Martin of East Boston, who had refused to leave with his crew, remaining in the vain hope that he could save his vessel.

It was not until six hours later, at one o’clock in the afternoon, that the surfboat finally reached the site. It was towed within two hundred yards of the breakers by the tug SEGUIN, but by that time Martin had apparently been swept to his death, as there was no sign of life on the wreck. Capt. Haley of the Life Saving Service, his crew drenched and starting to suffer from exposure, was unwilling to risk his men any further on a fruitless mission and he ordered the tug turn back. Luckily, the GONDOLA’s yawl boat, with the remaining five crew members on board, was spotted by a passing vessel. The survivors were picked up several miles from the scene and safely landed in Boothbay Harbor. GONDOLA, on a voyage from Boston to Two Rivers, Nova Scotia to load cargo, was a total loss. The body of Capt. Martin was never found.

On the morning of May 21, 1880, the three masted, square-rigged Barque, JOS. W. BARTLET, of Boston left its home port with a pilot on board headed for Bangor, Maine. It was not recorded whether the vessel was carrying cargo and it probably sailed empty, planning on arrival to pickup a load of lumber, Bangor’s principle export. With a fair wind, BARTLET had made good progress and was well down the Maine coast by late Friday night, but, as events turned out, not quite as far as the captain believed.

Unsure of his location, and thinking he was off course, BARTLET’s captain later reported he mistook Seguin’s Light for Monhegan’s . As a moth is drawn to a flame and with the same predictable results, he turned his vessel inshore toward the mystery island in order to positively identify it and thereby confirm his position.

If the captain was convinced the island was Monhegan, he may have been quite unprepared to deal with the strong tides often encountered at the mouth of the Kennebec River. Those on board soon heard breakers crashing against the cliffs and the crew attempted to haul off. But before this could be accomplished BARTLET, probably now in the grip of strong currents, struck the rocks on the southwest shore of Seguin Island. The sea was rough and a hole was stove through the hull partially filling the barque with water.

The following day, a rescue attempt was made when the tug KNICKERBOCKER arrived at the wreck site. After an unsuccessful attempt to pull the bilged vessel off the rocks, KNICKERBOCKER gave up the job as hopeless. As a final recourse the captain abandoned BARTLET and had the tug transport him and his crew up the Kennebec to Bath. The local newspapers soon reported that the vessel had gone to pieces.

                                                                                     U.S. REV. CUTTER MORRIS–atsea,Dec.12^th,1833

Sir – On Wednesday last about 10 o’clock in the forenoon I discovered a Schooner on shore on Seguin Ledges. At 10,30 hove too, manned our boats and went to their assistance. Owing to the roughness of the sea I found it impossible to board her, and after a long time and after using great exertions I fortunately succeeded in saving three men from the wreck (in a perishing situation) by throwing them a rope and hauling them through the breakers into the boat. At12M. made sail to the westward — At 2 P.M. tacked ship and stood for the wreck. At 3,15, succeeded in boarding the wreck, it then being low water. She proved to be the schooner JACKSON, Charles Copeland, Master, the two men were named Steuben Mitchell and John Hurd. We were enabled to save a part of the sails and some of the cargo. On Thursday morning at daylight I manned both boats again and proceeded in saving the principal part of her cargo, consisting of Merchandize with all the sails and rigging an the clothing belonging to the captain and crew. She was owned in Boston and was from that place bound to Thomaston; – the captain belongs to Thomaston; – the vessel will be lost.

                                                                   I am sir respectfully your ob’t serv’t,

                                                                  Green Walden 1^st Lieut Commanding U.S. Rev. Cutter Morris

A card to U.S. Rev. Cutter Morris

Charles Copeland and crew of the Schr. JACKSON, of Boston, tender their sincere thanks to Lieut. Green Walden, commanding U.S. Revenue Cutter MORRIS, and his officers and crew, for their unwearied exertions in saving their lives, (at the imminent peril of their own,) while on the rocks on Seguin Ledges, the sea making a complete breach over us, and being nearly exhausted; and for their exertions in saving the sails and rigging and part of the cargo on the day following, and their kind usage while on board the Cutter.