AH-WR-1838

Mary Alice

Auxiliary Fishing Dragger · Lost 1952 · Cape Ann & the Gulf of Maine

A small Gloucester dragger flooded off Cape Ann in 1952; flashlight signals brought rescue for all three men.

Become Captain of Record

Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Interpretive Reconstruction, drawn to convey the vessel's era, type and general form. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

John M. Francis, Jr. bought Mary Alice from Point Judith parties in July 1951, partly to teach his son fishing. On February 26, 1952, an electrical flash fire was controlled before the dragger later began flooding. The master suspected damage from a submerged obstruction, but the cause was not confirmed. All three men escaped before she sank and were rescued by St. Francis.

Vessel

Built: Not established
Builder: Not established
Yard: Not established
Material: Not established
Length: 48 ft
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: Not established
Propulsion: Not established
Owners: Captain John M. Francis, Jr.

Loss

Date: February 26, 1952
Cause: Not established
Location: Reported six miles northeast of Thacher Island, Rockport, Massachusetts
Water: Atlantic Ocean
Voyage: Not established
Cargo: About 700 pounds of groundfish
Aboard: 3
Lives lost: 0
Master: John M. Francis, Jr.

The Wreck Today

Depth: Not established
Condition: Not established
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established

Position

Coordinates: Not established
Accuracy: Position not established
Nearest: Rockport, Massachusetts
Region: Cape Ann & the Gulf of Maine

Reported six-mile northeast Thacher Island locality fits Cape Ann bounds; no position calculated from bearing and distance.

Evidence

Overall confidence: Documented (78/100)

The cause of the leak, construction history, exact wreck position and present condition are not established; the original newspaper has not been independently inspected.

R. Sheedy, Down to Sea — The Mary Alice
Full private February 27 1952 transcription: purchase July 1951, 48 ft auxiliary dragger, John M. Francis, Jr., last-night sinking six miles northeast of Thacher Island, separate controlled flash fire, flooding, pump failure, suspected stuffing-box leakage, three men rescued by St. Francis via flashlight signals. Original newspaper not inspected.