"Late in 1841, Captain Laban Howes of Dennis took command of the Dalmatia, a 387-ton ship. After making several short voyages, he sailed from England in 1842, bound for Boston with a cargo of coal, linseed oil and other goods. While en route, his ship was overcome by a heavy gale and rough seas and thrown on her side. Both the mizzenmast and mainmast were lost. The crew worked to shift the cargo, and the ship ­ though eventually righted ­ was leaking badly. It took 15 hours of steady pumping to free the hold of water and oil. The next day, Captain Howes set what sail he could. A fishing sloop spotted the distressed ship and piloted it to safety. The Dalmatia was repaired and continued to sail for several years. Howes retained command until 1845" excerpt from "The Treasures of the Towns" on the Cahoon Museum of American Art site written by Audrey Harris