On November 26, 1898, while returning to Boston from the outer station, after putting John Fawcett, Joseph Fawcett, Thomas Cooper, William Abbott and Axel Olsen aboard incoming vessels, the Columbia was driven ashore at the Sand Hills beach in Scituate in the great Portland Gale with the loss of all five men aboard.

[2] When access to the beach became available, Captain John and Joseph Fawcett arrived at the scene to witness the destruction of their boat.

[4][5] On October 17, 1900, Dolliver was on the Louise when he boarded the Cunard Line steamship Saxonia, with two pilots, Erick Ahlquist and William Weaver.

Pilots John C. Fawcett, Joseph Fawcett, William V. Abbott and Watson S. Dolliver sent a letter, that was posted in the Boston Globe, thanking Captain Pritchard and his officers and crew of the Saxonia for their heroic and successful efforts.

The flags were lowered to half-mast at the pilots' office at Lewis Wharf and at the Boston Towboat Company.