The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-03-03
Thursday Morning. March 3 1864.
Interesting Details respecting the Loss Ol
the Bohemian.


the Bohemian.
The following details of the loss of the
Steamship Bohemian are obtained by the re-
porter of the Montreal Herald from an intel
ligent cabin passenger, now in that city, who
was on board Of the ill-iated ship and an eye
witness ofall that transpired:-
About eight o'clock some one shouted "the
pilot boat when all on deck ran to the star
board side of the vessel to see. The object
that had been taken for pilot boat was soon
discovered to be the buoy over Alden's Rock.
The buoy was distant about two or three
hundred yards on the starboard side aad the
lights were in the opposite direction on the
port side, about mile or mile and a half
distant. 1t will thus be seen that the vessel
was between Alden's Rock and the Cape Eliza
beth Lights, and heading North and East
The Captain gave the order to put the helm
"hard starboard," which was followed by
three shocks, the first somewhat slight, the
second very heavy and the third similar to
the first. The order was then given "hard
port" after which two more shocks were felt.
The ship had struck aft perhaps a hundred
feet from the screw. The shocks are described
as being like those produced by a train of
cars running off the track. The Captain was
asked if there was any danger, to which he
replied that the ship could not sink. Nearly
all the cabin passengers were on deck at the
time, and many of the steerage passengers.
Two gentlemen went below to remove their
baggage to the deck, so that it might be safe
in case the vessel should go down in shallow
water. While below they distinctly heard the
water rushing through the leak. They were
but a few minutes below; and when they re-
turned to the deck they observed great vol
ume OF steam rushing through the fire gra-
tings, from which circumstance it was inferred
that the water had reached the furnaces and
that the danger was greater than it was at
first supposed to be. One of the gentlemen
again spoke to the captain with reference to
the danger, remarking that he feared there
was danger. The Captain Immediately gave
orders TO prepare to lower the boats. The
crews were then told Off without delay and up
to this point there was no confusion, uor un-
til the passengers commenced to enter the
boats. The officers and men seemed to be all
at their posts, cool and collected, and Capt.
Borland was heard giving orders to place the
passengers in the boats first But the pro-
gress oflowering the boats for some reason
was slow. From the observation of one gen.
tlemen who was quite cool and acted with de-
liberation and presence of mind, the cause OF
the delay may be inferred. He was one OF
those who got off in boat No. 6. He selected
this boat although the smallest because it was
most used, and he reasoned that il any were
ia good condition, this must be. Mrs. Cor
don was first placed in the boat with two men
to steady it in the water, when some fifteen
or sixteen passengers were lowered Into 1t by
means of ropes. For some time the plug could
not be found aud the boat nearly half filed
with water, when the plug was found floating
loosely about; hence the difficulty in finding
It.
The seamen were at their posts, but the
lowering of the boat was not accomplished
until a large number of the passengers had
seated themselves in it. Whatever was thd
reason, the boat could not be lowered until
such numbers had got in that the tackle at one
end or some portion Of the iron fastenings
gave way and the one end OF the boat dropped
swiftly down, while the other remained firmly
attached, literally spilling the unfortunate pas
sengers into the sea. The scene was agoniz-
ing TO those who were compelled to hear the
piercing shrieks of the unfortunate little chill
dren, women and men, and see them precipi-
tated into the hungry sea that swallowed them
at once-stifiing the shrieks in the gurgle of
death. On the approach of two boats, whose
occupants had witnessed this scene, theypulled
through floating dead bodies in which there
was not sign OF liie The silence OF death
had almost instantly succeeded the shrek OF
Nterror. Whatever number entered that boat,
none survived the catastrophe. The number
6 boat then pulled for the shore, where they
found breakers on two points, with quiet
cove between; but falling TO make the cove on
the first attempt, they put back TO the ship,
which was observed TO be lower by the stern.
The Captain placed number of women and
children in the rigging, and seemed to await
anxiously the return OF some of the boats. 1t
was determined then to pull ashore, and try TO
make the cove, and after landing the passen-
gers in the boat, to return TO the ship. The
second attempt was successful about half-past
A. IF. - -.
er. they would have found only half the smoke
stack, the rigging, and one-half the bridge OF
the Bohemian above water. When she went
down, and it was after gradually settling by
the stern, ii Is stated that some fifteen poor
creatures whom the captain had not yet placed
in the rigging, were swept of. The captain
who remained by the ship to the last, was tax
en- OF with the rest of the passengers, who
were in the rigging. One OF the boats reached
Bangs Island, whence they were taken by
steamer to Portland. The boat that first made
landing on Cape Elizabeth was number
boat. The light keeper was about winding up
the iog-bel in the lighthouse, the tolling OF
which was heard distinctly by the boats as
they made the shore. The presence of the
shipwrecked passengers was the first intima-
ton he had that ship had been cast away
within two miles of his light, although guns
had been fired and rockets sent up frequently
He was prevailed upon to continue the
ringing of the fog bell for the benefit of such
of the boats as had not made the shore. Sey.
eral of the passengers with Mrs. Gordon went
10 the Ocean House where Mr.. Chamberin
the proprietor. treated them in the most hos
pitable manner, furnishing everything requir
ed by the cold, wet,and wearied victims Of tn,
disaster, and declined to accept any remuner
alton. There was ball at the house tina
night, which accounts for the people failing
TO note the signal OF distress. 1t was herr
reported that three boats reached the shore
and as the steerage passengers were numer
Gus it was determined to proceed TO Portian'
10 obtain means of conveying the cabin pass
engers thither to make room for the steerag
passengers Here too the passengers had t
acknowledge renewal ofthe hospitality al
ready experienced. The proprietor of tn
United States Hotel in Portland, received tn
unfortunates with warm and timely hospi