The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-12
The Steamer GazeIIe.
To the Editor IF the Press.

IOMe Edbt0r y the PreSS.
The severe and unjust structures made upon
the undersigned. as master of the island steam
or Gazelle, during the calamitous fire of last
Saturday, by the morning journals, calls for a
full and correct explanation of his peculiar sit
uation at the time, and which when made, will,
to all candid minds, place the matter in the
right position.
The first afternoon trip of the Gazelle was
made as usual at 2 o'clock precisely, and the
fire had not then commenced, no alarm having
been sounded, and only when we had got out
of our dock and off the end of Franklin wharf
did we see the fire at all There was then no
apparent need of any assistance as the fire had
not made progress enough as we passed the
end of Calls wharf to warrant the offer of it.
We had about one hundred and sixty passen-
gers on board, mostly ladies and children, not
more than twenty of that number being men.
As We progressed on our course, the fire spread
with unusual rapidity, and all the passengers
got on the land side of the steamer to witness
the fire, which of itself produced somewhat OF
panic on board. When we got OH the buoy
near the end of the breakwater, we could see
that the intense heat and spread OF the flames
forced some of the employees OF the "Dirigo"
to lump into the water; and then the demand
was made by one or two men on board, for US
to turn back, aud only for the purpose of saving
life, the steamers Montreal and Chesapeake
not seemingly being in any immediate danger,
neither having moved from their positions at
Atlantic and Franklin wharves, respectively.
OF course we consulted hurriedly as to what
course it was right for US to take. as we were
anxious to do anything in reason to save life or
nrfx hoo, % at,A,,
steamer as the Gazelle is, with her precious
human freight, with So much top hamper out
OF the water, up to a burning steamer lying at
one of the wharves, and with such precious
human freight on board of our steamer, especi
ally when we knew that both these steamers
had life boats, and any amount of life preserv-
ers on board. to say nothing of so many small
boats always in the immediate vicinity? The
result would have been the loss of more human
lives and of our steamer, had we then turned
back, as every one can see. The Montreal
never took fire OF all until we reached Peaks
Island One word as to my friend, Captain
Oliver 1t should be borne in mind that the
steamer Express is very different boat from
the Gazelle, built fer a tug boat, and lying low
in the water and without much of that inham-
mable material high above water, that our
! steamer possesses, and therefore the very Oppo-
site of the Gazelle in these respects. Captain
Oliver started at Las o'clock, had gone down to
Peake's Island, landed his passengers, and was
was, as to time, and every other circumstance,
in better condition to render aid than we were,
and besides, it is his business to act as a tug
boat when not otherwise engaged, and had we
been situated as he was as to time, we should
doubtless have acted as be did.
G. T. SANDS.
The following is appended:
TO THE PUBLIC.
We the undersigned, having been passengers
IL 81, ~ CT IL last
testify that under the circumstances it would
have been highly ;mprudent for Captain Sands
to have turned back for the purpose of endeay
| oring to save those on the burning steamer Di
riga, inasmuch by so doing he would have been
placing in peril the lives of upwards of 15O pas
| sengers.
DONALD Ross, B. D
Minr Oh. Scotland Chathom @.
Rev. BENZ. j. DINGLAN,
Georgetown, Del.
JAMES B. CUSHING.
Chatham, Que. Canada.
Miss e. B. COOLIDGE,
Boston.
NJ E. CUSHING.
Montreal
Mrs BEvERIDGE,
Ottawa House.
JAMES BAKERS,
| Montreal.
HENRY A. LITTLE,
Philadelphia,
CHARLES NJ. LIBBY,
Portland.