The Portland daily press., 1878-08-16
PERILs OF THE FOG.
The Boston BoEi Touches Shore-The
Steamer Tourist Sunk in the Harbor-
The Rambler or Csshipg's Island.

The dense easterly fog which came in early
yesterday morning, concealing every object
from view even after daybreak caused several
accidents in the harbor. The steamer Forest
City, Capt Donavan, of the Portland and Bos-
ton steam packet company, left Boston on her
usual time Wednesday night and had pleas
ant run under clear skies until about 1 o'clock
in the morning when she struck dense fog
bank. They then made extra precautions
to prevent accidents, as is customary in such
cases. The Two Lights were mads without
difficulty and the pilot then turned the steamer
for Portland Head. The whistle on the Head
could be heard plainly but the light could not
be seen. Just as the steamer had run her
time out the bow struck the shore and it was
5000 seen that they were just opposite the light
but about the length of the steamer off her
course. She was moving slowly when she
struck and the blow was consequently compar.
atively light. The blow was suffi ,ient to bat
ter her fore foot and knock off piece of the
shoe.
As soon as she struck she was backed and
men sent to examine her pumps. TWAS found
that she was making water very slowly and
there was not the least dagger A few of the
passengers were awakened by the accident, but
the majority of them slept peacefully until the
steamer was docked. Oae of the passengers
wishes to say good word for the conduct of
the officers. They were all calm and at once
treasured the few passengers who were up.
There were about 200 passengers on board and
a fair amount of freight. The steamer was
dicoh rood ato mn on hpr arrival LON toka to
the dry dock. Although the injuries found
were slight it was thought best to give her
thorough overhauling, and so she did not leave
here last night. The regular trips of this line
will however be resumed tonight
THE TOURIST SUNK.
The little island steamer Tourist was one of
the sufferers from the fog. Capt. Knowlton,
her obliging commander, says that he left the
wharf in this city at clock, having on board
tha mate aud several seamen of the steamer
Iris and two men bound for Cushing's Island
to assist in getting the yacht Rambler off the
rocks The steamer ran very slowly on her
conrse. blowing her whistle every few minutes
to prevent just what occurred. When just this
side of the breakwater Capt. Kuowlton sighted
the steamer New York, Capt. Winchester, of
the International steamship line but few
yards from him. When discovered the Tourist
was pointed directly acrsss the bows of the
New York. His first thought was to go to the
s.arboard, but he feared that the little craft
VI ould be swept away by the wheel of the large
steamer, which would have involved loss of
life. To put on full steam and pass in front
would be contrary to all maritime rules AID so
he stopped and reversed. Just as the engine
began to run back the bow Of the New York
came crashing through the starboard side of
the Tourist. The passengers and engineer of
thr little boat scrambled up the bows of the
New York and were safe. Capt Knowlton
remained in the pilot house while his boat was
being pushed up the harbor, distance of 200
feet, until she sank when he jumped overheard
and narrowly escaped going under the wheels
of the large steamer, which were still in mo-
ton when he jumped overheard. He at last
got into boat towing at the stern.
The pilot of the New York says that neither
he nor the officers saw the Tourist until they
struck.
Mr.. Day, the mate of the Iris, says that
Capt. Knowlton did the best thing he could to
prevent the collision and that if the officers of
the steamer New York hal done as well there
would have been no trouble, He says that if
the wheels had been stopped after the collision
the Tourist would have been in far better con-
ditIon.
AT about 10 o'clock Capt. Isaac Hamilton,
with the sloop Northern Light, went to the
scene of the accident to look over the chances
of raising the Tourist. Capt. Hamilton was
accompanied by diver named Jordan of New
York, who went down and found the steamer
sitting upright in about % feet of water. Long
hawsers were attached to her and with big
purchase she was brought to the surface at
about O'Clock. With the assistance of the
tug Warren she was towed to the Cape and
beached IN Dyel's dock.
As the tide was nearly out at the time the
steamer was raised she could not be lowed to
where she will be repaired until midnight
Her hull was not sufficiently out of water to
give chance to estimate the extent of her
damage.
A very large number of boats west out to
witness the work of raising the sunken craft.
The Fiona will run in place of the Tox rst
while she is being repaired.
THE RAMBLER ASHORE.
The yacht Rambler was ont cruising We'd
nesday night and vas finally lost in the fog and
drifted on to the rocky shore Of Cushiugs Is
land. The crew did their best to get her off
but failed, and sent to the city for help. Two
men were going to their assistance on the Tour
list when she met with her accident. The the
W. f. SCOTT went down in the afternoon and
took her off. She had small hole in her bot
tom only.
A NEW MUSICAL INsTRUMENT.-Mr. e. B.
Robinson is now introducing new musical
instrument which promises to become quite
popular. Ii is known as Needham's Musical
Cabinet and was invented by the well known
musical instrument manufacturer in New York
whose name it bears. 1t requires no musical
h. nnk 49,,