The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-11-24
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
The Portland Steam Packet Company
the Orginatorsl

In 1871 Professor Espy gave series OF lee
lures relating to the philosophy of storms, and
one of his auditors was Capt. Brooks of the
Portland and Boston Steam Packet Company
Capt. Brooks became deeply interested, and,
in 1S49450; as there was then Geographic COM
munication between Portland, Boston and
New York, he arranged for three telegraphic
weather reports daily, morning, noon and eve
ming, from the three different points of New
York, Albany and Plattsburg, the circuit Of
places about two hundred miles apart. In adj
dtion, and for more minute reckoning, reports
were received from an intermediate station,
about one hundred miles from Boston.
AT first his reports were not always correct
but lie persevered and, on certain Monday in
the month of February, 1852, Capt. Brooks
sent telegram kilograms on this subject
passed daily between the Boston and Portland
offices Of the company to the agent in Portland
at u o'clock, noon, to the effect that a heavy
northeast snow storm was raging in New York,
but that the weather continued fine in Boston.
At 4 o'clock in the afternoon another telegram
was sent stating that the storm had reached
8 Springfield, and that the Boston boat would
not leave her dock; and that if the st. Law
renee then a new boat left Portland, she
would find herself in the midst of the storm
before the passage was half accomplished
Now sneers and jeers were in order. The idea
of running steamboats, according to fantastic
theories must now be blown out of the water
The Portland agent came to the conclusion
that storms in New York had nothing whatev-
er to do with the weather in Boston and Port
land, or between those points, and sent his
ship to sea.
The st. Lawrence left Portland on time
with full freight and 307 passengers. Abreast
Portsmouth she met the storm, bowling
northeastern, with snow and blow in mixed pro-
portions-enough of it at all events. The boat
was run for Boston. The condition of things
grew worse and worse, and by the time she had
arrived at the head of the bay, the craft was in
a bad fix. Finally her head was turned off
shore, and in doing this her rudder was lost.
Now they began to drift about the bay, and
with difficulty kept ahoat, losing much of their
freight, but fortunately, no passengers. 1t
was not until Thursday night that this perilous
voyage was ended. Meanwhile the Portland
agent and all others interested had abundant
opportunity for reflection concerning the phil
osophy of storms, and especially whether a
northeaster prevailing in New York or Spring
field was likely to have anything to do with
the weather between Boston and Portland.
The quiet comment of Capt. Brooks on this
event is: 1.-THE weather reports have been
strictly attended to ever since, and bave
heard no further abuse"
For fifteen years the Portland Steam Packet
Company relied on Capt. Brooks reports.
Sine 1S41, as has often been said, the company
has never lost or injured a passenger. The in
surance presidents got Capt. Brooks to tell
them his plan, and from it our general sigual
service is now fashioned.