The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-08-31
A Full account from Rockland.


RocKLANp, Aug. 30-The steamer City of
Richmond left the wharf here for Bar Harbor
about o'clock this morning on the regular
trip for Mt. Desert, with about sixty psssen-
gers. AT 6.32 she struck on the ledge at the
southern end of Mark Island about eight miles
from this city. The steamers quickest time
hitherto from Jameson's Point Red buoy to
Black buoy off this ledge, was 26 minutes. This
morning it was only % minutes till she struck
the ledge. The fog was exceedingly thick
and Capt. Dennison had just slowed speed
when the echo of the steamers whistle from
the shore of the island suddenly warned him
of the dangerous proximity, and the wheel was
at once thrown to port and the engines stop
ped. But at the same moment the spindle
on the ledge suddenly appeared close on the
port bow and in another instant the steamers
bow was high on the rocks making breach
through which the water poured rapidly. The
steamer at once swung round pointing east
ward, fast oil the ledge, and stern in the
water, which is four fathoms at low tide. She
lies between the spindle on the inner
and buoy on the outer end of the
ledge. The buoy is but three or four
hundred feet from the shore of the island and
where the steamer struck was less than
that distance from the usual course. Outside
the buoy hundred feet or less southwark
would have carried her clear. Capt Denni-
son at once had the boats ready, and in fifteen
or twenty minutes after the accident all the
passengers were landed on the island. Breakfast
was preparing and hot coffee and such food as
could be got was sent on shore at once with
blankets &C., for the comfort of passengers.
All the baggage was also saved and sent on
shore the steamer rapidly filled and sunk in
short time, only the hurricane deck showing
above the water aft of the wheels. News OF
the disaster was received here by the way of
Camden, which is only about four miles from
the island, about O'Clock, and the steamer
Pioneer was dispatched to the scene on her ar
rival from Vinal Haven, as well as the schoon-
er Hunter; while the steamer Henry Morrison
also left at noon. Meantime the little steamer
Planet from Camden had arrived and brought
the Richmond's passe myers to this city, arriv-
ing about p. m. They will be sent to their
destination by the steamer Lewiston tomorrow
morning The steamers Pioneer and Morri-
sou brought the baggage, furniture and other
articles saved from the wreck. The Morrison
has returned this evening from second trip
to the wreck, and the tug Ralph Ross OF Ban
gor has also towed in the schooner Hunter with
various articles saved from the steamer. 1t
was reported that the Richmond was broken in
two amidships, but it is now believed the hull
is not badly injured except at the bow and that
she may be got off if the weather continues
fair TIE hurricane deck aft of the paddle
boxes was broken away and has been cut loose,
and the saloon deck may also be washed off.
General Manager Gushing and Capt. Hamilton
of Portland will arrive tomorrow morning with
appliances for raising the steamer, and Capt.
Hamilton's sloops will be sent to be used in the
work,
The passengers speak in the highest terms
OF the conduct of Capt. Dennison and his Off