The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-09
THE BROOKLYN.
A POSSIBLE CHANCE FOR GETTING
HER OFFTHE LEDGE.
The Pilots Statement in Regard to the
Accident

might be needed, the sloop II. Hamilton, the
schooners A. j. York and Mary E. Long were
engaged as lighters, and the steamer John
Brooks chartered to remove the cattle.
Upon arriving at the scene OF the disaster
Saturday morning, about ten o'clock, few
would imagine anything serious had occurred
to the Brooklyn, except that she listed little
to port. Upon attaining the deck and going
forward an opportunity was afforded Of getting
an idea of the injury. Upon looking over the
port side, little forward OF amidship, between
the foremost and smoke stack, the iron plates
were seen bullying outward, and low down
there was rent, about three feet wide, cover
cd by sail. II is also possible that some of
the Their iron plates in the bottom of the
ship have been pierced by the rocks. But, until
the divers have made an examination of the
vessel, it will DO impossible to tell just how
badly she is damaged and tho many flying
rnmors must be considered as baseless. There Is
| good deal of water in the steamer and the
| grain is thought to be seriously injured
great deal of the cargo, however, is composed
OF stuff like pork bacon and canned meats,
that will not probably DO but little damaged
As long as the weather continues as at present
the ship will do very well, but II a southerly
wind should set in she would undoubtedly
| grind on the rocks and receive more extensive
! damage along her hull At high tide she now
| lies in about twenty-five feet OF water. AT
| low tide 1t is probable that her frame viii be
more or less strained, until she is relieved OF
| all her cargo.
Capt. Poor, the pilot in command at the
time Of the accident, says when the ship left
the wharf Friday night he stood on the bridge
with Capt. Gibson, while the third officer was
at the wheel. The night was calm and the
sky nearly clear. 1t was dark but not unusual
| ly SO. The captain thought that the ship was
getting too near the fort and so remarked TO
the pilot, who replied that he thought SO too,
and gave an order to the man at the wheel.
The next moment the ship struck the ledge
heavily and then slid over the rocks with a
harsh grinding noise. To use Poor's own
words, as to the accident, he says: 1--WE
came down the harbor as usual, that is on our
usual course, and went down abreast the
middle ground Then We put our helm
port, going dead slow. Finding she wouldn't
answer her helm quick enough, gave her half
speed. Not answering quick enough then
gave her full speed ahead. The result was
that she didn't come to quick enough 70 clear
the shoal water and struck on the ledge" His
error he says was an error in Judgment as he
thought he could bring the vessel round inside
the rocks. II, he added, the ship had gone a
ships breadth to the right of her present posi-
ton, she would have been all right, and good
judges corroborate this statement by saying
there is fifty feet OF water close by the vessel.
Capt. Poor is 65 years old, has been pilot for
the English steamers for twenty years and
never before had an accident, and he was
thinking of giving up pilotage this spring. He |
feels very badly, not so much for himself as
for the great loss incurred by others.
Capt. Parsons, pilot, could not understand
how the steamer could be taken so far out of |
her course especially On night like that of
Friday.
1t may b. here stated that in taking course |
from the wharf it is usual TO make straight for |
Hog Island ledge until the breakwater light is
just abeam, that is, at right angles with the |
course OF the ship. At this point the ship |
should be brought to the Starboard. Nov the |
Hog Island ledge is about mile from the |
breakwater light, there is clear half mile Of
sea room for outgoing vessels and depth of |
fifty feet or over of water. It is possible that |
if tho pilot had ordered the vessel backed
when she failed to readily answer her helm. /
the accident might have been ayerted.
Capt. Gibson, Of the steamer, is Of course
not to blame. lie has no authority until the
pilot delivers the ship over 10 him, after leav-
ing the harhor.
Saturday the sailing vessels and the John |
Brooks worked hard and removed a large |
quantity of goods and the cattle. Only two Of |
the cattle were apparently injured, one Of
which died This was quite feat t. take of |
the sheep and cattle and only loss two OF them I
It was also fortunate that the sheds Nos. and |
OF the Grand Trunk we're empty and the |
cattle and goods could be stored therein. The |
cattle had to go without water fer little |
while yesterday uutil hose could be procured |
and attached to hydrant when they had all |
the water they wanted. Mr.. Walter Rotfey, |
who is representative of Mr.. Kennedy, the |
owner OF The Montreal stock yards, and OF the |
firms engaged in cattle transportation, The |
credit OF this work is due. On hearing Of the |
disaster be at once took prompt measures to |
bring the kline and sheep ashore, and succeed
ed in landing them safely Saturday night He |
brought to the sheds 42l head OF cattle and 236 |
sheep. The sheep aud Isl cattle were sent by |
franklin & Morse, Montreal, 1lS cattle by |
Morgan & Craig of the same city, aud $50 by |
A. J. Thompson & Co., of Toronto. The cattle |
forwarded by Morgan & Craig will be sent to
Boston and shipped thence The others will
be shipped on the Montreal. which will prob
ably sail from this port for Liverpool Wednes-
day. Mr.. Roffey has certainly earned the |
thanks Of the firms he represents By the saga
city and alsrtness he has displayed in rescuing |
this valuable part Of the cargo
Yesterday afternoon was fine, and the |
Eastern Promenade and Grand Trunk wharves |
were black with people all anxious to see the
ship to look at the cattle and observe every
thing that was going on. The Minnehaha |
made half hourly trips, going round the ship,
and a large party including Collector Dow,
Deputy Collector Smith, Hon. ". W Thomas,
Jr., and others made an excursion to the
steamer on the John Brooks. The pressure of
the wet grain on the place in the deck Of the
Brooklyn where tho iron plates had been
forced up, was 50 great as to break of the
heads Of the great bolts that held them as
neatly as IL cut off With knife.
In conversation with Mr. CFamp. the man
aging director Of the Dominion Steamship
Company, last evening that gentleman said
vey Of tho steamer, and that, until he received
his report, it would be impossible to Tell what
other damage the Brooklyn had sustained than
such as was visible to the naked eye. Farther
more the report OF the diver would be the
companys private concern. There was no de
sire to conceal anything from the public tina
1t was proper the public should know but this
was purely private matter. Capt. Hamilton
commenced his survey about p. in. yesterday
How long it would take for the survey was
question. Mr.. Cramp also sid that when the
company engaged the services of Capt. Poor
they understood he was the most experienced
pilot in these waters The company will re-
quest the proper officials to mako thorough
investigation as soon as possible 80 that the
cause of the accident can be fully ascertained.
Mr.. Cramp said he understood from Capt.
Gibson there was vessel lying in the channel,
in the course Of the steamer, which she ha1 to