The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-09
stepped right from the gangway

t-~SHS~@8S~S
into'them.
Soon after the passengers had left the steam
or she:began to break up and at 10 O'Clock
Capt. Larcom the last man on board, stepped
from the deck OF the vessel. At that time the
hurricane deck was raised in the shape OF a
mound, due to the pressure of timbers forced
up from below. The vessel went under with
the exception of her bow shortly after and is
apparently broken in two and probably forced
out at both ends
The weather is 80 bad here tonight that all
steamboats, are lying at their berths.
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Capt. Larcom says that he went to his room,
leaving the two pilots in charge at midnight.
The steamer was then on the outside course,
apparently laying for Matinicus and as he sup
posed was to keep the same course. For some
reason the pilots determined to take the inside
passage and 80 laid her course MP Mussel Ridge
Channel and thence into Fisherman's Island
passage, meaning to pass this and keep on
through the thoroughfares. At this place in
the passage, where are the lodges in ques-
ton, the course to steer is east northeast and
the channel is perhaps two hundred yards
wide. To starboard is Grindstone Ledge,
marked by red buoy, and to port Northwest
Ledge, marked by a striped buoy. The night
was dark, though not thick. For some reason
the lookout failed to observe the buoy and in
a moment the steamer was on the ledge. A
strong tide and high sea prevailed at the time.
ATTEMPT TO SAVE FREIGHT.
After getting off the passengers, work was
begun on saving the freight, but bad sea
made it difficult, and cotton, apples, -four and
baggage were carried out through the gang
ways and driited away. Most of the merchan-
disc saved was taken away by schooner from
Rockland, and some by other vessels lying to
leeward She had light cargo on board, AZ
bales of cotton and 125 barrels Of -four being
the largest items; horse and pig represent
ed all the live stock. The horse swan ashore
and was rescued. About one-half of the
baggage was saved.
A TOTAL LOSS.
There is not a doubt but that the boat will
be total loss. Capt. Abbey, of the cutter
Woodbury., passed the wreck at o'clock this
afternoon and reports the foremost gone and
the pilot-house out of sight The total num-
Der of passengers was sixty, with six children.
About fifty went east by rail tonight.
ITO the Associated Press.)
RoCKLAND, May S.-The revenue cutter
Woodbury. left the wreck Of the City of Port
land at o'clock this evening. The steamer
had broken in two, all her upper works were
gone and the sea which is increasing in vio-
lence will soon destroy what remains.
In fair weather the usual course Of this line
from Portland to st. John, N. B., is outside
Monhegan and Matinicus Islands. In heavy
weather the course is often laid up through
Mussel Ridge Channel, swinging at Ash Point
bell and proceeding east-north-east out
through Grindstone Channel, go called. This
latter channel is about one.fourth OF mile
wide, the narrowest passage being between the
two lodges known as Northwest and Grind
stone The former is marked by striped
buoy, and it is ON this ledge the City OF Port
| land struck while going at full speed, striking
| hard enough to prevent sliding off, and thus
escaping the additional horror of drowning
all on board. Capt. Larcom was abed at the
time the vessel struck. When he retired the
steamer was on the outside course, but the
weather was looking threatening. When she
reached Monhegan, First Pilot Bibber altered
her course to Mussel Ridge
The passengers were mostly bound to East
port and st. John. They were landed here
and cared for at the Thorndike Hotel, and
were forwarded 20 their destination over the
railroad this afternoon. The steamer Pioneer,
Capt Creed, from Vinal Haven to this city,
sighted the wreck at 10 o'clock, and steamed
there, but could render no aid. She towed the
saving schooner, loaded with baggage, to this
city.
CAPT. LARcoM's STATEMENT.
Capt. D. Larcom arrived here at O'Clock
| this afternoon having been at the scene of the
wreck since morning, and gave the following
account:
81 turned into my bunk ut midnight The
steamer then was on the course outside of Mon
hogan, and first pilot Bibber was in charge. 1
knew nothing more till awakened at $3.50
o'clock by the shock of the striking. then
ran hastily out and gave the necessary orders.
I saw at once that the steamer was hard
aground and there was no danger. The Off
GERS and crew worked finely. The boats were
cleared away Immediately, and all means Of
safety were taken. / sent the mate ashore to
get help from Rockland; we were about two
miles from the mainland, and the water was
comparatively calm, being about dead low tide.
In less than half an hour after striking, Capt
Wallace of Owls Head came up with sloop
and took about half OF our passengers. The
steamer Rockland arrived at 80 O'Clock and
| took the balance of the passengers. 1 am sat-
isfed that the accident would not have been
more serious had the steamer slid OFF the ledge
for the pumps would have kept her afoat till
che reached Rockland, but as she settled on
the ledge the water reached the furnaces,
steam was blown off, the tide began making
and the wind freshened from the westward.
The after part of the steamer began warping to
pieces when left at 10 o'clock, being the last
man to leave and the after part was then gone.
There won't be aStick above water BY morning.
have been l6 years steamboating and this
is the first disaster of any nature. The only
cause can ascribe is the strong tide increased
by the force of an easterly wind setting US
directly on the ledge. The pilot had run that
channel q hundred times. 1t was always my
custom to be on deck when running among
| the islands. When her course was changed L
should have been called though / don't know
as could have done any more than the two
| pilots on deck. l have seen the steamer go
| through that channel scores of times all right.
STORY OF THE FIRST PILOT.
Capt. f. A. Bibber, first pilot Of the City of
Portland, was very reticent and objected to
being interviewed, bat said briefly: 81 was
| called at White Head. We made Ash Point
bell all right and swung northeast, and made
| Sheep Island striped buoy two points on the
| port bow; put the wheel hard aport to clear it
and struck IN TWO minutes. Have been pilot
| on this coast 26 years. The only explanation
| have of the accident is that the buoy had
| drifted ont of place. Had the steamer gone
| her width to the southland she would have
| cleared all right" Replying to a reporters
| question, Capt Bibber ssid that the second pi-
| lot was in charge OF the steamer.
WHAT THE SECOND PILOT SAYS.
j. A. Wheeler, second pilot said:
"I went on watch at l O'Clock, relieving the
| first pilot. The steamer vas two miles west
| ward of Monhegan inside. / had directions to
| call the first pilot when we reached Whit
| Head, which 1 did. In four minutes we
| reached the light. Captain Bibber took his
position at one window of the pilot house and
| I was at the other. Made Ash Point bell
| where we always swing to go out through
| Sheep Island Channel on our course east
northeast. gave the order to put the wheel
| to port and gave her course east-north-east;
| ran half minute and sighted the striped buoy
| on the northern Grindstone Ledge, one point
ON the port bow, which reported to the first
| pilot, who said IAN right" We then were
one minute from the buoy. 1 said, Hadn't
we better port, so as not to go too close to the
| buoy?" and Captain Bibber said eyes," and
gave the orders TO port. In ten seconds we
| struck, then going u knots an hour. There
was - feet of water forward of the pilot house
and three fathoms at the stern as the steamer
| Law