Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-05-09

AflNeu mere X uve CLOCK tnls alkrnoon
having been st the scene of the wreck since
morning and gave the following account
Il turned into nv bunk at midnight. The
steamer was then on the course outside OF
Monhegan. The first pilot, Bibber. was in
charge. knew nothing till was awakened
at $50 BY the shock of striking, and ran out
and gave the necessary orders. l saw at once
that the steamer was hard aground, and there
was no danger. The officers and crew
worked finely. The boats were cleared away
and all the means of safety taken. sent the
mate ashore to get help from Rookland. We
were two miles from the main land. The
water was comparatively calm. 1t was dead
low tide. In less than half an hour Captain
Wallace of Owls Head came up with slooI
and took half of our passengers. The steam
er Rockland arrived at $50, and took the
balance of the passengers. ! am satisfied
that the accident would not have been more
serious had the steamer slid of the ledge, for
the pumps would have kept her afoat till
she reached Rockland, but as she settled the
water reached her furnaces. The steam
blew of, the tide began making, and the
wind freshened from the east. The after
part of the steamer began washing away a,
10 o'clock. I was the last man to leave.
There won't be a stick left above water to-
morrow morning. have been sixteen years
steamboating, and this is my first disaster OF
apr patura Tho oplv causa I can 500 ia tho
strong easterly wind setting us on the ledge.
The captain had run that chanel hundreds OF
times. 1t was always my custom to be on
deck while running among the islands. When
the course was changed should have been
called. have seen the steamer go through
the channel scores of times all right"
Capt. F. A. Bibber, first pilot, was very
reticent and objected to being interviewed,
but said briefly: II was called at White
Head We made Ash Point bell all right
swung east northeast and made Sheep island
striped buoy two points on the port bow. l
put the wheel hard-a-port to clear it and
this coast &c years the only explanation !
have of the accident is that the buoy has
drifted out of place; had the steamer gone
her with to the southard she would have
porters question, Capt. Bibber said the
second pilot was in charge of the steamer.
J. A. Wheeler, second pilot, said
went on watch at one o'clock, relieving the
tha fxrn los off
Maphegan, inside had directions to call the
first pilot when we reached White Head,
which did in four minutes we reached the
light; Capt Bibber took position at one
window and at the other; we made Ash
Point bell where we always swung to go out
through Sheep Island channel, east, northeast
Isgave the order to put the wheel to the port
and gave the course east, northeast; ran half
Northern Grindstone ledge, and point on the
port bow which reported to the first pilot
who said 'all right; we were one minute
from the buoy; I said, hadn't we better port
Bibber said yes; gave an order to port
In ten seconds we struck, going IL knots
there were u feet of water forward and three
fathoms at the stern fisherman told us the
buoy was out of position; don't think the
steamer swung as quick as usual when abreast
of Ash point; if she had slid off the ledge
after stricking she would have sunk in deep
water" In replying to aquestion the second
;lok A. Ill 10 olo
J. c. Warren, formerly a sergeant on the
Boston police. was one of the passengers.
He said ''When 1 went to bed it was pleas.
ant and the sea smooth. At 3.15 O'Clock
was awakened by terrific shock; knew il
something serious and dressed hastily; the
boat had stopped shot; could hear the passen.
gers ask what was the trouble; went out OF
my room and saw several; there was no con-
fusion saw no life preservers worn; steward
Thompson was the only officer l saw; was
everywhere tusy reassuring the ladies and
issuing directions. He said there was no
danger, that the steamer couldn't sink any
deeper; didn't feel so sure; could feel her
settling she blew off steam with great noise
knew the water had reached the boilers
didn't see the captain; heard no orders given.
When the sloop arrived the ladies and chill
dren were transferred to her in boats the sea
was verv rough, but the ladies behaved with
great GOODNESS and were safely landed, the
steward experimenting the arrangements
the boat hands were busy carrying the bed
ding. At $50 O'Clock the Rockland arrived
and we were transferred to her. 1t was ex.
pected every minute the steamer would lurcf
and slide off in deep water
Miss Adelaid Williams of Wales was q
passenger. She said: "Was in the ladies
cabin when the steamer struck; there wa:
some confusion; the stewardess assured nj
that the steamer couldn't sink any deeper
dressed, but didn't hurry particularly
everybody seemed cool and collected; there
was no accident in taking us to the sloop,
which landed us on Owls Head; the people
were very hospitable."
All the passengers Joined in praising the
GOODNESS and efficiency of the steamers Of
fcers and crew. twenty-five years ago the
British steamer Emperor was wrecked OF
the same ledge Several schooners have alsc