The Portland daily press., 1884-07-15
The First piIpt,s story.

ing steamer arrived in this city yesterday noon
having come over the Maine Central Railroad
from st. John to take charge of the Forest
City. Among them were pilots Capt Robert
Pike, Capt. Samuel Pike, I'd Mate Thompson
and Purser Locklep. A PRESS reporter went
on board the Forest City yesterday afternoon
and interviewed Capt. Robert Pike, first pilot
of the State of Maine, whose story was SUBJ
stantially as follows:
r. FL. Pike, the FIRST pilot, on being inter-
viewed, said: l have been in the employ of
the line for tie last thirtg-one years. Capt s.
I'll. Pike is my brother, and [ belong in East
port was on deck with the captain at the
time of the wreck. After the disaster could
Just see the light house. but / could not see il
before the fog lifted, for it seemed to clear
little directly after that. l had heard the fog
whistle for few moments before the wreck;
there is not any question but that the man was
blowing that all right. /, however, do not be-
lieve that the whistle is of the service that it
ought to be, because it is located too far inland
and when vessels copaiIgs N-sest it is very
deceptive. | attribp.Te that to he fact that
the sound has I'D travel Overlanu a<afore it
reaches a ves5eI coming in that direction M
deceived. az, for we had not the slightest ideS
that we were SO near the lighthouse, and of
course We could not see. There was not the
I slightest confHsion ia getting the passengers
en- shore; they, as well as the crew, behaved as
struck there was not for an instant any sign of
panic. Tents we're erected for the passen-
gers out of sails and awnings, and everything
was done to make them comfortable. Within
a very short time, tea, bread and butter, and
cold meats were supplied to them.
The Story of the Wreck Briefly Told.
Briefly stated, it appears that the State of
Maine left Eastport in heavy fog, which be-
came more dense after leaving Head Harbor
She was opposite Point Eepreax shortly after 2
O'Clock, and as would appear from the position
that the wreck now occupies was shaping her
course direct to the light house. The captain
and two pilots were all on deck, and they adj
NIT they heard the sound Of the fog alarm from
the Point just before she struck. They, how
ever, state that the sound of the whistle did
not give them any idea of the nearness of the
Point, and that as they were steering the usual
course they had not the slightest idea that the
vessel was in any danger until she was on the
rocks. When abe struck it was at once appar-
eDt to the experienced officers on board that
the only thing to be done was to get the pas
sengers IF as soon as possible. 1t is in mo-
meuts of danger that mems characters
can be best judged, and it is not too much
| to say that all the officers of the State of
| Maine proved themselves to be men exactly
| fitted to carry ont the onerous and responsible
| duties that developed upon them. A panic,
| which at such a time would have been so dis-
astrous, was averted, and the whole OF the pas
| seDgers were safely landed. After this had
| this was all got on shore, the only accident
which occurred being to one of the walters
| named Frank Hill who was slightly injured
| by falling in the ganggay. The ships furni-
| ture was then taken ont and landed. The
work of getting the passengers ashore did not
| take more than three quarters of an hour
| and considerable despatch was used as fears
| were entertained that the serious list to star
beard might result in her completely going
| over on her side.
The family of George Thomas and W. A.
| Gallant the lighthouse and fog whistle keep
| ers) did everything that lay in their power to
| alleviate the condition of the passengers. AS
soon as the work Of bringing the baggage
ashore was concluded, the crew at once set to
work to erect three tents for the use Of the pas
sengers. They were quickly furnished with
| chairs, mattresses, etc. which were brought
from the steamer, and in a short time, it it had
not been for the fog, the passengers might with
| little stretch OF Imagination have thought
they were enjoying picnic, for provisions
| were quickly served by the crew. AS mig hit
| advanced the situation lost whatever romantic
| side it had, for the rain came down in torrents,
and those that could were only too willing to
seek the shelter of the only two available
| houses,
At Point Lepreaux.
Point Lepreaux is one of the bodest and
most rugged of the various headands that are
encountered by steamers and other vessels in
their passage between st. John and Eastport.