The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-14
ON POINT LEPREAUx.
The Fine Steamer State of Maine
Meets with a Disaster.
SHE GOES ON THE REEF In A DENSE
Foe.
Possibility that She May be Hauled OFF.

Possibility that She May be Hauled OFF.
ST. JOHN, N. b., July 12.-Steamer State Of
Maine met with disaster to-day at Point Lee
preaux, 20 miles from this city. Full particulars
are not yet received. A thick fog prevailed in
the bay and the steamer kept close to the
shore. Suddenly about 2.30 O'Clock she struck
the ledge near the lighthouse with tremendous
force. 1t was seen that the disaster would be
serious one and the passengers about 300 in
number including many tourists, were speed.
ly landed. The luggage is all on board and
may be lost.
Latest accounts from Lepreaux are to the
effect that the steamer is full of holes break
ing up and likely to be total wreck. She
went on the rocks at high tide and il high
and dry at low tide. There are only two
houses at Point Lepreaux and the passengers
are on the shore waiting for conveyance to st.
John. The Grand Southern Railway passes
the place but at a distance OF several miles.
Steamer Empress will be despatched to tho
scene of the wreck tonight and will bring up
the passengers in the morning.
The State of Maine was a magnificent wood
en- steamer of 1410 tons burden, and made her
first trip on the LIST of August, 1882. She was 252
feet long over all, 81 feet beam, and IA feet u
inches depth of hold, and staunchly built The
steamer was msgniicently upholstered and all
her appointments were of the most elegant
character. Her value has been set a: $3.50 900,
insured in Portland only. The international
Steamship Company after many years without
disaster, has been singularly unfortunate this
year, having lost two other steamships since
March last.
July Is.
The steamer Empress went down to Le-
preaux this morning and took on board the
passengers of the wrecked steamer State of
Maine, also the passengers luggage and the
vessels furniture, and returned to this port. 1t
is certain she will prove total loss, but her
machinery will probably be saved.
The first dispatch received in this city Satur-
day was one from the International Steamship
Company's agent at st. John announcing a
rumor that the State OF Maine had gone ashore
on Point Lepreaux. This was at q D. M, fol-
lowed iby one to Mr.. j. P. THOMPSON, of
George S. Hunt & Co., whose wife and chill
dren were aboard the steamer, stating the
ship had gone ashore and the passengers were
saved. Mr.. Thompson received dispatch
from his wife at $50 D. M. dated Point Le-
preaux, stating that the passengers had all
been landed in boats with their baggage, and
that steamer was coming for them from st.
John that evening. About the same time he
Tnn a6 al
ST. John saying he should take his carriage
and drive at once to Lepreaux and bring his
sister and children to st. John. At IL O'Clock
Mr.. Thompson received another dispatch from
his wife from Lepreaux saying they were all
comfortable and she had heard from her
brother and that he was on the way.
Upon receiving the news of the disaster Mr..
Hersey at oRce telegraphed his agents to do
everything necessary for the convenience and
comfort OF the passengers. He also obtained
permission for the United States steamer
Woodbury. to leave at once for the wreck, and
ascertained that the agent at St. John had sent
steamer Empress and tug Dirgo to the rescue.
The agent also tsIegrsphed Mr.. Jersey that
the steamer was lying on a sharp reef, about
ten feet of her bow being out of water. The
saloon was full of water. The steamer went
on at 2 p. m, at high tide. A dense fog had
prevailed "a hours previous to the accident,
and the heavy tide and current undoubtedly
caused her to go On. The tide by the point
rises and falls about % feet.
Yesterday morning the company's dispatches
said the steamer did not suffer during the
previous night and IL powerful apparatus
could be procured she could probably be hoated.
She is crushed forward some, but her lines are
not twisted. Mr.. Hersey said it would be an
impossibility for her to break to pieces she was
30 solidly constructed, and that her timbers are
diagonally strapped together. The City of
Portland was instanced as a sample of the
strength of the eompany's boats. She was
wrecked on May 9Th aud has not gone to pieces
yet. Mr.. Hersey sent to the Boston Wrecking
Company and their agent will be here this
morning. Terms will probably be made with
him and the powerful appliances of the COM
pany used at once to get the vessel off and tow
her to st. John. Dispatches were received
stating that the passengers were taken aboard
the Empress at 10 a. m. yesterday and landed
at st. John at 1890 a. m. and arrangements
AAnuo loI bpoCidl lralu 10 TAKE passengers
going east of st. John. Most of the freight
was saved, as well ss the passengers and bag
gage. Very little freight was from Portland.
How the accident could have happened Mr..
Hersey could not understand, even if there
was fog. The three best pilots on the coast
were in the wheel-house, and according to the
Associated Press dispatch, the fog whistle was
blowing on Point Lepreaux. Capt. Pike had
not met with an accident in all his thirty years
service. 1t seemed a fatality which had de-
stroyed three splendid ships within four or
five months.
Steamer Forest City, of the Boston line, has
been chartered. She is expected to leave Bos-
ton Wednesday for st. John. She will run for
the present On that line, so that the usual
three trips per week will be made.
The State of Maine was the largest and
finest steamer in Eastern waters, of 1900 tons
burden, and only about two years old. Her
hull was built in Bath by Goss, Sawyer &
Packard, and her engines by the Portland
Company. She had 80 staterooms and about
22o berths, all furnished. She was valued at
$250,000, and insured for but $65, 900, The
steamers officers were:
Captains. II. Pike, Eastport
1st Piot-Capt. Robert Pike Eastport
I'd Pilot-Capt. Samuel Pike Eastport.
LIST Engineer-Andrew Taylor, Portland.
I'd Engineer-Charles Foss, Portland.
Purser-Charles e. Locker, Portland.
Steward-Wm. E. Leonard, Boston.