The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-05-09
THE PASSENGERS AND CREW SAFE,
BUT THE VESSEL A TOTAL LOSS.
The Goodness and Efficiency of the OH
GERS Commended by All.
What the 'sPreSs'' Reporters Saw and
Heard at the Wreck and Among
the Passengers.
THE BUSINESS OF THE COMPANY
NOT TO BE DELAYED BY
THE DISASTER.

plying between Boston, Portland and st. John
N. B., had been wrecked on 1.-THE Grind
stone." Investigation revealed the fact that
mp to p. m, i've dispatches from Capt. Lar
com had been received by President Hersey.
These dispatches stated that the steamer was
ashore on Grindstone Ledge, that it was ebb
tide, and she was filling, and that the captain
had sent to Rockland for steamer The
steamer Rockland was procured, and took the
passengers-all OF whom were saved-to Rock
land, and also the most Of their baggage, also
saved. Later in the afternoon the captain tel
egraphed that he had left the steamer, with
the crew, as the craft was fast breaking up,
and the coast was strewn with her cargo.
The Gfindstone, on which the vessel was
wrecked, is small ledge q half mile or SO
southeast OF Ash Island, in Mussel Ridge
Channel. 1t is about three or four miles from
South Thomaston, and about seven from Rock
land. There is beacon on Ash Island, and
Owls Head Light is just beyond, at the open
ing Of the channel to the eastward.
The City of Portland was formerly known
as the New England, and was wrecked July
%, 1872, in dense fog, by running ashore on
"The Wolves" near Eastport She was re-
built by Joseph W. Dyerfin 1873. She was
side-wheel steamer. The frame was white
oak, with diagonal iron strapping on the
frames, planked with white oak, copper fas-
tened and sealed inside with southern pine
She had hog frames OF southern pine, built in
to and extending above the hull to the side of
the promenade deck, very strongly strapped
with iron, and braced to the hull. She had
two water-tight bulkheads built into the hull
forward of the boiler compartments. The
boiler compartments had iron deck beams, and
an iron deck laid over them, above which was
a wooden deck. She was the largest vessel
built for this line except the State of Maine.
She was $40 feet long on deck, 80 feet in mould
ed width of beam, and IA feet 8 inches depth
of hold from skin to skin, and her tonnage was
about ,100 tons. She was impelled by beam
engine, with diameter Of cylinder of 81 IL
inches, and II feet stroke. The engine was a
superior piece of wor kmsnship, and was built
by the Portland Company. all parts being
large and heavy, and at the same time COM
pact aud beautifully finished. She had two
S2.ton boilers, arranged to be used either to.
gether or sipgly, and built by Messrs. Quinn
& Co. They were of the tubular type, heated
by four furnaces. The paddle wheels were of
wood, 80 feet in diameter, with feet inches
face.
The boat was heated by steam, and Nason's
vertical radiators were used in the cabins, and
all the state-rooms were heated by pipes. She
was provided with life RATS, and all appli-
ances for life saving.
The passenger capacity of the steamer was
70 state-rcoms, single and double, (including
an elegant bridal room), 234 cabin berths, and
would accommodate 800 passengers. The pilot
house was on the upper deck, with the pilot
room in the rear, while connecting with the
pilot room was large nice room for the cap
tain.
The following was the list of officers:
Captain-David Lsrcom.
LIST Pilot-F. A. Bibber.
I'd Pilot. A. Wheeler
1st Mate-J. z. Thompson.
I'd Mate-J. Wilson.
Purser-Ie Barron Thompson.
Steward-J. W. Thompson.
Chief Engineer-W. r. Buckner.
Second Engineer-George Newcomb.
The steamer had crew of fifty hands. She
was valued at 100000, and was insured in
New York for $4,000.
AS soon as the news OF the disaster to the
vessel was received here, it was promptly bull
letined on the PRESS board, and drew large
crowd on Exchange street. 1t was about 10
O'Clock when the first dispatch arrived Ar
rangements were Immediately made by the
international Company for the comfort and
care Of the shipwrecked passengers. and their
efforts were ably seconded by President jack
son and Mr.. F. E. Boothby, the passenger
agent OF the Maine Central. The steamship
company made arrangements with the railroad
for. prompt transportation, and the train on the
Knox 8 Lincoln was held at Thomaston and
sent back to Rockland, for the purpose of pre-
venting the delay of passengers at that city. A
special car was provided on this train, warmed
and made thoroughly comfortable, and some
forty or fifty of these passengers availed them
selves of it, They were brought through in
the afternoon to Brunswick, and there re-
NAMED in the car until the late train from
Portland took them on at that city, to Bangor
and st. John.
President Jersey gays that the steamer Lew
iston will go on the route Monday next. in
place of the City of Portland, and we hear
that the John Brooks is also being put in read
ness.
AS soon as Collector Dow heard Of the acct
dent, he Immediately rendered the use of the
revenue steamer Woodbury., and dispatch
last evening from Bangor stated that that ves-
sci left that port at 1 p. m. yesterday, to rem
| der such assistance as was possible.
Mr.. Hamilton, the wrecker, accompanied by
a diver, Mr.. E. @. Hersey, of the International
Company, and Capt. Thompson, port captain
| of the line, left on the 1.20 p m. train for
| Rockland, accompanied by a reporter for the
| Press.
| The SIS p. m. train over the Maine Central
| took reporter for the PRESS to Brunswick to
interview the passengers waiting at that town.
A reporter for the PRESS boarded the train
from Rockland at MorrilPs, due in Portland at
$40 p. M, with the expectancy that there
might be some Of the City o: Portland's pas
| sengers aboard. He was not disappointed
There were a few passengers going through
the city, and the story Of one was that of ALL
| The reporter had conversation with Mr.. e
| n. Sprague, of Pembroke, in the brief fifteen
| or twenty minutes that elapsed between tax.
ing the cars at Morrill's and the departure Of
the cars for Boston, from Portland. Mr.
Sprague was accompanied by his wife. He il
large wool dealer of Pembroke, and very
intelligent and we'll known citizen of Maine
MR.. z. H. sPRAGuE's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Sprague said that the steamer left Bos
| ton at a. M, Wednesday, and immediately
| after leaving, encountered a stiff northeast
| gale. The wind and sea delayed the ship, SC
| that it was about o'clock or after when Port,
land was reached, and 8.15 p. m. before she
left Portland for st. John. He should saw
there were about so passengers after leaving
Portland, and with the crew she had about 125
souls on board. The gale continued Alter
leaving this port, and the passengers retired
early About 80 a. M, he was suddenly
awakened by heavy shock. AS quickly al
possible, both his wife and himself dressed
themselves and rushed on deck, where the pas
ssngers had generally collected, attired in the
first garments that came to hand. Here they
found Capt. Larcom and his officers, perfectly
cool and self-possessed. The captain told
them not to be Hurried or troubled, as every
care would be taken. The self-possession and
GOODNESS of the captain had its effect upon the
passengers, and there was no excitement
Many retired to their state-rooms, while 9th
ers walked the deck and awaited develop
ments. 1t grew light fast, and at the time Of
the accident the sea was not very rough, mel
Their was it very dark
hAN kl,ax - ~