New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-09
THE CITY OF PORTLAND LOST
SHE IS WRECKED ON GRINDsToNE LEDGE.

the VESSEL RAPIDLY GOING TO PIECES.
RoCKLAND, Me-, May S.-The steamer City Oh
Portland Captain Larcom of the international
Steamship Company plying between Portland ana
St. John, N. b., struck on Grlntstone Ledge OWLS
Head. at $40 o'clock this morning. The steamer
left Portland last night at $40 O'clock with sew
enty passengers and about a two-thrds cargo OF
general character The night was clear. AS the
day was breaking the first pilot in charge sighted
a striped buoy on the port side between sheep and
Fishermans Islands In few minutes the steamer
struck ledge, slid amidships aud stuck fast,
the buoy then being fifty feet abreast of the pad
die on the port side. The pumps were started at
once. distress coors set, and the boats cleared.
The officers and crew were cool, and the pas
sengers behaved wcll. The mate landed in boat
and drove to Rockand, six miles distant, for help.
The steamer ROckland Captain Sawtele OF the
Boston and Bangor line, promptly answered the
call, and reached the scene of the wreck at 6:3O
a In the meantime q sloOp from Owls Head,
Captain Wallace, answered the signals and two
bOatoads of women and children were transferred
TO the slOop without accident in spite of the heavy
sea- The rest OF the passengers, together with the
baggage, express freight, etc, were put on board
the Rockland and brought to this city. The pas
sengers were well cared for here, and Will be sent
to their destinations The captain of a sloop at
Fisherman says that the striped buOy was out OF
position, and if tine steamer had passed within one
width on the other side of the buoy she would have
been all right. The City of Portland was formerly
called the New-England, and was rebuilt twelve
years ago. She was valued at $l25,0OO She was
insured for sc 0)0. heavy eastery gale Is pre-
yaiiing and tne steamer is rapidly breaking up.
The hull and cargo will be total loss
STATEMENTS OF CAPTAIN AND PILOTS.
RoCKL AND, Me-, May Sin fair weather the
usual course of the steamers of the International
Line from Portland 20 st. John. n. b.. is outside OF
Manhcgan and Alatinicus Islands. In heavy weather
the course is often laId up through Mussel Ridge
Channel, swinging at Ash Point Bell and proceed
ing east northeast out through Grlndsone Channel,
so called This latter channel is about one-fourth
of mile WIDE the narrowest passage being between
two lodges known as the Northwest and Grind
stone the latter marked by striped buoy. 1t was
Oh this ledge that the City Of Portland struck,
going at full speed. and striking hard enough to
prevent sliding off, thus escaping the ad-
ditonal tOrrOr of drowning all on board.
Captain LarcOm was in bed at the time the vessel
struck. When he retired the steamer was on the
outside course, but the weather was threatening
when she reached Manhegan, First Pilot Bibber
altered her course to Mussel Ridge.
Captam ID. Larcom gives the following account
" | turned into my bunk at midnight. The steamer
was then on the course outside of Manhegan
First Pilot Bibber was in charge. knew nothing
more till awakened at $3.50 a. m. By the shock OF
the striking. ran hastily out and gave the ncces-
sary orders. saw at once that the steamer was
hard aground and there was DO danger The officers
and crew worked finely. The boats were cleared
away Immediately and all means of safety were
taken. The water was comparatively calm, at
about dead low tide. l am satisfied that
the accident would not have been more
serious had the steamer slid off the ledge, for the
pumps would have kept her aioat till she reached
Rockland. AS she settled on the ledge the water
reached the furnaces. The steam was blown of.
The after part of the steamer began Warplng TO
pieces when left at 10 4. M, beng tho last man
to leave her. ] have been steamb0ating sixteen
years his is the first disaster of any nature
The only cause can ascribe is the strong tide in
creased by he force of the eastcIly wind setting
us directly on the ledge The pilot had run that
channel LOO times; 1t was always my
the islands When tine course was changed
| should have been called, although don't know
that could have done anymore than the two pilots
on deck
Captain F. A. Bbbcr, the first pilot. was reticent
and objected 10 talking, but SAID was called
AT Whitehead. We made Ash Point Bell all right
and swung east-nOrthcast and made sheep Island
striped buoy two points on the port bow. put the
wheel hard aport TO clear it, and struck IN two
sIX years. The only explanation can give of the
accident is that the buoy had drifted out OF place
Had the steamer gone her width to the southward
she would have cleared all right"
THE SECOND Pilots STORY.
Bbber said the second pilot was in charge of the
steamer. j. A. Wheeler, the second pilot said 3"
went watch at / o'clock, relieving the first
pilot. The steamer was two miles west
of Manhe0an inside. / had directions
to cali the first pilot when we
reached White Head, which | did. Within four
minutes we reached the light Captain Bbber
took position at one window of the pllot-house.
| at the other. We made Ash Point Bell.
where always swung to 90 out through Sheep
Island Channel on our course east-n0rtheast.
/ gave orders to put the wheel TO pOrs and gave
the course east-northeast. | ran half
minute and sighted the striped buoy on the North
ern Grlndstone ledge, one point on the port bow,
which ] reported 10 the first pilot who said All
right We were a minute from the buoy. SAID
Hadn't we better port so as not TO 90 too close to
the buOyf Bibber said Yes gave orders to port
In ten seconds we struck We were going II knots.
There was twelve feet of water forward OF the
plot-hOusc and three fathOms at the stern as the
steamer lay. fisherman told us The buoy was ont
of position. ! don't think the steamer swung as
quickly as usual when abreast of Ash Point, throw
ing us little of the usual channel. Ii she had !
slid of the ledge after striking she would have |
sunk IN deep water"
STRANGE ADVENTURES OF THE STEAMER. |
IBT TELEGRAPH TO rHE TRrBUSE.l
BosToN May S.-'The City of Portland has an in |
tereSting history When she was known as the !
New England and was three four years DID, she |
was burned to the waters edge one night while |
lying at the dock in ST. Johu's, n. B. This acci- |
dent was accompanied by the loss of three lives. |
The hull was towed to Portland, where |