Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-01
kAINE DISPATCHES.
ON THE PENOBSCOT.
A Sudden Shock Brings the Passengers
from Their Beds-rhe Captains Acc
count OF the Accident at Otter Island.

At one minute past nine o'clock Monday
evening, the fine steamer Penobscot of the
Bangor aod Boston line, LETT her wharf at
Rockland on ber way to Boston. At four
minutes before ten, the passengers, most of
whom had turned in, felt sharp shock.
The steamer staggered, backed little, and
then went ahead. CONSERVATION spread
among the passengers. They thought at first
that she had struck another vessel. They
rushed from their state rooms, ,gr abbing their
clothes as they ran, and Is men and women
were soon gathered on the de OK in their night
robes, some of them screaming, the most of
them hunting for the life preservers. few
moments developed the fact that the steamer
had run on rock. Quiet WAS soon restored
and the passengers dressed themselves.
The place where the steamer went ashore
is otter Island. dangerous locality where
steamers have to make narrow channel
about eight miles from Rockland. filled with
numerous small islands and sunken lodges,
and is sidered one of the most dangerous
portions of the Maine coast.
The story of the accident is best told bv
Capt. Ingraham of the Penobscot, who said :
at was fresh and clear " hen we left Rock
land The stars were out but soon it began
e breeze up stronger and rain and squalls
came up. When we arrived in the channel
between Otter Island and Otter Ledge it was
so dark that we did not dare to GO by White
Head and decided to turn around and put
back to Rockland. 1t was then 9.45 O'clock
and both pilots and wheelman were in the
pilot house.
1.-The passage between Otter Island and
Otter Ledge is not more than three or four
boat lengths in width We could see the
trees on the Island, but it was so dark that
the rocks looked exactly like water and Just
as we had turned we ran her nose among
them. Her keel struck first and then she
scraped the starboard side of the hull She
came off elk minutes after she struck.
"We laid by awhile not knowing whether
we would have to land the passengers there
or not. Investigating below we found that
she was not making mnch water, so we de-
cided to steam back to Rockland and beach
her and we arrived here at 10 SO. We were
on our usual course and in perilous part of
| IT. Steamers have scraped there more than
once and nothing has been said about it. The
passengers were much alarmed but behaved
very well. | cannot estimate the damage but
it is not large"
Capt. Ingrsham has had rather hard luck
of late. He was master of the Cambridge
when she was wrecked last year. No blame
can attach to him or any of the officers, as
they took every precaution. 1t was very
nasty night. The steamer City of Richmond
en- route to Portland, remained az Rockland
all night.
Tne Penobscot is beached near the wharf
Her passengers were taken off by the small
steamers Henry Morrison and Rockland
without accident and were sent to Boston bv
the morning train. All the freight was re-
moved in good condition. diver and a
pumping steamer have been summoned. The
steamer will be patched up and then will run
to Boston and go on the railway for repairs.
Above water she shows very little damage
1t will probably cost but few thousand dol
lars to fix her.
Capt. Hall, passenger, said; "Capt. In
graham acted with great GOODNESS and deserves
much credit for the way in which he handled
! MS steamer. tie went GOWN ana TOu0Q now
many inches of water she was making and
figured out that she could reach Rockland
safely before starting"
The water tight bulkhead kept the water
away from the freight, nor did any water get
far enough aft for the pumps to reach it,
There was only two and one-half feet OF
water forward of the bulkhead when the
Otter Island is very bold and the steamer
would have cleared had she gone her width to
port. The narrowness of the channel coupled
with the thick weather, explains the acc-
dent.