The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-11


been rising from the northeast and we Jared hard.
Should never have mase Port Clyde had not the
schooner Abbie j. of Milbridge, sighted us, pick
ed us up and landed us at our destination at 8
O'Clock. Being unable to telegraph from here,
| took team and drove to Rockland reaching
there at noon.
The steamer Rockland Pioneer, Capt Sawtelle,
started at once for the scene of the wreck. When
we left the Cambridge she was careened badly to
starboard, with her amidShipS highest, and ii
looked as If each end was about to drop into the
deep water. From the time of striking till the
seven boats had put off, it was less than half an
hour, showing you how coolly and Systematically
everybody worked / saw the revenue cutter
Dallas coming to our assistance as we pushed
away The passengers and crew who landed at
Georges Island were cared for at the house of a
fisherman, and boat load of provisions was sent
them from Port Clyde.
Being busy with my own duties, and leaving so
soon nad no opportunity OF learning the cause OF
the accident. | only know that after the steamer
struck everything was done that could be done,
and in the best manner.
The Cambridge was built in 1867. She
was the largest and best boat of the Boston
and Bangor Steamship Company.
FIRST PILOT ROGERS STORY.
At the time of the disaster, Capt. William
L. Rogers, first pilot, was in charge. Capt.
Rogers has run this course constantly since
a boy, and for the past twenty-five years in
the employ of this company. He is known
trustworthy pilots on the eastern coast, and
no man ranks higher. He tells this story:
We left Boston at ten minutes of six Tuesday
night with an unusually heavy freight. The sea
was as smooth as puddle all night. / took the
watch from the second pilot, Farnsworth, at
The morning was not very clear, though not what
would be called thick. We run on our usual
course running by time and compass, and when
we struck on "Old Man" ledge supposed we
were mile outside Of it at the least calculation.
l. was standing at the pilot house window when
sht siid ot steamer dld not ptch Up 5ns
steaming about twelve knots at once rang the
bell to stop. Captain Ingraham was below at the
tlme but was on deck at once. L knew when we
struck just where we were. 1t was ebb tide, with
two fathoms Of water over the ledge amdships as
we lay, and six fath0mS under her bow.
have no theory whatever as to the cause of
the disaster. / ran the course as l have done
always, SO far as know, using the utmost care.
have been pilot on this line of steamers since
1860, and since a boy have sailed over this
course. 1t was 455 O'Clock when we struck.
EXPRESS MESSENGER CRosBY's STATE
MENT.
A. f. Crosby, American Express messen-
ger, says:
woke up at five minutes to five and was look
ing at my watch when the steamer struck and ran
on the rock with grating noise and stopped |
dressed and then went to the express room and
gotmy way bills and ValuabeS. | had a big eX-
press freight which was all lost. Then went aft
where the boats were being lowered and Capt.
Ingrabam put me in command of the fourth boat.
We put put off without excitement, with ten
people, and rowed to Burnt Island and then three
Of us pulled back to the steamer. There was no
sign of panc-eyerybody was cool and collected.
In twenty minutes from the time of striking we
were away. AS the steamer settled forward her
freight washed out and floated away. l saw the
boats of fishermen from the shores picking up
When the Dallas arrived we got on board, then
picked up the passengers at the island and came
to Rockland. The cutter people did everything
for us, gave us hot coffee and food and Capt Barr
gave up his stateroom to the ladies. None of us
knew anything aoout the cause of the disaster
and most of us were too busy to ask.
A PASSENGERS EXPERIENCE.
E. Dudley Freeman of Yarmouth, one of
the passengers, said:
We had as smooth and pleasant night as one
could ask. / was asleep in my stateroom when
the steamer struck but there was not force
enOngh in the blow to throw anybody out of theil
BERTH 1t was half-daylight. Irose at once and
took time to dress fully fearing that there might
be exposure to the cold was afraid the steam
Ell might slide off into deep water. On opening
my stateroom door saw several ladies hurrying by
in light costumes, but heard no shouts, screams
or excitement. asked Watchman Prince if the
boat would stick where she was, bnt he did not
know and told Us to get on the hurricane deck at
once.
The deck hands seemed to be of small use in
lowering the boats and the passengers all helped,
and Capt. A. G. Hunt and Capt. G. Z. Peck OF
Rockland rendered valuable assistance. Every
DOuy lelE nervous. expecting G1db ble steamer
would slide off the ledge, but there was no eX-
citement or evidences of fright or cowardice
Capt. Ingraham was cool and energetic and per.
sonally superintended getting the ladies into the
first and second boats Express Messenger A. +.
Crosby was in command of the boat / was in and
too much cannot be said in praise of his GOODNESS
cause of the disaster We were handsomely
treated by the Dallas people
THE HERO OF THE KATAHDIN ADVENTURE
Capt. F. c. Homer, the hero of the recent
Katahdin adventure, "a steamer of this same
line) was on board the Cambridge as pas
senger. He was awakened, as were others.
by the shock, and rendered what assistance
was in his power afterward He could as
sign no theory for the accident.
Capt. Homer has been ordered to Boston
Immediately, to bring the steamer Penobscot
on to the line.
oPPORTUNE ARRIVAL OF CUTTER DALLAS
The revenue steamer Dallas, Capt. Barr
left Rockland this morning for Portland
coming opportunely upon the scene, and il
season to render invaluable assistance. The
cutter arrived here from the scene of the
wreck, at o'clock this afternoon, bringing
the most of the officers and the passengers
The captain and officers of the Dallas die
everything for the comfort of the passengers
who passed this resolution:
The passengers of the wrecked steamer Cam.
bridge desire to express to Commander Barr anC
the officers and crew of the U. S. revenue cuttel
Dallas their grateful acknowledgements for the
prompt assistance and generous attention receiv
ed at their hands
THE PASSENGER LIST.
Following is list of the Cambridge's pas.
sengers. They are qusrtered at the Thorn
dixie Hotel, and will be forwarded to theil
destination by the company:
c. L. Atwood, Wnterport
Melvin Lowoll, Bucksport
S. w. Shepard, Denver Col
i. L. Prescott, East WatertoWn, Mass.
George Moulton, Stockton.
NJ l.. ThOrndike. Rockland.
G. L. Campbell, Newport, Il. /.
Ii. w. Anes, Belfast.
Jonn Doherty, Bangor
l.. w. Young Hancock
A. B. Robinson, BuekSport.
VIM. Hayes, Bangor.
A. G. Hunter, Rockand
G. L. Peck, Rockland.
Francis Gallagher, Bangor
Miss Lillian +. Reed, Hampden.
L. d. Freeman, Yarmouth
Geo. f. Sewall Rockland.
Parker Robbins, Deer Isle.
| II. H. Flint, Rockland.
| Samuel B. Little, levitt City, Conn.
W. w. Walker Brooksvile.
| Z. 7. Hodgkins, Lincolnville.
| 5. M. Lafolly, Stockton.