The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-12-02
Steamer PenObscOt Strikes a Rock

AND is BEACHED AT ROCKLAND. PASSENGERS
SEMITIC BOSTON BY RAIL. BOAT NOT MUCH DAM
AGED.
Early Tuesday morning a report was circulated
that the steamer Penobscot of the B. 4 b. S. Co.,
which left this port the afternoon before for Bos
ton, had struck rock and sunk. At first few gave
credencc to the story, the public having such
1idence in the officers of the boat and knowing the
care with which these steamers are navigated
But unfortunately it was true. The disaster was
not, however, a very serious one The story of the
accident is best told by Capt. Ingraham, the com
mander of the Penobscot. He said at was fresh
and clear when we left Rockland The stars were
out but soon it began to breeze up stronger and rain
and squalls came up. When we arrived i'll the
channel between Otter Island and Otter Ledge it
was SO dark that we did not dare go by White Head
and decided to turn around and put back to Rock
land. 1t was then 945 O'Clock. and both pilots
and wheelman were in the pilot house. The
passage between Otter Island and Otter Ledge is
not more than three or four boats length in width
We could see the trees the island but it was so
dark that the rocks looked exactly like water and
just had turned we ran her nose among
them. Her keel struck first and she then scrapCd
the starboard side of the hull. She came OF in six
minutes after she struck We laid by awhile not
knowing whether we would have to land the
passengers there not. Investigating below we
found that she was not making much water, so we
decided to steam back to Rockland and beach her
and we arrived here at l0.5S, We were on our
usual course and in a perious part of it. Steamers
have scraped there more than 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
The Penobscot WAS beached near the old steam
boat wharf and her passengers We're taken OF by
steamers Rockland and Henry Morrison and went
to Boston by Tuesday mornings train. The freight
was all removed in good condition 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 a
half feet of water forward of the bulkhead when
the steamer reached Rocklanl. A diver and pump
ing steamer were sent for and the Penobscot wiz
be patched up where she lays and then run to Bos-
ton and go on the railway for repairs thought
she has not been much damaged and that the cost
of repairs will not exceed a few thousand dollars
Capt Hall, a passenger said capt ngraham
acted with great GOODNESS and deserves much
credit for the way i'll which he handled his steam
er. He went down and found how many inches of
water she making and figured out that She
could reach Rockland safely before he started her.
MI. Cyrus Hills, a commercial traveller, was a
passenger on the Perobscot. lie came to Belfast
Tuesday on the katahdn, and was seen by Jour
nal representative. Mr.. Hills said The Pcnob-
scot left Iochland Monday night lit 3 O'Clock with
heavy freight and passenger list of nearly sixty
persons. When near Otter Island, oil South Thorn
aston, struck squa from the :. =. w. The wind
blew terribly. and it was rs thick and dark as it
could be. White Head light could not be seen.
Capt. Ingraham concluded to put back to Rockland
and the steamer was turned round. While getting
into position fora departure back hc steamer struck
her starboald bow on the point Of Otter Island.
The shock was quite severe, bringing the passem-
gers cut of their rooms and herths. Order Was
soon restored when the passengers went lack to
their rooms and dressed themselves. The pump
ing engines were fired up and Put TO work. Water
came through the compartment bulkhcad, but no
damage done. Bedding, furniture, sc. were
taken from below and carried to the main deck
At about eleven O'Clock the steamer reached Rock
land and was beached near the Five I[ilns. The
passengers were taken to the hotel and folW artled
next morning to Boston by rail. Everything pos
sibe was done for the passengers
Rockland Dec LIST. The Penobscot lays aground
here. Tug Ralph Ross is working On her with
steam pumps. The Boston tug Confidence is eN-
pected i'll the morning with two wrrckiny pumps
and lighters with Which they Will free her, She
will he taken to Boston for repairs
e. t. Weeks