The Portland daily press., 1886-03-17
LOSS OF THE OREGON.
A Boston Man Attributes the Disaster
to Gross Carelessness.
The Steamer Broken in TWO and a
Total Loss.

NEW YORK, March 16.-A committee of
the Oregon's passengers appointed at yester-
days meeting to take steps to recover the
value Of their property called at the Cunard
line Office this morning and left a statement
of their grievances. The diver who visited
the wreck yesterday found one bale of cotton
and one case of dry goods. The Merritt
coast wrecking company will make report
in regard to raising the wreck OF the Oregon
but as she lies in 120 feet of water it is hard
ly thought probable that the steamer will be
raised. The cargo, engines and valuable
parts of the vessel, however, Will be brought
to the surface
A diver sent to the scene of the wreck yes
terday got back to New York this morning
and reports that the Oregon is broken in two
and that pieces Of the cargo from her hold
are coming to the surface. His theory Is
that she broke in two when her bow struck
the bottom. Spectators on the Fulda say the
Oregon rebounded as she struck the bottom
and then sank again. The only thing now to
be done with her will be to blow up her hulk
in the hope of allowing the cargo to be fished
up as the depth is such that diving oper-
ations can be carried on only in very calm
weather if at all. The Merritt wrecking
company now have several boats near the
wreck watching for freight which may come
to the surface and making such an examin-
alton of the wreck as Is possible. No signs
of wreckage from the schooner have been
seen, not even spar.
0tOftCS VI tftO GtodoSCfs
NEW YORK, March 16-A great many con-
ficting stories about the loss of the steam
ship Oregon are in circulation. One theory
that finds many supporters is that officers on
duty were remsS in not keeping closer
watch for collisions. And another Is that
there was no collision and the story about
the schooner is myth. Those who hold to
this view say that if the schooner had run
into the Oregon some wreckage like spars,
sails, boats, ETC., would have been picked up
by this time. And it is argued that it would
be impossible for schooner, such as de-
scribed to run dOwll a big steamer, even If
it struck in the most Vulnerable spot. The
officers of the company vigorously deny these
reports, but it is astonishing how widely cir
culated they are, and how firmly they are be
leved 1t is also said that no attempts will
be made to raise the Oregon, as the hole In
the vessel will not bear out statements made
by those on board
BosToN, March 16-Mr. Frank Ordway,
of the firm of Ordway & Co., who was a
passenger on the steamer Oregon, gives an
account OF the disaster, which he claims was
the result OF gross carelessness. There
seems to me- said Mr.. Ordway, 'to be little
excuse for it, for had proper lookout been
kept it would not have happened, as the
morning was perfectly clear. / think the
lookout and the officer in charge had their
deck, and they left the ship unprotected by
proper watch" He claims there was no
discipline among the crew, and that rush
was made for the boats by the men, petty
officers and stokers, who acted like pack of
wild beasts; that the women and children
were utterly disregarded, and that the pas
sengers were left to shift for themselves.
More Mail Matter Removed.
This afternoon Postmaster Pearson was
advised by Vernon Fl. Brown of the Cunard
Steamship Company that 4S more mail bags
had been recovered from the Oregon making
118 saved out of the 59S on board