The Portland daily press., 1886-02-12
STEAMER CAMBRIDGE.
Some of Her Rough Experiences in
the Past.
The Wreck Fast Disappearing Under
Water.
Full Description of the steamer.
At EHE WRECK.

nlcaJlOn mas Deen re0peneQ with FoIt Ol1ut
and further intelligence from the wrecked
steamer Cambridge comes that way. Capt.
Ingraham has not yet reached Rockland but
remains at Port Clyde within sight of the
wreck. He reports the steamers position
not materially changed from last night ex-
cepting that she is slightly more sunken and
gradually disappearing under the water.
Last nights heavy sea has cleaned out the
freight which lies scattered along the adj
jacent shores being gathered in by fishermen
living near. The exposed position of the
wreck the point being probably the worst
on the Maine coast, rendered the employment
of wrecking craft impossible so the freight
had to be left to the mercy of the waves.
Superintendent Littlefeld of the Boston
& Bangor Steamship Company arrived from
Boston this noon and will visit the scene of
the disaster in the steamer Rockland which
returned tonight, having delivered the
rescued passengers at their several up river
landings. Mr.. Littlefield says the Cambridge
was valued at one hundred and forty thou-
sand dollars; insured for fifty thousand. The
lost freight, he says, was valuable, but just
what value it is impossible now to estimate,
but the reported estimate of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars is far too great.
CAMDEN. Feb. 1.-THE steamer Rockland
arrived here this morning with the passen-
gers of the wrecked steamer Cambridge. The
freight, baggage and express are lost. At
wick & Trim, of Camden lose $500 worth of
flour; G. FL. Young loses jewelry worth $500.
Other traders of this town lost various
amounts. The total estimated loss OF Cam
den parties is $4,000. They had no insurance.
ROUGH TRIP.
In her time the Cambridge has met with
severe accidents. Her first terrible experience
was in the whirlwind that came down on the
coast September s, 1867 This hurricane
swept a narrow path, and most of the coast
steamers escaped it. The Cambridge left
Rockland with everything looking favorable
for good night across, and got as far as
Monhegan all right, when the blow struck
her. The effect was almost indescribable.
The steamer staggered and reeled under the
heavy seas, and soon the great waves were
rushing over her. Her forward saloon was
badly smashed ia, and her deck was drench-
ed. Her rudder was lost or rendered un-
manageable, the steam pipe leading from the
boiler to the engine burst, and, to add to the
horrors of the night, the lights were put out
The steamer drifted stern first toward White
head and to almost certain destruction.
Drags were let out forward to keep her head
to sea, and she went well enough for the
time, with two dim lights burning in her
saloon. The first officer, Otis Ingraham,
stood by through all that stormy, night await
ing the morning. At last, at dawn, sound
ings were reached and both anchors were let
go. Gne parted, but the other held, and the
Cambridge was saved. They saw as they
were held by one chain within a stones
throw of the wicked breakers on Whitehead
the steamer Kathadin from Boston pass by
on her way to Bangor. They signalled, but
it was misty and the Kathadin's people did
not see them. Later ON the steamer New
England came along and towed the Cam
bridge into Rockland. The anchor that held
after broke while she was hanging to it in
Boston bay. The Cambridge went to Ban
gor soon afterwards thoroughly repaired,
bright as dollar, hung from deck to truck
with bunting. In the winter of 1884-18S5, the
steamer broke her main shaft near Ash
Island, below Rockland, while on her way
from Bucksport to Boston. A short time
ago, just as she was about to leave Boston il
was discovered that her main shaft was
cracked and she was hauled up for repairs.
The steamer had made but one round trip,
-naot-svisla tirc auuittenG UiIaT ended her bril-
liant career as an east-coast side wheeler.
SKETCH OF THE BOAT.
The steamer Cambridge made her trial
trip from New York Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1867,
having just been completed. Her hull was
built by John Englis & Sons and measured
250 feet in length over all, IS feet beam, with
10 feet depth of hold. She was 1887 tons
gross and 1,09S tons net register. She was
framed with white oak and hackmetack,
planked with white oak and ceiled with yell
low pine, strengthened throughout with
diagonal iron braces and square fastened
with copper bolts and locust treenails. Her
engine was built by the Morgan Iron Works.
The diameter of the cylinder was go inches
with II foot stroke; the two boilers were
each 30 feet long by 93 shell and heated by
four fires with 125 feet of crate surface. The
wheels were So feet in diameter carrying 2S
buckets, feet inches face. Her boilers
were placed in the hold. The vessel drew
light feet and inches forward and feet
8 inches aft.
Her saloon occupied almost the entire
length of the boat. She was furnished
throughout in black walnut and richly orna-
mented corinthian columns flanked all the
stateroom doors and sections. The furniture
in the halls, saloons and cabins were OF
black walnut upholstered in plush. The
sleeping accommodations were sufficient for
45O first class passengers. The staterooms
were of good size. The steamer was lighted
with gas. She was provided with nine life
boats, life-raft, and several hundred life
preservers. The Cambridge cost $250.0O0.
She left New York for the east Sunday, Aug.
26, 1867. She was twenty-one hours from
New York to Boston, seven from Boston to
Portland five from Portland to Rockland
She remained in Camden harbor the follow
ing Tuesday night and arrived here Wednes-
day.