The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-01-14
The katahdin In a Gale.

Steamer katahdin left this city Friday afternoon
for Boston, with light passenger list and mode
rate freight. The weather COOL but pleasant.
The passage, however, proved one Of the most
severe the boat has ever encountered. 1t was her
first trip of the season, after most thorough
over-hauling. The weather very fair until off
Cape Porpoise, when heavy sea began to rise,
and off Boone Island snow began to fall and the
land shut off. About midnight Friday, the
sea became very heavy, with regular hurricane
blowing from the northeast. Shortly after, huge
sea struck the steamer, staving in her port bull
warks, pouring over everything between decks
and sn eeping down into the hold in flood, caus
ing the steamer to make nearly seven feet of water
in her hold, and it became necessary to heave over
board the coal and large part of the freight
Two pilots were at the helm, and Capt Homer
decided to haul out and head the seas 1t became
necessary throw overheard the rest Of the cargo
except that portion which could be used for the
fires the loss of the coal compelled resort to
whatever was mllammable in the cargo, and hams
shoes and meats went into the furnace to
keep the fires. For ten hours the steamer bravey
breasted the tremendous seas slowly working her
engines but making slight progress. Saturday
forenoon the wind again shifted, and again the
| steamer was put about to head the seas. The
Thermometer registered zero, and the clouds of
spray which flew over her froze as it fell ON her
deck and sides During all this time the passcn
gers among whom were several ladies, remained
cool and cheerful Capt Homer had the boats
made ready precautionary measure but hard
ly anticipated the need Of their use, Saturday
afternoon Boars Head at Hampton Beach was
made, and the steamer put into Portsmouth where
she landed her passengers The captains man
agcment Is highly commended by the owners, and
the company has preserved its reputation Of never
having lost 4 passenger. The loss on cargo is
estimated at $4,000 distributed among large
number of consignces.
Mr., Ralph o. Wade, passenger relates the fol
lowing incidents of the passage to the Boston
journal
He had been visiting his home and relatives in
IincuInyillc and started from Camden for Boston
on Friday night. lie says the katahdn left Rock
land at ; o'clock Friday evening with fine
weather and smooth sea, every indication pointing
t" \ pleasant trip and the making of Boston Light
on time ON saturday morning. There We're 26 pas
sengers aboard, including some 20 able seamcn,
bound far Boston, New York and Baltimore, some
Of them to take vessels at the latter ports together
with four Ladies' and two children. An went well
until O'Clock on saturday morning, when the
weather, which had been gradually growing thick
and squally with an increasing sea, suddenly de-
Vtioped INTO tremendous squall from the north
east, with binding snow me steamer was then
was heading into the sea. Two immense waves
broke the bow, carrying away a portion
of the bulWarks forward and pouring into the
saloon. The passengers were on deck in an IN
slant, but All kept cool and behaved admir-
ably. some put on life preservers, and the sail
0rs in the cabin went to work with Will to aid
the crew. The steam pump was kept going and
every attention was paid to tightening the ship.
The freight on the lower deck pitched over
board at about 10 O'Clock and the vessel put about
to run with the wind and which eased her
| considerably, although She laborcd heavily and
the seas struck her with great force the shock be
ing felt from stem to stern. The ship made con-
| siderable water. Nearly every one on board was
wet through, but all spoke in the highest terms Of
their treatment by the officers of the boat, who did
| everything possible for their comfort. When about
ten miles to the westward of the Shoals the steamer
passed a large three masted coal schooner water
logged and in sinking condition. Her crew could
| be seen i'll the rigging and she was flying signal
| Of distress "but, >" said Mr.. Wade I'VE were pow
| erlese TO aid them, for did not any of know
| but that the next sea would leave MS in the same
condition, and no man could foresee what the end
! was To he. The steamer ran short of coal and re
course had to everything combustbt that
| was not wet to keep the fires going. Barrels of
| spoUls, sheep pelts and even carcasses of lamb
We're thrown down into the fire room. At 6 O'Clock
on saturday night, after of the toughest eNpcr-
| fences Mr.. Wade says he has ever had at sea the
| steamer made Portsmouth and anchored in the
| lower harbor. At O'Clock ON sunday morning She
| came up to the wharf and landed her passengers
| who took the O'Clock afternoon train for Boston.
| The passengers lost their luggage, which was on
| the lower deck and was washed overheard. \
| horse, which was on the lower deck, was chilled
and nearly frozen. He was lowered down into the
| fire room, however and thaWed out Through ii
all, said Mr. Wade, Capt. Homer stuck to his post
At me wheel and meyer lett 1t. There was a good
| discipline ON board the katahdm as have ever
seen anywhere. Every man did his duty, and bar
ring little 9casicAneSs, none of our passengers
| suffered serious harm. When made port we
had from three to four feet of water i'll the hold,
| The katahdin proved herself an admirable sea
| boat
The freight taken on board at Belfast included
twenty five eases of shoes shipped by Messrs
Crtrhett y ~ibey, which Went to keep alive the
furnace fires after the coal was washed on erboard
manufactured clothing from ". NJ. Priest Ii. O.
Dodge and J. +. Pcndleton, Of Belfast ald J. II
| Gordon, Of Brooks, one and thrce-fourth tons of
leather board from Shcnnan's factory; twenty
| bushels Of potatoes twenty cases of egg. by "
T. Mitchell aud others ten barrels Of apples and
| fifty bundles of leather from Hunts tannery at
Liberty.
The hull Of the steamer was uninjured. She was
| pumped out and proceeded to Boston Tuesday.
| Mondays edition of the Penny Post Of Ports
m"tth n. H., has an excellent report Of the katah
dinS rough experience, the main facts of which are
given above. 81 Can't. Homer it says:
! The Passengers speak in the highest terms OF
| Captain Homer, his -kilitul management of the
hoat his calm Hn1 cheerful demeanor throughout
the trying ordeal and the perfect discipline of the
| hard worked and Worn out crew. Capt. Homer
SAYS tlIc katahdn could not have lived an hour on
i'i ~" ~ n tiir ieaN Nr"9 Np"n' i',Nt ploh'i
| once
The following tribute to the crew also deserve.
! to he recorded
| Through the courtesy of Mr. Albert III. IIanscom
OF this city for r years past in the employ of this
~ *, 'i ~ ~. o. rp1,9 XIX T.,
able to CLEAN the fact, of this report 1t was told
| Us by old ship captain, Il passenger ON board
% bpT,
that Wien told BY the Engineer Frank Davis
i'i' 'he NeHHel '"ul'l not hoal an hour longer IL the
drtrrminrI N Irath c.tnn If shnuld HI thnfi ~
their positions Of duty. For more than ten hours
ti ,itN ,'9i up IT, ii,ti NS' IN Wit'cl a
covering ii in the hold were there to Keen the fires
gong "th WhaltNei lf'erlal was thrown them
drrrd v,,Iunhin .si.tIn,r saw, n,r n 1a,,tain Of a
yacht, who seemed petrifitd with fear.
our Searsport correspondent says;
Searsport with the towns along the bay, furnish
| of the katahdin last Friday. The passengers from
here were Mrs. Martha Merrthew and her neice'S
little boy, Will Rogers and Mr.. Ellis who has re
Gently been visiting ut DR., NIagoon's.
! The Sear~polt spool Co. Skinned about fifteen
lambs carrtsHeS AMI boots and shoes proved the
| +l I,ll:ti,,, - ~, , , - -. T. .