The Portland daily press., 1891-07-22
RuMoR SUNK A STEAMER.
The Truth was, the Manhattan
Grounded off Vineyard Haven,
And Was FIoated Without Any DAM
age Being Done.

Yesterday, at about noon, rum0r started
from no one knows just where, and travelled
all over the central part of the town. 1t was
a small boy sort of rumor when it began its
Journey, but it grew so rapidly that it soon
assumed the form of giant, and told the
story of the wreck of the steamer Cottage
City, of the Maine Steamship Company's
line, and the loss Of large number OF her
passengers. Now this rumor, like many
others which have attained the size OF giants
was fraud. 1t lived and got its growth on
the fact that the steamer Manhattan, also Of
the Maine Steamship line, had grounded at
Vineyard Haven in a dense fog yesterday
morning. The Manhattan wasn't hurt bit,
and the passengers were in no danger and
knew that they weren't. How the Iumor
succeeded In manufacturing the terrible tale
it finally told is one of the secrets which
rumors never diyulge. The Manhattan left
New York for Portland Monday evening and
the Cottage City left Portland for the other
end of the line at the same time. An Asso-
ciated Press despatch from Vineyard Haven.
which. backed up by telegram to Mr. j. B.
Coyle, from Captain Bragg. finally killed the
rumor, reads as follows:
VINEYARD HAVEN, Mass, July 21.-
Steamer Manhattan, Captain Bragg, of the
Maine Steamship line, from. New York for
Cottage City and Portland, with a large
number of passengers and considerable
freight, grounded on Middle Ground, Vine
yard Sound, near West Chop, a.: an early
tugs c. 81. Winch, William 5. Slater and
Confidence of the Boston Tow Boat Com
pany, went to her assistance and succeeded
in floating her about 8 a. m. She steamed to
h.. IS nk A4,vf1 md Ian A~I
freight and passengers for Cottage City and
proceeded to Portland. Calm weather pre-
vailed while the Manhattan was a shore and
as she struck on the sand no damage was
sustained. The passengers took matters
quietly and remained on board when the
steamer was ashore.
The Manhattan reached her wharf in this
city at shortly after 10 o'clock last night and
the above despatch was shown.to Captain
Bragg who pronounced it substantially cor
rect. Capt. Bragg added that the steamer
encountered the fog at about 10 p. m. Mon
day night. 1t was so thick that 1t could
have been cut out in blocks. When the
steamer approached the Middle Ground in
Vineyard Sound, she was moving slowly
and when her keel slid onto the sand, the
vessel was drifting ahead with the tide, the
engines having been stopped. 1t was
then about 5.45. and nearly low water The
passengers took matters coolly and Captain
Bragg praised the behavior of his hundred
guests whose only anxiety seemed to be as
to the quantity of food on board. When as
sured that the table of the Manhattan would
be we'll supplied, they showed no further
alarm and patiently waited developments.
Had 1t not been for the fact that some of the
passengers wanted to take the Nantucket
and Bar Harbor steamers. the Manhattan
might have remained on the sand until the
advancing tide had set her afloat but, In
order to make connections, Captain Bragg
put the tugs to work and the big steamer
was foated with their aid. Then she steam
cd to her wharf in time for the travellers
destined for other lines, to make connec-
tions.
AS to the giant rumor's story of the Cot
tage City Captain Bragg settled that by say
ing that the steamer reached Vineyard
Haven at o'clock. having been delayed
somewhat by the fog.