The Portland daily press., 1891-12-07
the OREGON SAFE.
She Came Up the Aarbor Lat
Night All Right.
A Happy Crowd Of Passengers and
Satisfied Officers.

There was happy crowd of passengers
on the Oregon last night when, after the
labors of the Toronto ana several tugs had
brought her in, and the steamer lay safely
In the harbor. The sounds of laughter, of
singing and whistling foated over the
waters of the harbor. The officers Of the
Dominion Line were happy too, and Mr..
Torrance and Poit Captain Reid slept we'll
last night, without doubt.
Up to Saturday morning, the anxious
officials of the Dominion line had received
no news Of the disabled Oregon beyond
that brought by the boats crew which
left the ship Immediately after the accident
Thursday night Of the tugs sent out
Friday. the Mary ]. Finn returned at about
II o'clock at night. She could give no
news Of the steamer because she had not
seen that vessel finding the weather so bad
that her captain concluded to return.
But just after day break, doubt was
settled as to the whereabouts of the ship
by Mr.. Dinsmore. keeper of the observa-
tory, who with his glass made out the
Oregon at anchor several miles from
Seguin Island. about % miles from Port
land. At noon Captain Scott Oliver, who
went out on one Of the tugs, arrived from
Bath. He reported that the tow boats had
found the Oregon late Friday afternoon
and had towed her number of miles to-
ward port when the weather became so
bad that the tugs were forced to put into
the Kennebec, leaving the Oregon riding
at the end of 120 fathoms of chain, off
Seguin where Mr. Dinsmore made her out.
As soon as he learned where the Oregon
was, Mr.. Torrance secured the steamer
Cottage City, Capt. Bennett, of the Maine
Steamship Company. Mr. Coyle promptly
made arrangements to defer the sailing of
the steamer and placed her at Mr.. Tor
RANGES disposal. At noon, she left her
wharf and two hours later Captain Reid,
the Dominion lines port captain, had
hailed Capt. Gibson of the Oregon. The
Cottage City lay by until about sunset in
the hope that the heavy sea would go
down. Then life buoy to which small
line was fastened. was thrown from the
deck of the Oregon and graphing iron
thrown by Capt. Fisher soon landed the
buoy on the deck of the Cottage City. The
new S-lnch hemp hawser was tied to the
end of the line and the signal to haul way
given to the Oregon. The seamen gather
ed at the bow of the big boat worked with
will and the two steamers were soon
united by the big hawser. But there's
many slip 'twixt cup and lip and the
failure of the Oregon's anchor to leave its
rocky bed at the right time made it neces-
sary to cast off the hawser. II was then
too late to make second attempt and so
the Cottage City steamed away for home
leaving the Oregon still rising and falling
on the swell.
When the Cottage City came back, and
commenced loading for the trip to New
York, it was intended that Mr.. Coyle's
boats should finish up the job and that the
Manhattan after her arrival Monday would
be sent out to bring the Oregon in. Yes
terday morning, however. Mr.. Torrance
and Capt. Reid decided to send the Toronto
out Accordingly at $50 a. m. the big
steamer left the wharf and steamed down
around the islands and out. arriving along
side the disabled vessel at about half past
eight. The heavy southeast chop was still
running and the boats that carried the
hawsers back aud forward had hard
time making connections. Finally, at 10
o'clock the steamers were hitched up to-
gether and the Toronto started ahead.
Almost immediately the hawser parted.
Another boat trip was made and new
line stretched. Another start and again
the huge rope broke. 1t was then decided
to unbend thu anchor from the Oregon's
chain cable and use that for a tow line.
The cable was carried aboard the Toronto
and at II 80 both vessels were on their way
TO the friendly shelter of the harbor. The
Kennebec tugs KnickerbOcker and Clara
Clarita. and the Belknap and Plymouth
went along as KIM Oh volunteer escort,
ready to lay hold of the Oregon should she
break away again.
The feet reached the harbor at $50 and
the Toronto leaving the Oregon to the
mercies OF the mosquito feet, came up to
the dock and tied up for the night.
After IL o'clock the tugs took hold of the
Oregon and brought her in In fine style,
showing what they might have done when
they fir st went out il the storm had not
driven them into the Kennebec.
AT midnight the stevedores went to
work Oh the cargo of the Oregon shifting
it over to the Toronto which will sail for
Liverpool Tuesday. The passengers and
mail will go on board the Partisan and they
will also leave Tuesday.