The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-07-24
AN ILL-STARRED CRAFT.
The NOrnannia Strikes the Barker
tine Skobeleff.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM A FRIGHT
Full CATASTROPHE.


Then Spread Terror by Shouting the
Forecastle is Filling-The Normannia
is the Cholera Ship of Last Year, and
Seems TO Be an Ill-Starred Craft.
The bark Entine Skobeleff, Captain
Tucker, arrived at this port Saturday,
and is now at Browns wharf, after hav-
ing had a thrilling and dangerous expe-
rience at sea. The Skobeleff left Port
land last Wednesday for Norfolk, where
she was to load slaves for Barbados.
Everything went well until early Friday
morning, when the barkentine was III
latitude 400 40t, and longitude 690. or off
the south shore as it is called, near Nam
tucket. The Skobeleff was headed south
by east, with all sail set, and was max
ing good time with five-knot breeze.
Although it was but little past midnight
and the moon had set, the clearness of
the atmosphere and the brilliancy of the
stars made it quite light. and enabled the
lights of vessel to be seen at a long dis
lance. Shortly after midnight, the look
out on the Skobeleff discovered the
lights of large steamer, evidently out
ward bound from New York, and sailing
an easterly course. But as there was
plenty of room no special attention was
paid to the steamer, it being one of the
primary rules of the ocean that a steamer
shall keep out of the way of sailing
vessel. About half-past 1 o'clock the
steamer had approached very near, and
was in position to pass the stern of the
Skobeleff, which was sailing on the wind.
Suddenly the captain of the Skobeleff
discovered that instead of passing astern
the big steamer was bearing straight
down upon him. There was no time to
change the course of the sailing craft,
which seemed to be doomed. But a
hasty turning of the helm of the steamer
altered the course of the latter so that
she struck glancing instead of direct
blow. The sharp iron PROV struck the
Skobeleff on the starboard side, just aft
the cathead, cutting into the side, tear
ing off the cathead, and glanced forward
to the bowsprit, which it snapped off
close to the hull, cutting the rigging,
carrying away the martingale and figure
head, tearing up the headworks and
wrenching the whole bow so as to start
the planking of the forecastle deck and
damage the windlass. The shock to the
OF i G1,n cfa
gered and shook from stem to stern, and
then gave great roll TO port as the big
steamer sheered off by the force of the
blow, crowded on tot her starboard side.
The shock threw those of the Skobeleff's
crew belonging to the watch below, out
of their hunks. One of them fell into a
bucket of water in such a way as to dash
it all over himself. In the dark he at
once concluded that the barkentine had
gone down. and spread terror among his
mates by shouting: 1.-THE forecastle is
filling! The forecastle is fillingp'
The big steamer, leaving a piece of
wood and iron work from her bow hang
ing to the damaged bowsprit of the Sko-
belief, forged ahead and then lay to and
sent boat to ascertain what damage
she had done. The officer who came
aboard inquired the name of the vessel,
whether she was making any water, and
whether Captain Tucker needed anysas-
sistance. He also said that his steamer
was the Normannia, of the Hamburg
American line, bound from New York to
Hamburg, with passengers. This is the
famous cholera ship, as will be remem-
bered, which lay SO long in quarantine
last year.
Captain Tucker found that his vessel
was making no water, so declined assist
ance, whereupon the boat left and the
Normannia proceeded. Captain Tucker
then put about, and the wind being light
started towards Portland with such sail
set as the injured state of his vessel
would allow.
The escape of the Skobeleff was very
narrow. Had she been loaded the blow
would have inevitably cut the PROV off
and sunk the barkentine. AS it was, she
was light, and rebounded from the force
of the shock sufficiently to save herself.
The Skobeleff will repair at the wharf
where she is lying. 1t is impossible to
estimate the damage accurately, as the
wrenching received was severe, and may
extend farther than it appears.
Burglary in Westbrook.