The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-04-10
HERE AT LAST.
The italian Ship Eriadno at Anchor in
the Harbor.

The italian transport, which has been
50 eagerly looked for for many days, was
sighted from the Observatory at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, when about twelve
miles out, slowly steaming to this port.
Accordingly, the health officers, Dr.
Meserve and DR.. Merrill, proceeded to
the Fannie G.. and hunted up Capt. Peter
son, who was at home sick. He got up
steam and then went forth to find his
engineer.
| Finally, shortly after o'clock, the
Eriadno at that time being off Fort Preble,
the Fannie G. left her moorings and
steamed forth to meet the ship. having on
board, besides the health officers, the
committee from the City Government,
Aldermen Guptill and MCGOWAN and
Councilman Pennell; Mr.. Smith, agent
| Of the Grand Trunk; several citizens and
| reporters.
Hallway to the Breakwater, Harbor
Master Fred Kelsey was overtaken in his
row boat and line was thrown him.
VI.
board side of the Eriadno, whose anchor
was dropped in quarantine at just Z
o'clock, and Drs. Meserve and Merrill
went on board. 1t was found that only
the captain could speak English. He
had evidently expected a visit from the
health officers and had a written state
ment prepared for them. The captain
had evidently supposed the American
doctors would not be able to read italian,
SO, beside the statement, he had made an
English translation, which reads as fol.
lows:
This ship Of the Italian Royal Navy, owing to
her having suddenly left Funchal, Madeira, for
bad weather, arrived TO Bermuda Isle without
being provided with the bill of health.
In this latter place she had free pratique, but
the sanitary officers being far from the anchor
age, on account of the service motives, she
failed to obtain new bill of health, and that
to their knowledge in these islands did not exist
any epidemic or contagious disease
The undersigned beg therefore to state that
according to the strictest rules the health on
board is without exception the very best for the
admission of the ship in freespratique. es
Today, as when the ship LEFT bermuda, there ere
passengers belonging to the Royal Navy. ..g
Portland, Maine April 8, 1898. 80
|
RECoRBRA. [Seal] MILARD q
While the health officers were aboard
the ship those aboard the tug were
anxious to obtain information concern
ing the supposed delay, etc., but none
of the officers appeared to speak English
and no one on the tug could talk Italian.
By a happy Observation-Disclosures
tried French and was quickly answered
by sailor at a port hole. A means of
communication was thus established
and with Mr.. MCGOWAN as interpreter
the following facts were secured:
The ship did not leave until the 18th of
March, touched at Funchal, Madeira
and Bermuda, from which port she
sailed five days ago for this city. This
roundabout trip of course explained why
she did not arrive here at the time ex-
pected. Her armament consists of two
petit cannon" and flour mitrailleuses,
the latter being a rapid fire gun. She is
barkentine rugged with smokestack set
far aft and painted light color. The
body of the ship is of iron, unprotected,
and painted black.
Alderman MCGOWAN was succeeding
admirably with his French, but struck
snag when he tried to get at the com
mander's name. In this case he co uld
not make anyone on board understand
although he spoke his prettiest French
and was finally met with the curt remark
from someone on board the ship: "Why
don't you talk English?' This sally
rather capped the climax, although at
tributed to the Cape Elizabeth pilot on
board, and after receiving donation of
italian cigarettes from the ship, which
only the reporters dared smoke, further
action on the part of those on board the
Fanny G.. was suspended until the health
officers returned. They reported every
thing clear and that the commander
stated that his cargo was consigned to
1.-THE Custom House Officers, Jackson
Park, Chicago
Arrangements were made for the city
government committee to visit the ship
this forenoon.
With parting salute the tug sailed
away, those on board feeling that they
had done their duty in welcoming the,
foreigners.
The members of the city government
committee will leave Custom House
wharf at 10 o'clock this forenoon for the
Eriadno to extend to her officers the
freedom and welcome of the city.