The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-05
THE PENTAGOET.
Little Hope for the Missing Bangor
Steamer,


She was Onoe Vessel of the United States
Navy-was Condemned, Sold and
brought TO Portland,
New York, December 8. Practically
all hope for the safety of the steamer
Pentagoet and her crew of is men has
been abandoned Even the optimitic
officials of the Manhattan Steamhip COM
pany, to which the old steamer belonged,
were inclined to give up hope when, af-
ter "a hours of communication with
northern coast portsr no word was re-
ceived of the vessel. The steamer left this
port on Friday, and was due at Bangor
on Monday morning. The last seen of
her was on Saturday, when the steamer
was sighted off Highland Light. The
steamer carried no passengers from this
port. She had crew of Is men all told,
The list of the crew as furnished by Cen
eral Manager N. L. Newcomb, is as fol-
lows. Master, o. r. Ingraham, Rock
land. Me-; first officer H.. +. Webster.
Rockland, Me-; second officer. G. Fl. Pol.
land, Rockland, Me. chief engineer, Fl.
A. Hansen, New York: assistant engi-
neer, name unknown; pursor, William
Millen, New York; assistant purser, John
Portland, New York; quarte:master,
John Alander, and another, name IN
known; steward, Charles Rudolph (col
ored), New York; lnessman, Charles Ken
dali (coored), New York; oiler, Henry
Boring, New York; firemen, Nils Mickelsin
and George Matheson, New York; seamen,
DntpioE Clinton
Aolsen and Bert j. Lampher, the latter
of Bucksport, Me. Speaking about the
Pentagoet, Mr. Newcomb said: 1.-The
Pentagoet was in frst-olass condition and
in barge of an exceedingly able naviga-
tor. She was all right whe. she left New
York on Friday, and had provisions on
board sufficient to last her crew fort
night. If forced to remain out longer
than that, her cargo, which is general
! one, and contains much food stuff, could
| be resorted to. 1t would keep is men
alive ut least six months and the other
portion of 1T could, in case of necessity,
| be used as fuel Capt. Ingraham has
been going to sea for over so years. First
Officer Webster is thoroughly fit to navi-
gate the ship. The line has SO much con-
fidence in him that it intends TO make
him master of vessel brought down
from the lakes. Hansen, the engineer, is
a frst-class man, and although we do
QOD KNOW bu6 tte5lbtduU . 4hillCy VIZ al .
satisfied that he is of like character. 1t
is yet possible that the steamer is safely
anchored in some eastern shelter with
which communication has not been
established, or that the Pentagoet was
blown before the storm and is now some
where near the Bermudas. While l am
anxious about the vessel, cannot yet
believe that anything serious has hap
pened her. If the coat had been lost
along the shore some wreckage would
certainly have turned up before this In
case her machinery had broken down,
which is not at all likely, the boat was
we'll provided with three new sails =
The Pentagoet was built for the Union
navy during the Civil war, and was IL
the service as the Moccasin. At the close
of the rebellion she was. transferred to the
revenue marine and chrlstened the George
M BIbb, after the secretary OF thu treas
ury, She was on thei lake customs service
until 1895 when the boat was sold and her
name changed to the Pentagoet, Six
months ago she was bought By the Man
haitian Steamship company and put On
the Maine port route The vessel which
| is described as strong, ssagoing one. was
| oyerhauled and partly rebuilt after being
| purchased by the Manhattan Steamship
company. She is valued at S35, 900 and
! is fully insured. Her cargo is also said
| to be covered by insurance.
/
who are stationed here declared that they
have been expecting for long time 20
hear of some disaster from this vessel.
nIhe old Bibb,' said one OF the olHcers
| last night, 'shad long passed her useiu
ness when the government gave her up ;
that was back in 1890. In 1888 was an
ofTicer ON the Bib when she was soa-
rioned on Lake Ontario. and recall now
we were constantly in the habit OF tear
| ing out side planking and hitting new
uieces. Finally the frames began to show
evidence of rotting, and generally
| throughout the ship decay setin. The
| Ribb was wooden craft. Her boiler
was a very light contrivance. and her en-
| zine the simplest sort of an affair Inc
ship was really only lit for light cruising
work.
ssIn 1890 board of survey was held on
her at Ogdensburg, and she was con
,,s,nned The government stripped hei
Of ali her fittings and sold her by, public
e,,ction. Two Cleveland men bought
her In for $500. They gave her coat
of naint and took her down through tht
e. r awreuce canal. On arriving al
/ Portland. Me-, they were offered $40, 0Ot
fo,. fhe old craft, and understand sole
her at that figure The new owners
changed the name from Blbb TO PenGs
goet and Immediately put her on rur
, 80 Eastport and New York, car y
30. sardines. They made practically nc
aIferation in hull or machinery. fittings.
L,,t ran her for number of years in
about the same condition as when they
first got her.
York. and despite her greasy, dirty look
never had any trouble i'll distinguish
ing the old Bibb. "
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