Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-01

only ones OF the VeSSeI tnat were
strewn along the outer coast of Cape
Cod. The absence of any very large
part of the hull on the coast is account
ed for by the theory that the lNlll itself
went to the bottom. The largest piece
of wreckage reported up to sunset was
piece about 80 feet long.
Before the Inflated steamer took her
final plunge the passengers and crew
naturally adopted all means at their
command to save their lives. This
would account for the large number Of
life preservers and belts found among
the first portions of the wreckage.
What became of the life boats and
RATS, if any were launched, is of course
unknown.
The first body from the wreck came
ashore at High Head. which is few
miles further down the outer coast.
of the cape from the Peaked Hill sta
ton. 1t was found, Monday morning.
The next bodies found were picked
up at points further south on the same
day, and the life preserverS, woodwork,
two or three pieces of baggage, lard,
tobacco, paper and other articles from
the cargo began to pile up on the shore
south of High Head. Little wreckage
was found north of that point. The
swift undertow off shore carried an inn
mense amount of debris and many
bodies south as far as Monomoy beach
and Nantucket sound. While the
northern limit indicating the wreck
was near High Head and practically
none of the wreckage went inside the
cape, it is not known how far south it
r. ~,
i ditions that the chances for recovering
| many more bodies are considered not
very favorable.
number of Portland people, most
of them relatives of some of those
whose names We're on the passenger
list of the Portland when she left Bos-
ton. Saturday evening, arrived here,
last night, and today, for the purpose
of identifying if possible some of the
bodies washed ashore along the coast
Large numbers of volunteers, includ-
ing a number who had friends or rela-
tives on board, are assisting the surf
men to patrol the beaches.
From the tip end of Cape Cod to
Monomoy there are 10 government life
saving stations, and all the crews have
been on duty almost constantly since
last Saturday evening. The recovery
of the bodies which have been convey
ed to this port, Orleans and other
points, is largely due to the diligence
OF the life savers. On Monday and
yesterday several bodies not secured
We're sighted in the surf some dis
tance from shore, but they disappeared
from view in the strong current run
ming southwark, and it was impossible
to secure them.
The fact that hardly more than
score of bodies had been recovered
from the sea up to tonight, is due to
the strong undertow, which, it is
thought, carried the great majority
down the coast towards Monomoy and
Nantucket sound, as before stated.
This was proved by the finding of the
greater number of bodies in the
vicinity of Orleans and as far down
as Chatham. Those found nearest TO
where the steamer is thought to have
foundered were those first taken from
the water.
A severe gale from the east and
northeast, which began last night and
continued all day, probably carried
many of the drowned further south
ward and many old mariners predict
that large number of bodies will
never be recovered.
I. Fl. Williams, Boston agent of the
Portland Steamship Co., who arrived
here on the tug William H. Clark, has
been busy all day looking after bodies
now at undertakers' establishments IN
Chatham and Orleans. Last night he
Veiewed the three bodies of the three
victims here, William Mosher of Cor
ham, Me-, an unknown colored porter
and an unknown woman,
DR.. Samuel T. Davis of Orleans, med
1cal examiner of Barnstable county.
viewed the bodies here and both ne
and Agent Williams left here, on the
$50 down train, this morning, for Or
leans, where they will look after the
bodies there. DR.. Davis requests that
persons who had friends on the Port
land, send, if possible, photographs
properly labelled to him at Orleans 20 |
assist in the work of Identification. 1t
Is the intention of DR.. Davis to have
all bodies that have not already been |
identified photographed.
One of the first bodies to be identified |
was that of Hon. Dudley Freeman of |
Yarmouth, Me-. prominent Republi-
can leader in the Pine Tree State and a |
member of Governors Powers Council |
His body was found on the Nauset |
Beach near Orleans by Daniel Could |
who occupied cottage near the beach !
The body was dressed in black clay |
worsted frock coat. vest and overcoat, |
and striped worster pants and black
shoes. There were found in the pock-
cts $50 in money and a heavy gold |
watch with his name on the inside Of |
the case. That. together with several}