Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-05
DAILY KENNEBEC JOURNAL. MONDAY. DECEMBER $. 1898
STEAMER LoNDoNIAn LOST.
abandoned at Sea During the Recent Storm
Crews Fate Unknown.

Boston. Dec. 4.-The loss of the Furnes
Line steamer Londoriian while bound from
TINS port to London, was the principa
. ..T[.. OF compensation In steamship circles
Yesterday. Inc steamer was one of thu
finest freighters plying to this port. Sh,
was practically a new vessel, having beer
in 1896
She was formerly the Idaho. and wa.
constructed for the Wilson Lines service
between Hull and New York. With tbs
a;malgatlon of the Wilson, Leyland anc
an ser she was placed in the e
to conform TO the other ships in the trade
whose names all end with ian"
Brush marine underwriters will be hit
i hsro py the loss of the Londonia M an m
her cargo, which were valued at $500, 90,
the steamer being appraised at S500.0oe
and the cargo at 100000.
reinsurance was asked on the steamer
last Thursday. She was then five days
overdue, but it was thought that nothing
more serious than machinery break
down was accountable for the delay.
me position of the steamer. when
passed by the British steamer King Ar
thur, shows that she has drifted far out
or her course and leads to the belief that
she may. have been abandoned sever;.
ago yesterday, and is supposed to have
been abandoned by her crew when within
two days steaming of her destination.
The fact that all the boats with the ex,
would seem to indicate that the ere"
made use of them in escaping from the
wreck to some other vessel. It Is MOI
likely that they would have abandoned
their vessel while there was the slightest
possibility of her remaining afioat unless
an opportunity was afforded to escape 70
another craft: Therefore, it is argued, all
hands must have been saved and the IL
men who comprised the crew are now
safe on some other vessel and will be
landed at some port in due time.
The abandoned vessel t1oating derelict
on her beam ends is dangerous obstruc
ton, and unless she sinks is likely 70
cause other disasters.
The former commander of the vessel
was Capt. TooZeS, but about a year ago
Capt. f. b. Lee assumed command. The
names of the officers and men are noi
known at the office of the line in this city.
The Londonian was a four maSted steel
vessel, equipped with all the modern APP
planes for the quick handling of freight,
and with accommodations for a limited
number. of saloon passengers. As near
as can be learned she carried no passen-
gers on her last sailing from here.
An electric lighting plant was one of the
features of the shin. He tonnage was
sions were: Length, $50 feet: breadth OF
beam, 491 feet: and depth of hold. 80.
feet.
The Londonian's cargo consisted OF
about 300 tons of general merchandise,
of which the following were the principa
items: One hundred and sixty-nine thou
sand eight hundred and thirty-five bush
els of oats, 1866 bushels wheat: 4251 sacks
-four, 1926 cases and 1850 sacks oatmeal
400 tubs of lard. 22S tubs butter. 81 boxes
cheese, 1877 barrels apples l05 tons hay
81 rolls. 267 bales, 377 bags, g. cases and IL
bundles leather, $40 steel angles, 241:
pieces mahogany besides a quantity oi
machinery. household effects, toys and
other cargo, and 655 head of cattle.
The shippers of the grain on the lost
vessel We're A. Fred Brown and A. 5
Maynard, two of the largest exporters oil
cereals in this city.