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

LIoNiHcetOWH, MISS, NOV. oo-IIi
these treacherous waters which con-
tinually threaten the very existence of
Cape Cod and which cover the most
dreaded ocean graveyard on the entire
Atlantic coast, during the most terri
You'd parallel in the history of New
Englands maritime interests, on Sun
yond description. The steamer Port
land, plying nightly between Boston
and the sea alone knows how she went
to her awful doom, for of all the ship S
lived.
AS the surges roll in from the broad
the tributes demanded by the Furies.
Ground into fragments are the timbers
largest piece cast ashore. while the
bodies of the greater number of the
victims are like to be disintegrated by
the force of the waves, and few, if any
others, in addition to the l6 already
recovered will be secured.
The laundering of the Portland, for
it seems impossible that she struck on
the wicked Peaked Hill bars, eclipses
two other fearful wrecks on this coast
the steamer City of Columbus, on
Devils Bridge, near Gay Head, in
1884, when 100 lives We're lost, and the
ship Jason, on Cape Cod in 1893, when
90 persons were swept away.
For two days Cape Cod was isolated
from the outside world and today
when the railroad was opened. the de-
vastation which followed the storm be-
came fully known. Besides the Port
land victims at least 20 lives were lost
in host of other craft. chief of
which was the big schooner King
Philip.
The cause of the Portlands fate,
aside from the force Of the elements is
a mystery which will never be probei.
Every mariner has a theory and ali
agree that when buffetted by the on
coming storm off Cape Ann, the big
sidewheeler was disabled and, before
the blast, was driven over 40 miles to
leeward, the waves slowly demolishing
the upper structure until the hull
alone remained and this finally sank
beneath the surface.
The vessel must have disappeared
some distance off shore, for the strong
current is now carrying wreckage and
bodies southwark, and much of it may
be found on Nantuckets shoals.
Today, another fiery northeaster set
in, again flashing the waves into a
frenzy, and giving small hope to scores
of broken hearted relatives and friends
of the victims, that their bodies will be
found on the shores.
The saddest scenes, which caused
hardy sailors to break down, were en-
acted in this town all day, and will be
for days to come. The excitement also
was great, not only over the fate of
other crews, but over reports received
from points down the coast tending to
indicate that between 80 and 40 bodies
had been picked up. But later it was
positively shown that but 16 bodies had
been taken from the water
The exact number of persons
who We're carried away from
Boston, by the steamer Port
land will probably never be known,
as no list of passengers was retained
on shore when the vessel left her moor
ings. last Saturday. Many estimates
Of the number on board have been
made, but the estimates have seldom
agreed.
C. f. Williams. Boston agent of the
Portland Steamship Co, who arrived
here on the tug VIM. H. Smith, last
night, places the total number of per-
sons on the steamer at 100 or posi-
bly, 105. This estimate, however, is
generally regarded as rather small. 1t
has been stated that the number was
as high as 165. but Mr.. Williams de-
MES that SO many sailed on the Port
land. 1t is probable that 120. including
passengers and crew, is near the COR
rect number.
Nearly every sea captain and mariner
IN the cape on being asked for an opin-
ion, states that everyone on board was
undoubtedly lost. One feature of the
disaster is the absence of any frag-