Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-13
THE CASTILIAN
Hard and Fast on the Rocks
Near Yarmouth, N. S.
On Return Trip to Liverpool from Port
land, on Maiden Voyage.
Passengers Safely landed-Steamer Total
loss-Had Valuable Cargo.

Halifax n. S., March 1.-THE new
Allan Liner Castilian. from Portland
for Halifax, went ashore at Gannet
Rock light II miles from Yarmouth, at
40 this morning, at low tide in dense
fog. Her compasses were deranged. Two
compartments are full of water Tugs
have gone from Yarmouth to the scene.
The Castilian arrived at Halifax
from Liverpool, 10 days ago, on her
maiden voyage and went to Portland
to load cargo for return. She is 5000
tons net register. being the largest AL
Ian Line steamer afioat. The ship is in
charge OF Captain Barrett, and officers
formerly of the steamer Partisan. the
entire crew of the Partisan having been
transferred to the new boat. The
steamer was due to embark mails and
passengers for Liverpool
The steamer began leaking immedi-
ately after she struck but the best
discipline prevailed among the passen-
gers. They returned to their berths
and were called out again to don life
preservers which many were wearing
when they reached Yarmouth on tugs.
at SIS this Sunday evening. Fifty
passengers and the crew all saved their
baggage.
The steamer went on at low tide
which will be in her favor The place
of the disaster is a few miles from
where the Moravian of the Allan Line
was lost some years ago
The first and second holds are full
of water. The steamer Is aground aft
to the engine room. There are & feet
of water in the engine room. The
steamer is bulged badly up from the
saloon. There are fathoms Of water
under her aft. The captain, three
mates. the steward. engineer and some
of the crew remain on board and three
tugs are standing by. The weather is
moderate and there is not much sea on.
There is fair prospect of salvage Of
cargo but very little hope Of saving the
ship.
The steamer was Is miles out of her
course with a fresh southwest wind
which would increase the current.
The weather has remained moderate
all day. If the wind changes there is
slim hope of the steamer ever coming
off Four hundred head of cattle, 100
sheep and 100 horses are on board. and
in good condition. a we'll known Bos-
ton Novia Scotia captain says south
west wind always makes the current
run swiftly.
The passengers left the ship. at ) this
morning. and there was no time then
to talk to the captain about saving the
Castilian. The Adams agents at Hall
fax have chartered the steamers Del
ia and City of Client to go from here
to the scene of the wreck They will
leave, tomorrow. The use of the gov
eminent lighthouse steamer Aberdeen
has also been applied for.
The Castilian has had brief career.
She was launched in January. ran her
trials. Feb. 3. on the Clyde. left Liver
pool. Feb. "a. and Halifax, March 4. for
Portland. She was the largest Allan
liner afloat and was the pioneer of the
new fleet of 10000 ton ships the Allans
are building for the Canadian trade.
She was in charge of the commodore
captain of the line, Captain Barrett.
and this is probably his first accident.
The passengers and crew of the
wrecked steamship will leave Var
mouth. tomorrow morning, for Halifax
to catch the mail steamer Vancouver
for England. Passengers all speak in
the highest discipline maintained when
the ship struck. She had been moving
slowly with sharp lookout in the
haze The officers wanted to give Cape
Sable wide berth, which they feared
they might be nearing. Nothing of
whistle or buoy was heard or seen and
no sign of land until the shock. The
blow was light and many passengers
thought it was only a heavy wave.
The engines were reversed but when
it was found the steamer held fast the
boats were got ready and the sleeping
passengers quietly awakened and told
to pack up in case it was necessary to
send them ashore. Splendid GOODNESS
was displayed by the whole crew.
Rockets were fired at intervals and at
daylight the first officer and purser
were sent ashore in small boat to
Tusket. They drove nine miles to Var
mouth for assistance.
During the time the passengers We're
waiting for help the sea began to. run |
high and the rolling of the ship became !
unpleasant. Lord Archibald Douglass, |
returning Jesuit missionary. con-
Quoted an impressive service on the |
deck in the forenoon. In the after |
noon, as no sign of assistance appear |
ed, the boats were launched and the 7
passengers and crew told off to them. |
Shortly after the whistles of tugs were |
heard and at 5 p. NJ. (not 5 A. NJ, as
previously stated all hands but the |
captain, engineers and some of the |
crew were safely taken off and con-
veyed to Yarmouth.
Opinions in Yarmouth differ as to
floating the ship. The chances are
favorable II the weather continues
moderate The work OF discharging |
cargo will commence. tomorrow.
large number Of sheep in the forward
holds have been found drowned. The |
swelling of grain has thrown up the
dining saloon deck.