The Portland daily press., 1899-05-17
CAPTAIN BLANCHARD SAID

he could get through to Potland, but
Captain Dennison could not get to Bos-
ton.
Witness said he had no further talk with
Captain Blanchard, and left the wharf
at seven o'clock, just as the Portland
left the wharf.
Judge Webb here commented upon the
fact that a storm was evidently antici-
pated by Captain Blanchard.
Captain p. b. Albee of Gloucester,
Mass, aged 20 and follower OF the sea
since the age of II years, was the next
witness. He had known Captain Blanoh-
ard for years and he was "A /,
thorough seaman, level head, never loses
it" On November 26, Captain Albee
testified that in the evening from nine
O'Clock to eleven O'Clock he was play og
whist. At eleven O'Clock from his win
dows he could see both Eastern Point and
Thatoher's Island light. At that hour
| there was nothing to indicate such an
unheard of gale. AT seven O'Clock the
weather was not particularly bad. Wit
ness had been out Of Portland and Boston
many times when the indications were
worse. On the evening of the 26 of No
vember the barometer was iluctuating,
presaging that the wind would "chop
around" to the north. Captain Albee
said that at the time Captain Blanchard
was of Thatoher's island about / D. m.
there was nothing to indicate that he
could not reach Portland. The storm
struck Gloucester about 1.3O a. m. and
blew the hardest he ever saw there. 1t
would shake his house until it would
trem BILE all over. The wind came in
gusts. and lasted in its severity until
about 4.30 a. IN.
Captain William c. Williams, keeper
of the Boon Island light for IA years, and
a fOllOwar Of the GinC9 The of III
years, was the next witness. He had
often seen the Portland and Bay State
pass his light, and knew Captain
Blanchard we'll. The weather Indications
on the afternoon of November 26, were
very light in the evening the sky was
cloudy, but there were no Indications of
bad storm until ten o'clock. The worst
came at twelve O'Clock. Up to twelve
O'Clock there was nothing to trouble the
Portland, but after that time there came
the heaviest sea of fourteen years at
least.
Ex. Collector John W. Deering of Port
land testified that he followed the sea for
sixteen years and for forty years had
been accustomed to watch the weather.
He was in Boston November ". and left
for Portland about p. m. The bulletins
said there was storm coming, and at
Rockingham junction he went around
the station to examine the weather. 1t
was lowry, but not alarming. On his
arrival home his barometer was at 30.l 1,
which indicated northwest wind. He
himself had gone to sea in worse weather
with over 400 passengers, and thought
there was nothing to deter Captain
Blanchard from sailing from Boston.
Captain Thompson left Portland in the
fremont to take the place of the Port
land with the barometer an inch lower
than it was when Captain blanchard
sailed.
Captain Lynes B. Hathaway of Brock.
ton, master workman of the Light House
Department. testified that on November
26 he was at Thatcher's island at work.
1t was cloudy there that day, with little
wind and smooth sea. 1t so continued
up to 6p. M That evening until 9. 80
O'Clock he spent in small building used
as smoking room. He
SAW THE PORTLAND GO BY
near the island about $50 O'Clock. He
used to watch her every night, and this
evening she was on time, going as usual.
She was within three hundred feet of
the island, passing by the inside passage
between the island and Londoner ledge
A wholesale breeze was blowing, but
there was nothing to indicate an especial