Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-15

the key pieces. and passing through
each of them. We're two ia inch iron
rods with turnbuckles which ran to
sister keelsons where they We're fast
ened by IL inch plates inches square
which We're fastened to the keelsons
with 1k inch iron screw bolts II inches
long. four in each keelson.
Another rod ~ inch with turn
buckle passed from side to side of ship
through the skin and timbers and fas-
tened at each end by 6 inch square
iron plates l inch thick. just above foot
of the diagonal braces and passing
through both braces.
The forward side of the bulkheads
were covered with 4 inch wrought iron
plates bolted with y inch machine
bolts. into every stanchion. 6 inches
apart. Back of the stanchions, plates
of lie iron We're thoroughly fastened
to each stanchion.
The stanchions at the side of the boat
We're bolted through selling and tim
bers. and the bolts were set up with
nuts on the inside.
There was also an additional bulk
head of 6x12 hard pine timber built up
forward of the collision bulkhead from
ceiling to cabin floor. thoroughly braced
and kneed.
To interrogatory eighteen it says:
The steamer was steered by steam
steering gear, of approved design. and
it was maintained in the best order.
| She was also fitted with a large double
| hand wheel in the pilot house. and
with an additional apparatus at the
stern, i'm case both of the former
/ should be disabled. The steamer S
steering gear consisted of chains from
| the niger head to each quarter and
then steel wire ropes from the end of
the chains the whole length of the
| steamers steam steerer by 5-inch Ma
Mia wheel ropes of the best quality.
This Manila rope was ordered and made
| for this particular purpose. The entire
steering apparatus was daily inspected
by the captain and pilots of each
steamer. and the steering apparatus
of the Portland was inspected on
November %, 1898, and found in good
order. No repairs to the steering gear
other than change of ropes, or in minor
matters had ever been required, but
the whole apparatus was overhauled
annually and inspected daily.
| To interrogatory nineteen it says:
The basis for said allegation is the
fact that the steamer was reported to
have been seen under way on Sunday
morning. November 81, off Cape Cod,
having weathered the gale up to that
time. Later on the same day, wreck
age from both the four-masted schoon-
err called the King Philip and from
the steamer Portland is reported to
have come ashore on Cape Cod, at sub
stantially the same place and time.
! These with other facts point to
some sudden disaster to the steamer,
and suggest a possible collision be-
| tween the two vessels in the thick and
heavy weather then prevailing. The
steamer Pentagoet. which was also in
that vicinity that night, and which was
also lost, must have been going over
| somewhat the same course as the Port
land. and it is possible that they may
! nave come i'm collision. This view as
to a collision is entertained by many
experienced mariners who are ac-
| quainted with the facts attending the
loss of the steamer Portland.
To interrOgatory twenty it SAYS:
| The steamer Portland had one verti-
| cal condensing beam engine, diameter