The Portland daily press., 1900-02-26
WHAT CAPTAIN HAND SAYS.

"Ihey appeared cool ami collected so
that from their example not the least
alarm or excitement was felt am ong the
passengers. am sure that the Califor-
uian W IN be all right. Without doubt
the most of her cargo can be saved.
don't think that there 10 any fear that
shs will pound upon the rocks. went
aboard the steamer with Captain Barclay
but did not have any conversation with
any Of the passengers"
After the Piedmont had left the scene
OF the wreck, the Californian was iett
alone There was some talk during the
afternoon that one or two tugs would
go out. This proved, however, to be oniy
talk for all Of the tugs remained &C tnsir
docks In the harbor.
CROWDS SEE STRANDED SHIP.
The startling news of the grounding OF
the Californian aroused the utmost inter-
est throughout the city aud sii day hun
dreds of people throngsd the Cape shore to
view the big ocean liner % she lay per-
fectly helpless In the surgiug waves be-
tween the shore and Ham island ledge.
TIE view was fine one and the steamer
could be easily distinguished. Early In
tho morning the people began to 60 out
to the Caps and the crowds OF sightseers
increased mp to the close Of the afternoon
and the Portland & Cape Elizabeth rail-
road company did fiourishing business.
the greatest By far In any one lay since
this road has started. All available oars.
even open cars, were run by the SCORE and
even then the accommodations were
hardly ample for the throng Of sightsesrs.
Every car was simply jammed with
men, women and children who brsved
the cold wind to view the strange sight.
and tho platforms Of the cars were Jsm-
med and many were banging on oy
"the tips OF their fingers to the railinga
In several instances toys and young men
were 30 anxious to get 10 the Cape that
they climbed on the tops Of the cars.
The ma nag ment Of the road early saw
that there were far from enough cars on
the Cape division to come anywhere near
accommodating the crowds. Then the
oars of tbs Portland city line were at
once pressed into service, thsre being
Congress street cars, Middle street cars
and Spring street cars running on the
Caps division. 1t was believed that re-
sorting to suoh course would be sufh-
oisnt but the calculations in this direc-
ton were not satisfactory. More cars,
however, could not be transferred from
the city line but the management perse-
vered and bsfore the forenoon had far ad-
vnnoed opsn cars we're brought out to do
seryioe. The 81 sht of open oars running
for service sesmed indeed q novel one for
Portland IL the wintry month OF Bsbru-
airy. This IS something that has never
occurred before In this city. but the peo-
pie In these cars did not seem to mind
this incon vsnience In the least, judging
by the eager manner In which they made
O rush for these eleotrios.
The yerandahs OF the big casino build
ing OF the railroad company at Portland
Head were crowded oil day while the
extensive grounds surrounding were
fairly black with people. At noon u
conservative sstima to placed tbs number
of people who werv ON this spot at about
a,oC0 while In the afternoon this number
was at least more than doubled. Included
In the mum Der were many with the handy
camera, These artists did some great
hustling but few of them were at oil sue
oessful as the distance was rather 800
great TO obtain q satisfactory view.
THE LIFE SAVING CREW.
The most prominent event Of tbs day
at the ossipo was the departure of this
crew of life saving men for the soene OF
tho wreck. They were from the Cape
Elizabeth Life Saving station and as
soon as they heard OF the accident they
made preparations to do whatever might
Icy In their power to aid the big steamer.
Captain Sumner N. Dyer was in charge
of this crew and he had with him six
men, Joseph l.. Staples, George Staples,
Samuel Alexander. Woodbury. Pillshury,
Jesse Barker and james Parker One OF
the large life boats Of the station was
selected for the purpose and William
Maxn ell and Gilbsrs Jordan who live
near the Two Lights volunteered their
services to help the crew. Maxwell and
Jordan furnished two pairs Of horses and
couple sets of heavy trucks on which
to place tne row pOht- No tsAho was ASSe
and as soon as the toat had been placed
90 the trucks tho start for the casino was
commenced. mir. Jordan handled the
reins and the horses kept up good pace
ell the way from the life saving station
to the casino with the men running
along and easily keeping up with the
| team.
The team and the sailors attired In
their neat blue uniforms reached the
casino grounds at inst 10 40 O'Clock and
we're at once an object Of curiosity to the
Immense Gro wd. Captain Dyer took a
hurried look at the situation and at first
decided that the boat should be taken
down in front OF the casino and launched
from there. But when tbs team reaohsd
| the front Of the casino Captain Dyer
wisely concluded that this plan should not
be carried out. There was not the slight
eat chance that the horses could be driven