New-York tribune., 1900-02-26
THE CALIFORNIAN STILL SAFE.
PASSENGERS REMAIN ABOARD THE YES
Sci. ON LEDGE OFF MAINE COAST

PASSENGERS REMAIN ABOARD THE YES
SCI, ON A LEDGE OFF MAINE COAST.
Portland Me- Feb. 25-The big Allan Line
steamship Californian which left her wharf at
midnight went ashore on Ram Island Ledge luSt
outside of the harbor few minutes after her piot
left her this morning, and still remains theFe All
the passengers are safe although still aboard The
condition of the vessel tonight is uncertain MosI
Of the local seafaring are of the opinion that
the rocks have penetrated the bottom of the vessel
in several places and they doubt very much II she
can be saved
The master of the Californian is Captain John
France, one of the oldest and most capable en-
ployes of the line. There six cabin, five inter
mediate and ten steerage passengers, besides a
crew Of seventy-fve men. The cabin passengers
are Mr. and Mrs. Hatton. Montreal Mr ana MIS-
D Wilson Toronto; Miss Bailey, Ottawa, and MT
Prowell, Esquimalt B. c.
The Californian went out in charge Of Edward L.
Parsons pilot and at the time he left her the wind
was blowing hard from the southeast and was &C
companied by heavy rain. Parsons lert the snip,
on reaching the bell buoy off Cushng's Island
Point after after he had given the officers Of the
ship the correct course. Ten minutes later the
Californian was hard and fast aground on Ram
Island Ledge. This is a reef which runs out from
Ram Island and the ship had gone several points
off her course when she struck. As soon as she
struck bombs fired rockets sent up and col
ored lights were burned. The rockets were OBJ
served by the patrolmen at the Cape Elizabeth life
saving station, but on account Of the gale and
high sea they were unable to row across In their
boat and render the steamer any assistance one
of the sentinels Fort Williams, which Is directly
opposite where the steamer went ashore. teie-
phoned to the city. Soon after boat from the
Californian under the second officer, arrived, haV-
ing rowed In from Ram Island.
Captain Barclay the shore captain Of the Allan
Line chartered the ocean tug Piedmont TO go 20
the grounded steamer and render any assistance
c,,cb
the tug was compelled to come 70 anchor fully a
half mile from the steamer This forenoon the NE
saving crew at the Cape Elizabeth station seven
miles away launched boat and put off for the
steamer intending transfer the passengers from
the steamer to the tug Piedmont. Some of the
women passengers desired TO be transferred. but on
seeing the manner In which the lifeboat pitched and
rolled they decided not to leave the ship
The ship is lying under the lee of Ram Island on
the ledge and although the are breaking
with great force the long ledge acts as a break
US b1oy-inP strongly from the westward and the
probably be taken off tomorrow morning without
and ab largo If ae w Sf b bsn The @ local ocas
feel confident that the ship can ne hoateo' oo7o
this Season from this port She bound to Glas,
gov by way ~ Of II FdS at eeR sRe Her cargo is
1000 tons and was valued at S3o0,os. The vessel
" She isf Was formerly state Of California "a and 9
by Alexander SteI hens q sons on IN the iyGse
special survey and with additional strengthening
oT,er TJovds' requirements, well as TO comply
with demands Of admiralty for transport service 90
Her length is 400 feet, beam &c feet and depth ~
feet 6 Inches Her tonnage capacity is 500 tons
She is divided into eight compartments the I buk-
heads of which all carried TO the upper decks
These with the cellular double bottom insure the
greatest amount of safety in case OF accideht ne
sion type capable Of propeing the ship at an aver
age speed of fourteen knots an nour ne anu
Man Is a counterpart of the Parisian of the same
line
Halifax Feb 2.-The Californian was due here to-
morrow to embark mails and passengers for Liver
nool Her last trip from Liverpool to Portland by
NOV, of HaIifax was under contract with the Elder
Dempster Line to carry the Canadian mails, on ac-
count of the regular Elder -Dempster poaI htNi"s
been requsitioned for transport