The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-26
CALIFORNIAN ASHORE.
Big Ocean Liner Fast on the
Rocks.

Portland, Me, Feb. 26.-The big Allan
line steamship Californian, went ashore
on Ram island ledge, just outside the
harbor, few minutes after her pilot
left her Sunday morning. All the pas
sengers are safe, although still aboard.
Most of the local sea-faring men are OF
the opinion that the rocks have penetra-
ted the bottom of the vessel in several
places, and they doubt very much il
she can be saved. The vessel is valued
at 100000; the cargo, $500, 900. There
are six cabin, five intermediate and ten
steerage passengers, beside a crew of
rs men. The cabin passengers are Mr..
and Mrs. Patton, Montreal: Mr.. and
Mrs. D. Wilson, Toronto; Miss Bailey,
Ottawa; and Mr.. BroweIl, Esquimalt,
B. c.
The Californian was In charge of Pr
lot Edward L. Parsons. and at the time
he left her, the wind was blowing hard
from the southeast and was accompa-
MED at the time by heavy rain. Pilot
Parsons left the ship on reaching the
bell buoy off Cushing's island point, af
ter he gave 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.
DuT14B the forenoon the lie saving
boat from the Cape Elizabeth life saw
ers, seven miles away, launched a boat
and put off for the steamer, intending
to 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 life boat pitched and roll
ed, they decided not to leave the ship.
The ship is lying under the lee of
Ram island, on the ledge, and although
the waves are breaking with great
force, the long ledge acts as a breakwa-
ter and protects the ship. The wind is
now blowing strongly from the west
ward, and the sea is rapidly SubSiding.
The passengers will probably be taken
off tomorrow morning without danger,
and, if the sea is smooth, the work of
removing the cargo will commence. The
local officials feel confident that the
the ship themselves. Today there is q
westerly wind and the conditions are
favorable.
The Californian was bound to Glas-
gov, by way of Halifax. Captain Bare
lay says that the hold is full of water.
the fires are extinguished, there is q
heavy sea. and the passengers are per-
fectly safe. A full manifest of the
cargo of 5000 tons cannot be obtained
before tomorrow. The principal items
include $500 boxes of meats, 5000 pieces
of fresh meats, 1900 pals of lard, 1000
barrels of apples, 1000 boxes of cheese,
and a large consignment of grain and
general cargo.
The greater part of the cargo was
probably insured by the consignees. 1t
is not known whether the ship was in
sured.
The steamship State of California,
now named the Californian, was built on
the Clyde and launched in 1891. She is
built of milled steel, is class AL in
Lloyd's special survey, and with addi-
tional Strengthening over Lloyd'S re-
oIIirementS as we'll as to comply with
demands of admiralty for transport SER
vice. Her length is 400 feet, beam 46
feet. and depth 80 feet. 8 inches. Her
tonnage capacity is $500 tons She is
divided into eight compartments. the
bulkheads of which are all carried to
the upper decks. These, with the cellu-
lar double bottom, insure the greatest
amount of safety in case of accident.