The Portland daily press., 1900-02-26


AZ about O'Clock the tug Piedmont
with Capt. barclay and Capt 6iiffths
on board, made her way out TO the strand
ed ship. The tug had on board Capt.
Parsons, the pilot and the boats crew Of
the Californian which had brought the
news Of the ships position In shore. The
boat was towed astern and was used In
reaching the stranded ship. The tug
Bsiknap accompanied the Piedmont to
the scene. The big tug was run out
through white Head passage and then
around under the lee of Ram island to
within @ quarter of q mile OF the Call
fcrnian. Altar some signalling the life
boat astern was manned and Captains
Barclay and Griffiths SGT of for the ship.
They boarded her With little difficulty
and found that everything was going as
veil on board as could be expected. There
was about six or eight feet OF water In
the ships holds, but the passengers
were comfortable and did not seem to be
ut Gil alarmed and refused 60 leave the
ship. There was nothing that oonld be
done with suoh heavy SEA running
outside so 1t was deemed best not to at
tempt to take the passengers from the
ship. Abont Q O'Clock In the afternoon
when. the tide turned, the ship swung
a little in shore, but her bow 10 held
firmly and secure on tho rocks. There
Is only one wind which can possibly do
her much injury and that is southwest
gale. From all other points Of the COM
Ia. nd n Hnuth-
west wind cannot work her much injury.
The tide had Just begun to flow when
the Californian went on the rocks and
the officials of the line have great hopes
that thsy win Be able to remove the car
go Oh part Of 1t and so float the ship.
ALI last night the wind was blowing
from the west and the heavy sea which
was running from the southeast was rap
Idly knocked down so that at midnight
It ives not nearly as rough OF Portland
Isad rs 1t was In the morning.
MAY HAUL HER OFF.
The officials Of the Allan line have
sent to Boston for wreoking material and
1t will arrive here some time this morn
ing. 1t IL then proposed to remove the
passen gers from the ship and try to pull
her of the rocks ut high tide. Ii this
cannot Ne done tho cargo will be re-
moved II. lighters II possible and another
attempt will tie. made to save the ship.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIP.
The steamship estate of California,
now named the Californian" was
launched from the yards OF Messr5. Alex
auder Stephens & sons, on the Clyde.
near Glasgow, January 80, 1891 She is
built of IN lid steel, is GLASS A In Lloyds
speoial survey, and with additional
strengthening over Lloyds requirements
as well as 20 comply With demands Of ad-
NJ iralty for transport service, Her length
IS 400 feet, beam AZ feet and ceoth ~
feet 8 inches. Her tonnage capacity In
b,8oO tons draw. The vessel Is divided
into eight compartments, tire bulkhsais
Of which are all carried to the upper
decks. these, with the cellular double
bottom. ensures the greatest amount OF
safety in case of accident. The engines
are Of the latest high pressure triple
expansion type capable of propslling the
ship at an average speed Of IA knots
per hour and reaching 10 knots 10 tine
weather.
The cabin accommodations are situated
near the middle Of the vessel where there
Is least motion, are capable Of sccommo-
dating 1G0 passengers. abe decoration Of
the saloon and other public apartments
IL In polished hard woods. and the COM
binstions ara exceedingly chasts and
effective. The music room is panelled
in satin wood birch and sycamore, and
upholstered In Gobelin tapestry. The
main saloon is In figured walnut and
birch, with upholstery in Moquets.
The ladies' cabin is IN TyneoaStls TAP
estry paneliing, and silk tapestry up
holstery, and the smoking room, staircase
and entrance hall are in different COM
binations of mahogany. oak and walnut.
The staterooms are all In white enamel.
and upholstered In rad velvet.
WISHING THE STRANDED SHIP.
The officials OF the Allan line soon after
they had become convinced that the Cali
fornian had been grounded set a5out to
provide means to get TO their ill-fatei
vessel as soon as possible. After consider
able effort in this direction they snoossd =
ed In engaging the tug Piedmont which
had arrived at this port from baltimore
a few days ago towing GOAL barge. Cap
tain Seth Hand OF this tug was seen by
the officials and agreed ct daylight. to 60
as fan as possible to the soene of the
wreck.
Consequently early yesterday morning
Captain Barclay and Assistant Captain
Grifiths of the line and Pilot Parsons
who had shown the steamer her oourse
on Saturday evening were on hand at the
wharf where the tug was lying Captain
Hand and his crsw were ready to start
and within a few minutes the tug left
her dock for The scene. The vicinity OF
Ram leland ledge was soon reached and
he tug anohoyed about 500 feet away
from the steamer. 1hen this life boat