The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-26
ON RAM ISLAND LEDGE
STEAMSHIP CALIFORNIA ASHORE In
A DANGEROUS PLACE.
Ninety People Aboard, but I'm No I'M
mediate Danger-The Vessel and
Cargo Valued at $3,3OO,OOO.

PORTLAND, Me-. Feb 25.-The big Allan
line steamship Californian, which left her
dock at midnight. went ashore on Ram
island ledge, just outside of the harbor, a
few minutes after her pilot left her this
morning. All the passengers are safe. al
though still aboard. Most of the local sea-
faring men are of opinion that the rocks
have penetrated the bottom of the vessel
in several places, and they doubt very
much if she can be saved. The vessel is
valued at s3.O0O.OOO. The cargo is valued
at $3O0,000 There are six cabin, five inter-
mediate and ten steerage passengers be-
sides crew of seventy-five men. The
cabin passengers are Mr.. and Mrs. Patton.
of Montreal; Mr.. and Mrs. d. Wilson. OF
Toronto: Miss Bailey, of Ottawa, and Mr..
Browell, of Esquimalt, B. C.
The Californian was in charge of Pilot
Edward l.. Parsons, and at the time he
left her the wind was blowing hard from
the southeast and was accompanied by
heavy rain. Pilot Parsons left the ship
on reaching the bell buoy off Cushing $
island point after he gave the officers OF
the ship the correct course. Ten minutes
later the Californian was hard and fast
aground 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.
This forenoon the life-savine boat from
the Cape Elizabeth life station, seven
miles away, launched a boat and put of
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 boats pitched
and rolled they decided not to leave the
ship.
The ship is lying under the lee of Ram
island on the edge, and, although the
waves are breaking with great force the
long ledge acts a breakwater and pro-
tects the ship. The wind is now blowing
strongly from the westward 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 COM
mence. The local officials feel confident
that the ship can be fioated. They will
wreck the ship themselves. Tonight there
is westerly wind and the conditions are
favorable.
The Californian was bound to Glasgow
by way Of Halifax. Captain Barclay says
that the hold is full of water, the fires are
extinguished, there is a heavy sea and the
passengers are perfectly safe. A full mani
fest Of the cargo of 1900 tons cannot be
obtained before tomorrow. The principal
items include $500 boxes of meats, 5000
pieces of fresh meats, 100 pals of lard
1000 barrels of apples. 16O0 boxes of cheese
and a large consignment of grain and gen.
eral cargo. The greater part of the cargo
was probably insured by the c0nsignees
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 Lloyds
special survey, and with additional
strengthening over Lloyds' requirements
as well to comply with demands of the
Admiralty for transport service. Her
length is 400 feet, beam 46 feet and depth
81 feet 8 inches. Her tonnage capacity
Is $500 tons. She is divided into eigh,
compartments. the bulkheads of which are
all carried to the upper decks. These, with
the cellular double bottom, insure the
greatest amount of safety in case of acct
dent.