The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-26
STEAMSHIP CALIFORNIAN GROUND
ED ON THE MAINE COAST.
Passengers All Safe ana the ship
Lying in Protected PIace-struck
on Ledge within Ten Minutes
After Pilot Left Her--sea Quieter.

PORTLAND, Me-, Feb. 25.-The big Al
Ian line steamship Californian. which left
her dock at midnight went ashore on
Ram island ledge. just outside the harbor.
a few minutes after her pilot left her this
morning All the passengers are safe,
though still aboard Most OF the local
seafaring men 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 yes-
sci is valued AT So 600, the cargo at $780,
600. There are six cabin. five tntermedi-
ate and ten steerage passengers. besides
crew of seventy-hve men. The cabin
passengers are Mr.. and Mrs. Patton. Mon
treal; Mr.. and Mrs. ID. W. Wilson. To-
ronto; Miss Baily, Ottawa, and Mr.. Brow
ell Esquimault, b. G.
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 a heavy rain was fall
ing. Pilot Parsons left the ship on reach
ing the bell buoy Off Cusyings island point,
after he gave the officers Of the ship the
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
This afternoon the life-saving boat from
the Cape Elizabeth life savers. seven miles
away. launched a boat and put off for the
steamer. intending to transfer the pas
sengers from the steamer to the tug Pied
mont. Some OF the women passengers de-
sired to be transferred. but, on seeing the
life-bOat pitched ana rolled, they decided
not to leave the ship.
The ship IL lying under the lee Of Ram
island on the edge and, although the
waves are breaking with great force. the
long ledge acts as a breakwater and pro-
tects the ship. The wind is now blowing
strongly from tho westward and the sea
is subsiding.
The passengers win probably be taken
off tomorrow morning without danger
and IL the sea IL smooth the work of re-
moving the cargo will commence. The
local officials feel confident that the ship
can be hoated. The conditions are now
favorable.
The Californian was bound to Glasgow
by way OF Halifax. Capt. Barclay saws
that the hold IL full OF water, the fires are
extingushed there is a heavy sea but the
passengers are perfectly safe. The cargo
Of 800 tons consists mainly of meats.
lard apples cheese and grain.
The greater part of the cargo was prob
ably insured by the consignees. II is not
known whether the ship was insured.
The steamship State OF California. now
named tho 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 Lioyds' requirements.
as well as TO comply with the demands OF
length ~ 100 feet. beam forty-six feet and
depth thlrty-two feet eight inches. Her
tonnage capacity Is 200 tons. She Is d.
vided into eight compartments, the bulk
heads OF which are all carried to the up
per deck These with the cellular double
bottom insure the greatest amount OF
safety I'm case of accident.