The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-26


PORTLAND, Me, Feb. 25.-The big Al
her dock at midnight, went ashore on
Ram Island Ledge, just outside of the
harbor, few minutes after her pilot left
her, this morning. All the passengers are
safe, although still aboard. Most Of the
local seafaring men are of the opinion
that the rocks have penetrated the bot
tom of the vessel in several places, and
they doubt very much If she can be
saved. The vessel is valued at $3,000,000;
the cargo at s3oo,ooo There are six cabin.
five intermediate and ten steerage pas
sengers, besides a crew Of seventy-five
men. The cabin passengers are: Mr. and
Mrs Patton, Montreal; Mr.. and Mrs. D.
Wilson, Toronto; Miss Bailey, Ottawa,
and Mr.. Browell, Esqulmault, B. c.
The California was In charge Of PHO,
Edward T. Parsons, and at the time he
left her the wind was blowing hard from
the southwest, and was accompanied at
the time by a heavy rain.
PILOT LEFT THE WHEEL.
Pilot Parsons left the ship on reaching
the bell buoy off Cushings Island Point,
after he gave the officers of the ship the
correct course. Ten minutes later the
California 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.
This morning the life-saving boat from
the Cape Eddy life-saving station, sew
eral miles away, launched boat and put
off for the steamer, intending to trans
fer 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 rolled. 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 breakwater and pro-
tects the ship,
The wind is now blowing strongly from
the westward, and the sea is rapidly SUBJ
siding
PASSENGERS SAFE.
The passengers will probably be taken
off tomorrow morning, without danger.
and, If the sea is smooth, the work of re.
moving the cargo will commence. The
local officers of the company think the
ship can be. floated. They Will wreck tbs
ship. themselves.
Tonight there is a westerly wind and
the conditions are favorable.
The California was bound for Glasgow,
~,
that the hold is full of water, the fires
are extinguished; there is a heavy sea,
and the passengers are perfectly safe. A
full list of the cargo of 5000 tons cannot
be obtained until tomorrow. The princi-
pal items include $500 boxes of meat; Geo
pieces of fresh meat, !, 200 pals of lard,
1000 barrels Of apples 1,600 boxes OF
cheese and 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 insured.
The steamship State of California, now
named the California, was built on the
Clyde, and launched in 1891. She Is built
of nilled steel, is ciassA l at Lloyd's
ship survey, and with additional-strength-
ening over Lloyd's requirements, as well
as to comply with demands of the adj
niralty for transport service. Her length
is 400 feet, beam 48 feet and depth 50 feet
8 inches. Her tonnage capacity Is $500
tons. She Is divided into eight compart.
ments, the bulkheads of which are all
carried to the upper decks These, with
the cellular double bottom, insure the
g1 eatest amount of safety in case of ac-
cident.