Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-26
ON THE ROCKS.
Allan Steamer Californian
Ashore in Portland Harbor.
Strikes Ram Island Ledge, in the
Storm, Early Sunday Morning.
Passengers and Crew Sa!c-Doubs as 10
Saving The vessel

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 of
the harbor Il few minutes after her
pilot left her. this morning The mas
ter of the Californian is Capt. John
France, one of the oldest and most
capable employees of the line.
The Californian was in charge of
Pilot Edward L. Parsons. one Of the
abl"St in the service. The wind was
blowing hard from the southeast. and
was accompanied at the time by heavy
rnin. There was a heavy sea running.
Pilot Parsons left the ship on reach
ing the bell buoy off Cushing's Island
point. after he gave the officers of the
ship the correct course. Within ~
minutes after the Californian was hard
and fast aground on Ram Island ledge.
This is a reef which runs out from
Ram island. For some reasons which
has not yet been satisfactorily explain
cd. the ship had gone several points
off her course when she struck.
AS soon as she struck bombs were
fired. rockets sent up and colorel lights
burned. The rockets We're observed by
the patrolmen at the CAPE Elizabeth life
saving station. but on account Of the
severe gale ana high sea they We're un-
able to TOW across in their boat and
render the steamer any assistance.
one Of the sentinels at Fort Williams,
which is directly opposite where the
= aGhnra rn'AnlnntI the
affair to the city. Pilot Parsons also
saw the rockets when returning TO the
city and brought in word az soon as
POSSIBLE.
Soon after boat from the cali
fprnian commanded by the second Off
Ger arrived. having rOwed in from
Ram island. Captain Barclay. the
shore captain of the Allan Line. and
Mr.. Wainwright, the general manager.
we're Immediately notified. Capt. Bar
clay chartered the ocean tug Piedmont
t. 20 to the grounded steamer and
render any ass stance poss BILE. on going
outside. such a heavy sea was encoun-
tered that tie tug was compelled to
come 10 anchor fully a half from the
steamer
About 10 o'clock this forenoon. the
i'it ~bNlilE bpIt from lIlt' dI'S IIllZd-
eth life saving station arrived on
trucks at Fort Williams a distance Of
about seven mile from the station.
Til" life savers 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
l.
cd they decided not to leave the ship.
Most of the local seafarinE men are
# the opinion that the rocks have pen
etrated the bottom Of the vessel in sew
cral places and they doubt very much
If she can be saved. Several Of tho
compartments are fun Of water. which
had risen To such height in the fire
room that the fires beneath the boilers
have been cXtinguished
Capt. Barclay says that the hold is
full Of water. the fires are cXtinEuish-
or. there is a heavy sea. ana tn" pas
S0nccrs are perfectly safe. They elect
~ not to u" transferred.
Tn" ship is laying under the lee of
Ram island and the ledge. and al
though the waves are breaking with
great force. the ledge acts as a break
water and protects the ship. which is
laying motionlcss and setting as easy
as though anchored. The wind is now
blowing strongly from the westward
and the sea is rapidly subsiding.
The passengers Will probably b.
taken off, tomorrow morning. without
danger. If the sra is smooth, Monday,
the work Of moving the cargo will at
once commence. The local officials
feel confident that the ship can BE-
loated. although in a damaged condi
ton. They will wreck the ship them |
selves. At O'Clock tonight. there is a
westerly wind and the conditions are
favorable.
This was the third trip the Califor- |
MIA has made this season. from this |
port She was bound to Glasgow by
way Of Halifax. She arrived in Port |
land. the latter part of last week. Her |
cargo is about 3o00 tons and is valued |
at $500. 600 A full manifest cannot be |
obtained before tomorrow. but ut the |
Allan office it was ascertained that the |
items include $500 boxes Of
meats. 5000 pieces of fresh meats, 1900 |
pals Of lard, 1000 barrels Ct apples,
1860 boxes Of cheese, and large con-
signment of grain and general cargo. |
The greater part Of the cargo was |
probably insured by the consignees. |
It is not known whether the ship was
insured.
There are six cabins. five interm"di-
ltc and ten stecrage passengers beside |
\ crew of % men. The cabin pass n |
gers are Mr.. and Mrs. HattCn, Montrc-
al: Mr. and Mrs. d Wilson, Toronto;
Miss Bailey. ottawa, and Mr.. BroWelI,
T.. c. 1t is impossible TO
secure the names Of the others as there
re only two lists. one in possession Of
he personnel of the ship and the other
n the mails for Montreal.
The steamship State Of California,
,ov named the Californian, was
a,inchcd from the yards of Messrs.
Alexander Stephens & Sons, on the
1vde. near Glasgow. Jan. y. 1891. She
: bxilt Of mild steel. is class Al, IN
lovds' speciaI survey, and with addl-
ional strengthening over Lloyds' re-
,iremcnts as wei as to comply win
demands of admiralty for transport
ervice Her length is 400 feet; beam,
ICoptinucd on page 81