The Portland daily press., 1900-02-26


to passenger business as any Of the 9TH
srs OF the tset, being not especially built
for freight traffic.
This was the third trip that she had
made from this port during the season.
She was bound to Glasgow by the way
Of Halifax. The lastsr part OF last week
she arrived In Portland. The cargo
which she took Yves Of about 5000 tons,
and was valued at about $50. 600. IL
was made ap mostly OF products and
large amount of oheese There were
aboard elk cabin, Eve intermediate and
ten steersge passengers, all Of whom
we're from Canada. The duplicate list
Of the passengers was left at the Office Of
the Allan lins at this port 90 that 1t Ia
impossible to learn any Of the names.
The master. Of the Californian was
Capt. John France, one of the Oldest and
most capable employees of the line.
SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.
At daylight as fierce gale was blow
ing rs any which has been known this
season. The harbor was very rough and
big seas were breaking against the piers
and sending showers Of sprn over them.
IL was raining hard and was altogether
a most uncomfortable morning. buJ Its
dawniug was welcomed with delight. by
not only the passengers of the stranded
| Californian, but by the scores OF persons
along the water front VINO were anxious
| to get to the scene Of the accident. Hard
ly had the first grey ssreaks Of dawn sp-
peared when the tow boats began to eight
their way out Of the harbor towards
Ram Island ledge. The PRESS reporters
were fortunate in finding at the Randall
81 McAilister's dock ths strong and
staunoh tug SeRuin from the Kennebec,
which was commanded by Capt. Colby
of Bath. The master Of this tug was fast
asleep when the reporters made their up
pssrancs and told him the story OF the
night. He was prompt to act. 81 may
not be able to do anything" said he. sin
| the face Of the gale which IS now blow
| log, but II there is any danger to the
passengers perhaps could be OF some as
sistance We will 60 out when IL grows
little lighter"
backed out of the dock and headed to-
wards the mouth OF the barber. AS soon
| as she had cleared the dock she began to
dive into the heavy ssas and to cover her
self with showers of spray. She kept on
her course towards the breakwater and
as she approached 1t the sea became
rouRher and the sssunoh Ssguin made
prstty heavy weather Of It, At the end
Of the Grand Trunk dock was the iron
| hv
ConsolidatedSosl company She had steam
up and was prepared to go to the scene
of the accident with Capt. Barclay and
Capt. 9riGiths of the Allan line. The
Seguin kept on her way aud ran out ship
channel towards Portland Head. The
| big oombers were breaking clear over
the end of the breakwater and over Fort
| preb,e. The peiut on Cushiug's leland
was almost hidden by foam and over the
island could he sseu the foam thrown up
by the big treaksrs ss they dashed them
selves to lisoes on the rocks The gale
continued TO increase and the barometer
steadily dropped until it reached point
at 2s 6, three points lower than it has
been at any time this winter. This in-
jicated a change In The weather and
| Capt Colby predicted that the wind
would coon haul around into the west
and this prediction was later verified.
AS Pc, tlsnd Head was reared the Seguin
was going into the ses all over, but was
making mighty good weather OF it for
ell that. Just before Portland Head Was
reached tho Californian was made out
ovsr the point of Cushing's island.
WHERE THE SHIP LIES.
Ram island 10 southeast OF Cushins's
island and about mile from 1t. From
the southern end Of Ram island long
ledge runs OFF in south westerly aireo-
lion towards the Cape shore, and about
a nile and o half from Portland Head
light, The bell buoy where Capt. Parsons
left the Californian, Ia a little less than
quarter of mile to the south of the
rolnt on Cushing's Inland and from this
bell buoy the Ram island ledge lies al
most due east and about a Tile di.taDt.
The usual oouIss for the ships leaving
Portland bound 80 the eastward ia to run
out between Witch Rock. which is TWO
miles from Cushing's island and two
miles east ty south from Portland Head
snd Ram Island. The pilot left the ship
1T the hell buoy eff Gust iug's island
and probably gave course to the captaiD
Of the Californian somewhere about east
southeast. The explanation which has
heen given by some mariners who have
DISCUSSED the matter is that the Cslitor-
nlan ran on In this direction until the
breakers on Witch Rock were seen ahead.
The wird was Blowing a gale from the
southeast ard when the ship vas stopped
and hs oked she made stern wny rapid
liy towards the northeast to the RAM ISL
and ledge. before it YVES realized the ship
was anong the rocks Of the Ram isl
! and ledge and struck urst on the quarter.
! Then che swung around with the wind
and struck again on the bow and held
fast and the storm swung clear. The
ship now lies parallel with the ham i'll