Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-08-04
ON ROCKS TO STAY.
Freight Steamer BIaamanden
on White Point Lodges.
Cargo May Be Saved, but Ship Will
Be Total Loss.
Captain Was 100 Miles Out of Course
His Last Voyage.

Halifax. n. S., Aug. 3.-With her for
ward compartments filled with water
and great hole in her bottom amid
ships. the big freight steamer Blaaman-
den. Capt Amundsen, from HAMBURG
for Philadelphia. with a general cargo
is on the rocks at White Point lodges
in very dangerous position, and will
probably prove a total loss. 1t is
thought that the cargo will be saved
but there is very little hope of ever
| getting the steamer Off
The Blaamanden left Hamburg, July
20, and met with considerable bad
weather throughout the way over, but
no mishap occurred until about l O'Clock
| Saturday morning, when the steamer
went on the lodges during a dense fog
and remained there. The weather was
quite calm at the time and the lives OF
those on board were not imperilled in
any way. When the steamer began to
make water rapidly the captain de-
cided to launch the boats for fear that
she might slide off the rocks and go
down. The two passengers and the
| crew We're transferred to the boats
and they stood bf until daylight.
| The first officer and the passengers
proceeded to Canso, five miles distant,
and reported the wreck. The New
York agents were notified at once, and
| instructions were received to forward
the passengers by rail to New York
The passengers were Mrs. Moffatt Of
New York, and Mr.. Grey of Elizabeth,
N. ]. The crew went on board of the
steamer again and remained there
The captain was on the bridge at the
time and remained there. The sound
| ings were made continually. 1t is stat
ed that the lookout sighted Land
ahead" five minutes before the steamer
went on the rocks. The captain then
altered his course, and the steamer was
proceeding at ordinary speed. when she
went on the lodges and remained hard
and fast. Capt. Amundsen thought at
| first that the steamer was on Sable Is
land. He was over 100 miles out of his
course. and he is at a loss to know
how he got in such a position.
The captain feels the loss, of the
steamer very keenly as this was his
last voyage. He intended engaging
in business in New York with Capt.
Owe Lange. The cargo in the forehold
consists principally of kainite, while
the after compartments are filed with
dry goods. glass and liquors
The Costa steamer City of Client,
which arrived here, this morning,
sighted the stranded Blaamanden, Sat
urday morning, four miles off Canso.
Capt. McNiven bore down on the
steamer and sent a boats crew with
the first officer and purser, to offer
assistance to Capt. Amundsen, but as
there was no immediate danger the
captain declined the offer with thanks
and the Chen proceeded on her way
to Halifax. The officers of the Client
state that the steamer is on the rocks
| to stay.
She is resting on the lodges amid
ships. with a heavy list to port. and
her bow under water almost to the
rail. The cargo in the after holds is
dry and at low tide the stern of the
steamer is out of water. They think
| that big jagged rock has pierced the
steamers bottom and that is what is
holding her on the lodges in such a
position The wrecking steamer AK
| with divers, pumps and gear left Hall
| fax, early this morning, and as soon
as she reaches the scene, the work of
removing the cargo will be commenced.
The steamer Cacouna has also sailed
| for Canso. and her owners have in
structed the captain to render any as
sistance possible.
| A dispatch from Canso, this evening.
states that there is heavy southeast
sea now running at the scene of the
wreck. and that it is a difficult mat
ter to board the steamer. She is in
. very exposed position. and if the sea
increases she will probably go to
pieces.
| White Point lodges are on the ex-
| treme eastern end of the Nova Scotia
| coast. 100 nils from Halifax and about
| five miles from Canso. These lodges
| have been responsible for many wrecks
and much loss of life. Only last March
| the British steamer Tiber struck the
same Lodges. 100 yards west of where
the Blaamanden lies, and went to the
bottom with her captain and crew OF
q men. Not one of their bodies was
ever recovered.
The Yarmouth tug Malcolm Cam,
which was at the wreck. this afternoon,
nut into Canso, tonight, and reported
that the engine room of the Blaamen-
den was flooded and that the pumps
had stopped working. The cargo Is
valued at about $4,000.