Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-12
IN FIVE FATHOMS.
Steamer wi||iamsport Cut
Down on Pollock Rip.
Struck by Barge in Tow Going in
the Opposite Direction.
Crew Saved-Crew of Barge Paxinos
Have Narrow Escape.

L l.
steamer Williamsport of the Philadel.
phia & Reading Coal Co. was sunk or
/ Pollock Rip, by collision with a bargc
in tow of tug Plymouth, at $50 this
morning. and now lies a total wreck
! Just out of track of vessels going over
the shoals.
The Williamsport, Capt. Leonard
Godfrey, was bound from Philadelphia
for Portland, with coal and with the
barge PaXinos in tow. The tug Ply
mouth was going to the westward. hav-
ing left Boston. yesterday, for Port
johnson with Central Railroad of New
Jersey barges Nos. T. s and 10 in tow.
1t is understood that the last barge in
the tow was the one in collision with
the Williamsport.
According to Capt. Godfreys state
ment the Williamsport was running up
Pollock Rip channel and was close in
towards the channel buoy. For some
minutes the lights of the Plymouth
were seen, but Capt. Godfrey believed
that she would clear his vessel The
position of the Williamsport was such
at that time that her course could not
be altered.
Capt. Godfrey says the steamers
cleared each other by narrow margin.
but the last barge in the Plymouth s
string crashed into the Williamsport on
the port bow. The hole was a large one
and the water poured in. Capt. Godfrey,
realizing his vessel was doomed, head
ed her for shore with all the steam he
had, but in 20 minutes the engine room
was flooded. The fires went out and
the steamer lost Roadway. The boats
were lowered and everybody left, row.
ing to the Pollock Rip lightship.
About five minutes after the boats
got clear, the Williamsport went down
in five fathoms of water. From the
lightship Capt. Godfrey and his crew
went to the tug International of the
Philadelphia & Reading Line, which
also was coming over the shoals with a
tow of barges. The International an
chored her barges and Immediately
sailed for the westward to land the
men Of the Williamsport.
The barge PaxinOs. which was in tow
of the Williamsport, went ashore on
Pollock Rip right after the collision.
Capt. Smith of that craft. on seeing the
barge strike the steamer, cast off his
hawser and let go his anchors. But he
did not get the hooks down quick
enough and the Paxinos settled lightly
on the shoal. The crew of the barge
came very near being lost. The sea
was very rough and the men got thor
loughly frightened until all. Capt. Smith
and four men, took to the small boat.
This was just after daybreak, when
- ~ 80
seen the wreck. had started from the
beach for the barge.
The Paxinos' boat shipped water and
with difficulty was kept afioat until the
life boat was within hailing distance.
Then Capt. Smith called out to Capt.
Ellis of the Monomoy crew: Come
and save u.s. The rescue was none
too soon. for the small boat was nearly
full of water and the men had nothing
with which to bail.
The Monomoy crew was in charge of
Capt. Ellis, the sole survivor of the
crew from this station, which tried to
rescue five men from the barge Wa
dena, last month. The crew went or
board the Paxinos. and with the rising
tide got her afoat AMI worked her into
= safe anchorage to the west OF the
Handkerchief lightship. She was placed
| in company with the barges Coleraine
Franklin and Bnookside, which the I'LL
terratiOnl had left.
The Plymouth continued On 10 tina
westward, as the barge which was IL
collision did not appear to have been
badly damaged.
! The position of the Williamsport is
| given as northwest u north, two miles
from Pollock Rip. Her deck house.
are in sight at low tide, but it is be-
lieved here that she will be a total loss.
| The steamer was one of the finest
Golfers in the coastwise service. She
was built at Philadelphia in 1874 an.
was of 1888 gross tonnage. Her length
was 242 feet, breadth AZ, and depth 26.6.
The Paxinos remains at anchor west
of Handkerchief at dark, apparently
uninjured; also barges Coleraine,
Franklin and Brookside