The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-08-04

Lest they forget, it might be we'll to
have extracts from the report OF the
wrecking of the steamship Rockland
epgrossed and hung on the walls of
the officers quarters of all other pas
senger-carrying vessels ''Not pas
senger of the 400 was injured. The
general opinion of the passengers was
that perfect discipline aboard among
the officers and crew avoided what
otherwise might have been fearful
sea tragedy. The officers ordered
She passengers to put on life preservers,
which were found to be plentiful and
of excellent quality. The side life
boats and four life-rafts were got in
readiness. Capt. Pierce gave
orders that none but women and chill
dren should enter the boats, which
were quickly filled" Such mastery
command in time of peril robs wreck
at sea of half it's terror, and goes to
prove that imperfect equipment and In
efficiency on the part of officers and
crew are often responsible for shocking
loss of life-Boston Herald.
We are glad to see that the conduct
of the officers and crew at the time Of
the accident to the steamer City of
Rockland is generally commended; and
their GOODNESS and prompt action in
providing for the safety of the passen-
gers certainly presents a strong con-
trast to the mad confusion and horrible
scenes attending the Slocum disaster.
We are glad also to note that no one
competent to judge has any fault to
ind with those navigating the steamer.
There are no more competent or eX-
perienced men engaged i'll navigation
anywhere than those on our Boston
steamers today, and this is also true of
their predecessors, as the writer can
personally testify from fifty or more
years experience This is also proved
by the comparatively few accidents.
none Of them that we recall attended
by loss of life. Many times we have
known passengers to find fault because
of the caution which held the steamers
in port or at anchor when they were
anxious to reach their destination
Captains and pilots have invariably
been men of experience and in times of
danger have, as in the present case,
proved equal to every emergency.
There is more or less fog in the sum-
ner season, when travel by boat is the
heaviest, and it is to meet the public
demand that the boats continue their
trips in thick weather. We often read
in the Boston papers of dense fog
prevailing at that port when many
steamers remain at sheir wharves, but
the Maine boats proceeded as usual"
In view of the dangers that threaten
them the wonder is that there have
been so few accidents. The first point
to be made in coming east is the whist
ling buoy off Monhegan, and once on
the old Katahdin we were four hours
working about before we made it. Then
the writer turned in, feeling as safe as
in his own home while the steamer ran
for White Head and made her way
through the Musselridges. There are
frequent changes in the course here
and nice calculation is required when
the boat is running at reduced speed to
figure the time for covering the re-
quired distance; and allowance must
also be made for tidal currents and the
set of the sea. These naturally vary
somewhat, as in the case of heavy
storms. When the Cambridge was
wrecked on Old Man ledge deviation
Of a few feet would have carried her
clear, and this is also true of the acct
dent to the City of Rockland. In
neither case should any blame be at
tached to the officers. They did all
that men could do; and many hundred
times they had taken the boats safely
over the same route under equally adj
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