The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-11-24
THE STEAMBOAT WAR.

Three Boats Now on the Route. The SapphO
Started ON the Route Yesterday.
The Bangor Daily News of last Saturday
announced that the end of the Bucksp0rt-
Camden steamboat war was in sight; but
things were doing that day down river and
the forecast of The News was not fulfilled.
In brief, the story was that the Maine Gen.
tral steamer Sappho was to start Monday
on what was to be a permanent route from
Bucksport to Castine, Belfast, Camden and
ROckland and return, connecting with the
morning train from Bangor over the Bucks
port branch and returning in time to con-
meet with the up train for Bangor leaving
Bucksport at 6.15 p. m. The Merryconeag
was to be withdrawn and provided with
another route; and the Mineola was also to
be withdrawn, because of notice from the
Eastern Steamship Co. that they had boats
ready to put on Capt. Archibald's Portland
and Rockland line should he persist in going
after the Eastern Co.'s business between
Bucksport and Camden. This is, in SUBJ
stance, the story told by the Daily News,
and shore gossip here was that Mr.. Kerst
was to have the engineers berth on the
Sappho.
The Merryconeag and Mineola arrived
here on the up-river trip at the usual time
Saturday afternoon, and were in collision
near Lanes wharf, the former boat having
her stem so badly damaged that she had to
go into Standpoint and lower boat to
make temporary repairs. The stories as to
how the collision occurred are conflicting,
and as it will no doubt call for an official
investigation we shall not attempt to des-
cribe it or to place the blame. Another
feature of the day was the arrival of the
Sappho. She went over the route and is
said to have returned to ROckland Saturday
evening without calling here She did not
make her appearance Monday as predicted.
The Mineola and Merryconeag arrived
Monday morning from up-river nearly at
the same time. Both boats showed the
scars of war. A scarf piece in the stem of
the MineOla is started off, the result it is
said of a collision at Camden some days ago,
while the Merryconeag's stem showed the
effect of Saturdays collision and canvass
W
where she had struck the wharf in Cam
den. Neither boat had much business, and
it was said for both boats they were in to
stay. and that the Sappho was not coming
on. Tuesday the situation was the same.
Tuesday afternoon the Maine Central
steamer Sappho went up-river to start on
the route the next morning. First to ar
rive here yesterday was the Merryconeag,
with the Mineola not far behind, and with
her colOrs flying. The two boats got away
in the same order and then at 1918 the
Sappho came up to Lewis wharf her colors
flying and brass work glistening. She is a
handsome and speedy boat. The three
boats are said to have left Bucksport to-
gether, the Sappho going to Castine and
arriving here only a few minutes behind
the others. 1t is said that this movement is
an independent one that for some time the
Maine Central has been solicited to estab-
lish a down-riger route and the officials
have decided to test the practicability of
such route; that the regular tariff rate
will be charged and no attention paid to
any other boats. The morning trains will
make stop at the steamboat wharf at
Bucksport, where a platform and waiting
room will be erected at once This will
leave the passengers within a short dis
tance of the boat. The company own a
wharf at Belfast which may be readily
adapted for use, and they have also a wharf
at Rockland. The Sappho's time table will
be found in our advertising columns.
The down-river papers are very positive
that the Eastern Steamship Co. is to take a
hand in the war. II. 7. Sanborn, the Ban
gor agent, went to Rockland Monday after
noon and met Mr. Austin, the general mana
ger, and both went up river on the boat
Tuesday morning. The representatives of
the company are not saying anything for
publication, but it is reasonable to suppose
that the Eastern Steamship Co., whose in.
terests are affected by this steamboat war
may find it necessary to do something and
the Bangor Daily News intimates that il
may be the placing of a 30knot turbine OF
the route.