Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-27
SAFE ENTRY.
CONTINUED from page ~

no panic. The passengers were pro-
vided with life preservers and the boats
were lowered at once the discipline be-
ing perfect. More than hundred pas
sengers were transferred to these boats
and landed at Ash island, about 400 or
500 feet from the scene of the wreck.
These were picked up by the Morse af-
ter she had removed the larger num-
Der remaining on board the City of
Rockland.'
Purser Robert E. Coombs says that the
City of Rockland struck twice. lie de-
scrbes the accident as follows:
THE City of Rockland left Boston on
schedule time last evening. 1t was
beautiful night The fog did no; set in
until between l and . this morning. AT
80 heard her strike. Snc remained sta
tionary about 10 m;nUt, :. then Slid off
and drifted onto another lclse about 80
feet away. She seemed 20 lift trIic on
the first ledge, but seltlcl quietly on the
second. The crew and passengers hehav-
ed well. There was not ii bit of excite
ment and the people on board were trans
ferred to the boats and to the Morse
without any CONFUSION.
The ledge on which the steamer rests
is known as the southwest ledge and
from her condition and position several
hours after the accident the hope first
felt that the steamer might be saved had
weakened, and some fear was expressed
that she might Prove a total loss.
The baggage of the passengers was re-
moved to the tugs but nothing could be
done toward saving the freight. The ris-
ing tide threw the stern of the steamer
upward and forced her bow under, the
rock on which she was resting holding
her fast and acting as a fulcrum under
the hull. The water filled the forward
part and prevented all thought OF trying
to float the vessel. At high tide the
steamer was reported full of water and
it was expected that much OF her cargo
would be ruined.
Early in the afternoon it was an
nounced here that steps had been taken
to have wreckers sent from Portsmouth.
N. H.. and attempt to float the steamer
The steamer. tonight, lay i'll practi-
cally the same position as when she
first struck. She gave no indication of
breaking up although it is impossi bic
to tell the extent of the damage done
to her hull.
The vessel is bearing on the ledge aft
and for about a quarter of her length
she is down by the head and listing
quite badly. AT dead low water the
main deck forward is about a foot
above water, but at high tide the craft
is nearly submerged. The weather. TO-
night, was calm with the wind from
the southwest. There was prospect
If the wind held in that quarter of the
vessel being ilOated and saved. A south
east gale would undoubtedly cause her
destruction. The Boston Towboat Co.
has dispatched tug with modern
wrecking appliances which was expect
ed to reach the scene of the accident
during the night
Two Rockland tugs stood by the
steamer. tonight, after having removed
many loads of furnishings and freight.
Hundreds of small boats gathered
around and picked up the floating
1re1ght which was washed from the
hold as the tide rushed through the
steamer. Souvenir hunters have car
rled away everything movable that
was left in the staterooms. The pas
sengers who came to this city, lost their
summer wardrobe and i'm many in
stances other valuable articles, while
some ESCAPED from the City of Rock
land half clad.
SIX horses persisted, as it was impos-
sible to reach them. Two of the ami
mails belonged to summer residents at
bar Harbor, and were valued at $1,000
each.
had the steamer not settled on
Northwest Ledge, she would undoubt-
erly nave sunk after striking. with the
probable loss of many lives. The City
oil Rockland will be replaced on the
uhe, tomorrow night by the Ransom i.
ruler OF the Bath Line, and the steam
er Penobscot. being vessel of lighter
draft. will take the place of the RAN
some B. Fuller.
Crescent Beach. July 26.-The big pas
senser steamer City of RockIand. which
struck on Gangway Ledge in the fog. this
morning. fioated off as the tide rose. and
drifted to Grindstone Ledege. where she
again grounded She will be total loss.
me crew left the steamer with the pas
sengers when they were taken Off. this
morning. Before departing. they took the
steamer. in the hope of preventing her
from drifting into further trouble. but
the rising tide lifted the ship too strongly