Evening journal., 1904-07-30
FROM
SINKING STEAMER
Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred d.
Warner Have Thrilling Ex-
perience on Maine Coast
WERE FORCED TO RETURN HOME

WIKI EURCtU III RtlURN HUME
Forced to return from a vacation trip
Up tie coast Of Maine, before they had
reached their destination, by the dcs,ruc-
iion Of their baggage which went down
on the iH-fatcd steamer city OF Portland
on the Mussel Ridge shoal, whi.o on their
way from Boston TO Rocltand and having
to be takoa on n life boats. Mr. and Mrs.
Alfred ID. Warner returned to this city
yesterday.
They werc among the $50 passengers
who had to be taken OFF the rapidly sink
ing ship in life boats. Mr. Warner last
night detailed some Of his experience:
He said: "The Inflated steamer CITY
of Portland of the Bangor Line was due
at Rockand. Maine which is The entrance
OF Penobscot Bay. at 4.S0 a. m. Tuesday
morning July %. Mrs. Warner and I had
taken the steamer at Boston on our way
to Southwest Harbor Me-, and were to
exchange steamers at Rockland. In order
90 be prepared for the early exchange we
arose mt 4.3O a. m. and having taken a
hasty breakfast, We seated ourselves in
the rear of the main saloon. At 5.l5 a.
m. we We're startled by a very severe
shock to the beat.
"As there was "a dense fog, ii was al-
most impossible to see twenty-five or
/ thhty-nve feet ahead. Coins forward. we
ascerninei from one of the officers tha.
the vessel was hard anj fast on a reef.
known as Mussle Ridge sholl.
"soundings were Immediately ordered
/ by the captain. and close TO the eastward
] of tne steamer there was found fourteen
fathoms OF water. The captain immedi-
! ately had the lie boats ami life RATS
launched and under his instructions. tie
women ana men. were oxpeditiously lead
/ cd. and the men in charge OF the boats
and the towing rams. were directed to
search for Ash Island. presumably about
a ml.e and "a half away, where they were
20 land their passengers. and return f11
the Other women.
"rhc second trip was made in an hour
time. AT this juncture the steamer haC
settled very considerably at the stem un
on the water was visible al tho stern an,
in tse women's saloon AS the steamer
was stil settling rapidly the captain or
dersl all the men. $50 ln number to 80 &C
the sa.oon deck above.
I'm this condition the men passenger.
awaited their rescue. About $50 q. m
the small steamer Catherine hove in
sight, locating the steamer 10y her foe
bell, there being no steam to sound the
whistle. The Catherine gradually made
IT'S way TO the steamer and two gang
planks were thrown out over which the
men passengers went on the Catherine
with very joyful feelings it might be
said here that the Rev. Hubert W. Wells
pastor Of ST. Andrews Church of thi.
city was one Of the passengers. and iii,
his full snare i'm calming those who had
the least tendency to excitement.
After the men passengers were landed
on the Catherine all the baggage which
was aft was transferred onto the rescuina
vessel. She was ordered away at once as
there was danger of the Portland steam
er slipping from the reef at any time. a.
the tide was rising. At this time Ia,
steamer was IN a very bad position. Tn,
/ steamer Catherine proceeded TO Ash l..
land, where the women and chi dren wer,
Within twenty minutes after the men had
been rescued from The lli-fated steamer
the fog lifted sufficiently, and it wa.
plainly visible that the steamer had slim
ped from the reef as the captain had an.
ticipated. The vessels stern had caugh
on onother reef and her bow drifte,
around into deep water. so sinking tn,
vessel that her three decks were sub
] merged, leaving nothing but the pic
house visible to the eye. at the forwar,
part Of the boat. This must have han
pened in thirty minutes after the men IN,
been transferred and had not the Cath
erlno come to the rescue wnen she did
serious loss of life would have happenod
'ln conclusion We wish TO attest to IA,
perfect discipline exercised by the steam
er's officers ana crew, and further that
despite the thrilling experience througl
whicn the passengers were passing thor,
We're no tendencies to panic. and but
few cases among The women and children
OF fright or excitement. The baggage WI.
nearly an lost OF SO damaged by water
and mud as TO be useless"