The sun., 1904-07-31
RAID ON A WRECKED STEAMER
MAINE FISHERMEN PLUNDER-
ING THE CITY OF ROCkLAND.
Scores OF Small Beats Looting the Freight
--spirited Struggles In tho water Tor
Whiskey 6hipments-The Furnlahings OF
the Vessel Taken for BOatmen's Hemes

Whiskey 6Aipments-The Furnlahin6S OF
the yessel Taken for Boatmen's Homes.
BANGOR, Me-, July so.-When steamboat
ia wrecked on the coast of Maine, then II
a Grand harvest time for the fishermen ana
other coast dwellers, who are described
by the steamboat men as pirates. from the
way in which they 60 about the pillaging OF
the steamer and her freight. It Is not often
that a steamer Is wrecked, but the rarity
OF the opportunities makes the hshermen AL
the more strenuous.
The wreck this week on Gangway Ledge,
Penobscot Bay, Of the big sidewheel steamer
City OF Rockland Of the Boston and Bangor
division Of the Eastern Steamship Com
pany afforded the coast piliagers chance
to get rich quick on a small scale. for the
Rockland carried a great cargo OF m1scei-
laneous merchandise, including everything
from laces to canned peaches and from
whiskey to $1,000 automobile.
The steamer struck at 5:Se A. NJ, In a
thick fog, and 1t was three hours before her
passengers were taken Oh. Shortly after
ward the crew and all but one or two Of the
officers left, 20 that the steamer and her
rich freight were an easy prey to the wreck
ers. In six hours she was surrounded by q
feet Of small boats estimated to number
200 sail, and wild scramble for the aban-
doned wealth began.
The fishermen and others from Monhegan,
Matinicus. White Head, Friendship and all
along shore swarmed over the steamer.
lootinp the staterooms. which had been
hurriedly deserted by the passengers,
and the saloon, where the breakfast was
left untasted. Clothing, jewelry, silver
ware, furniture, carpets, linen and dra-
peries were taken and thrown helter skelter
into the dories and smacks, and then began
the pillaging of the freight deck.
Maine is prohibition State. but the coast
pirates like whiskey, and they found plenty
of that and other liquors in the cargo.
When a oask of whiskey OF barrel Of beer
was discovered, there followed desperate
fight for ownership, and many a man went
overheard In the struggle. One fisherman
managed to fill his dory with whiskey
and had got half way home with 1t when he
fell In with a smack headed for the wreck,
on board Of which were ten mon. The
salvor Of the .hot water was foolish enough
to wave q bottle Of the whisksy at his
friends on the smack, whereupon they at
once hove to and went after him In their
dories Then followed a naval battle.
Men piled into the whiskey dory without
the least regard for their safety, and hand
to hand fight began for Possession Of the
liquor. Boathooks, oars and 6sts were
used, and several Of the men received
severe cuts, while two went overheard and,
burdened with their heavy boots and oil
skins, came near drowning. The upshot
of 1t was that the smack orew captured all
OF the whiskey except two barrels, which.
In the sea that was running, they could
not handle conveniently.
The steamer lies high upon ledge. with
her stern out and her forward part sub
merged at high water, and at every rise OF
the swell a carload OF freight will wash
out at the forward gangways, where the
fishermen are on hand to grab for 1t. Only
the most expert OF sailors could keep their
feet and stay In their frsil boats In such a
scramble as goes ON alongside the Roo'xland
every day now and in the waters around
her.
The bay is covered with freight OF al
descriptions, most Of which is picked up
but some Of which has hoated away to line
the shores from Owls Head to Monhegan
The natives are feasting on California fruits
which bob about In the water for miles
and the children OF the bay islands pelt
each other with pears, peaches and canta.
loupee.-
Humble dwellings along shore are nov
digni6ed with mahogany furnitnre ar't
velvet carpets, lace curtains and the like