Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-08

Portland, Me-, June The Eastern
Steamship COS. steamers CITY Of Ban
gor and City of Rockland bound in OPP
posite directions between Bangor and
Boston with passengers We're in COLI
sion about 20 miles outside of Portland
early today. The City of Bangor, which
left Bangor yesterday afternoon. was
badly damaged and proceeded to this
port distance of IS miles. The City
Of Rockland proceeded 81 her way &c
the Penotscot river and Bangor after
her officers ascertained that the Bangor
was in no danger and able to put into
Portland.
1t was stated here that tn" F0ck,dnd
was but Slightly damaged, also that
none of the passengers were injured,
although they were frightened by the
crash. The City of RanGor's bow was
very badly stove in ana hal the lp-
pearance of 4 head-on collision. If the
weather had been rough il is believed
she would have sunk within an hour
The CITY of Bangor WAS accompa-
MED here by the steamer Calvin Aus
tin of the International division, which
was bound from ST. John, ;. T., to this
city and Eoston. Her freight was trans
ferred at once to the CALVIN Austin. In
formation Of the accident was Withheld
at the local offices.
Capt George A. Curtis. who was in
command Of the City of Bangor, re-
fused to make n statement. He had
80 passengers, all of whom were trans
ferrcd to the Calvin Austin which left
for Boston at $50 A. NJ. There WAS no
excitement and some of the passengers
were. unaware of the collision. Tempo
raryS repairs win be made here and i
is expected the injured steamer will
go to Boston tomorrow.
The temporary repairs Of tho steamer
City of Bangor We're completed this
evening and the steamer left for Pos
ton where the damage will be thor
oughly repaired.
As near as can be gained from the
opinions of the various men of her crew,
is as follows:
I'VE were all abed except the men who
had 20 be up and on duty at that time
of night. Two men were on the quarter
deck, one on the saloon deck two in
the pilot house. one In the cabin ana two
aft. All the crew were quartcred for
ward. the stewards force In the stew
gers IN their cabin aft or N their state
ROOMS.
The night was rainy and foggy. The
fog seemed to be in streakS. When we
would run out of a bank of fog the
night was most remarkably clear ard the
moon shone brightly. Along toward mid
night we ran into bank of fog heavier
and much more dense than any proceed
ing Our fog signal was kept working
continually We heard no blasts from
whistles other han own. but mis-
might have been caused hv the noise our
own were making. n li:;h,s required
were burning.
Suddenly. rs if she snrrr- from the
sea. a big steamer doomed u, in front Of
us. ; With tn speed of Ia" coming
steamer and our own headway ii seemed
that We must strike head on. \ cry of
ship dead ahead came from The DOW
watch and tt" men had scarcely tim" to
raise themselves on th"ir nihnnc before
dull jar told that VIC hId Stru.k some
thing a CHANGING blow. f.vr:v ,ni"avor
seemed to have been made ~ the cap
tains of the two 10 avoi.l 4 collision. We
were going Iro',;bly eight knots an -Four.
ut was pitchy black darkness that
surrounded us on all sides. Roth steam
ers lay to and Investigations were made
into the conditions Of the danger points.
We have not heard from the Rockland
yet, but hardly think she was damaged
much. In moment after the crash the
crew were at their posts cool as Gu
cumbers. The mate took charge of the
investigation of the bow and found
that our stem had been carried away
and that we were in a bad fix
''All the lights over the steamer were
turned on and the excited passengers
were assured of the safety of the craft.
Many passengers had rushed out of
their staterooms in their night attire
ana Few women were nearly craZed
by excitement. but through the excel
lent work OF our quartermaster all was
made well. The mate ordered fine
freight rushed aft and mattresses
brought. Standing alone in narrow
space in three feet of water he stuffed
mattresses into the bow for a half
nour or more. Meanwhile the freight
IN the stern bore the Bansor;f dow.4,
some and tie bow5ssmed to lift. 1t was
iouhu necessary to man the pumps Mt
,nterVais' but the danger seemed to
Had we been under our 5regu,,r
speea VI IL knots an hour. and being
a as we We're rs miles from land. over
svo men Women and children mich,
nave neen drowned
,n,n e,. lily of Rocklard stood by us
unl nhsh O'Clock and then kont t,ar
70 the eastward. About % III,
,'er 'he accident the fos, c,o,ra.,
eru 49, o'A was engaged in under n
whic,, We Aecoralng to the way in
on .he turn. it would seem that 80 ne,'i =
III, .an AT the wheel had been AVE- .e"c :.
,.s, presence of the other until like ~ y,
Others faces. 'SeS up IN each
"heh We were about three ,,,,a.