Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-20
Monaghan a Prisoner Just
Off ST. Johns, n. f.
Power|ess 10 Break Ice JAM
Over 500 Passengers Aboard.
Steamer Sent to Rescue Is Also
caught-.no Sign Of Relief.

st. Johns. N. F.. May 19.-The Allan
Line steamer Monaghan, bound from
Glasgow and Liverpool for st. Johns,
N. F.. Halifax, N. S., and Philadelphia
with hundreds of passengers on board
was caught in a dangerous ice jam one
mile off this harbor late today, and to-
night was in a hazardous position. 1t
is feared that if the wind increases be-
fore daylight, the Monaghan will be
driven ashore and become total
wreck Should such an accident occur
it is thought that the passengers can
escape by walking over the densely
packed ice foes.
just returned from the ice packed
waters of Belle Isle straits where she
had been abandoned by her crew and
later rescued, the coastal steamer Pros
pero also lies wedged in the ice be-
tween the Monaghan and the shore.
The Prospero had been dispatched by
the agents of the Allan Line to here
to attempt to reach the Monaghan and
take on board the passengers and
mails. The little steamer had but just
passed the harbor mouth when the ice
barricade became impossible and furth-
er progress was arrested. There she
kept company during the night with
The greater steamer Mongolian, which
was helpless in the unrelenting grip of
the surrounding ice.
The Monaghan left Glasgow May 5
ard Liverpool few days later with
nearly 500 passengers for this port, Hal
flax and Philadelphia. She met the
first of the great fields of ice yester-
day but up to this morning her passage
was fairly steady With the approach
to shore the Monaghan met more
strenuous resistance and when the mar
row harbor of ST. Johns was sighted,
the great steamer forced it's way
through the ice foes until a position
about Il mile off the narbor opening
had been gained. There she stopped
the power OF the engines and the stout
hull unable longer to successfully to
cope with the great irregular stretches
Of ice.
The steamers efforts to run the
blockade are believed to have left her
in a condition at least somewhat
strained, hut the fishermen who man
aged to reach her side over the closely
packed foes could discern no apprecia-
BILE damage. Tonight the combined ac-
ton of wind and tide strengthened
the grip of the foes. and the Monaghan
was completely surrounded, unable to
advance or recede.
Although assured that they were in
no immediate danger the passengers
on board the Monaghan crowded the
decks and gazed wiStfully at the har-
Dor lights.
Two great frOWnlng sides of the solid
cliff appeared as sentinels to the har
Dor wherein rested the passengers safe
ly. Soon some of the anxious eyes dis
covered little steamer which was
headed to them. The officers of the
Mongolian explained that it was the
coastal steamer Prospero which had
been sent out by the agents of the line
to take off passengers and mails and
the hopes of the passengers grow, only
to be dashed again as the Prospero
came to a stop just at the mouth Of
the harbor, where the onrushing tide
had packed the varied shaped cakes
in a conglomerate mass impossible of
penetration. There the little steamer
lay during the night with her lights
set. an ever present reminder of the
situation in which the steamers were
held In common.
The hardy fisher folk. undaunted by
the fate Of the two steamers, traversed
the ice foes tonight and reached The
side of the Mongolian. Whre they held
conversation with officers and passen-
gers. the latter ervying them their
adaptability to the treacherous and
Shaking ice. With the thought before
them that it might be only few hours
before they would be forced to find
then way to shore over the same in
secure path. the passengers followed
closely the 1.-THE movements Of the fish
ermen as they passed from cake u
cake and successfully reached the har-
Dor mouth. All imagined that should
they resort to that means Of escape it
would be an experience such as would
probably never be equalled during their
lifetime
Watchers or shore could see no
change in the steamers condition at
midnight. The steamer cannot posi-
bic escape while conditions are as pres
ent. If the wind increases it will be but
q short time before the steamer will be
grinding against the bleak rocky coast.
where destruction is almost certain to
ovcrtakc her. That fate. however, does
net seem imminent. as indications
point to a continuance Of existing con-
di.iOns of wind and sea. 1t is possible
that should the steamer be able to back
clear She may proceed to Halifax and
land Ter passengers.
IN" steamer Mongolian was built at
Glasgow in 1890 by D. & w. Anderson
g. Co. Since that time the steamer has
been in the service of the Allan Line,
plying between various ports of Eu-
rope and North America. She flies the
British flag.
The steamer has a gross tonnage of
4S3S. and net capacity OF 1888 tons.
she is 1882 feet long; she has d
breadth of As feet and a depth of 34.4
feet. She is screw steamer of eight
compartments and has two decks. Wa
ter is carried as ballast when neces-
sary. Her engines which are triple
expansion. generate a nominal horse
power of 500.
Never in the history of St Johns as