Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-21
WHAT BECAME OF
 THE STEAMER PORTLAND.
Young Man Known Here Gets Message From Two of It's victims-6oiIer Ex- -ploded During. Rough Trip Eleven Years Ago.

From the fact that Robert q. Full Ter of Portland, Me, is known here. the communications he has receive ] from the spirits of the dead, and par ticularly of two of the victims of the steamer Portland which went down on it's way from Boston to Portland, Me, in November, eleven. years ago, will be of interest to many.
 He is 36 years old and lives in Port land, Me. He is not a trance medium but has marvellous faculties of receiv- ing communications from the dead and claims to know just what occurred on the ill fated night it was lost and when several persons lost their lives, says Portland exchange.ft s3
 He says that when he receives these communications he sits down to ta- bfe and writes them out and tho yer sion came to him from two former Portland men who went down with the Portland. The communications read as follows: As the steamer left the dock it was dark and overcast and a strong wind was blowing which in- creased in velocity every moment. Be- fore we reached the mouth of the har- bor the boat began ito roll and toss. In short time we were out on the angry sea. By this .ime many of us wished we had never started on the journey. Big waves were dashing against the sides of the, steamer causing her to careen and trenJb1e and in their sullen roar we could almost hear the knell of the ill fated ship. The passengers became panic stricken with fear. Some began to weep. others in their confusion began to curse, and several women went into mysteries an1 had to be guarded and attended in their rooms. Many were thrown from their feet and the cries of the children added to the distress and confusion.
 It grew worse every moment and while the captain ana most of the crew remained cool still 1t was with diff culty they could control the frightened passengers. Someone started to sing Nearer, My God. to Thee. and almost instantly the uproar and confusion ceased and soon passengers and crew were singing this grand old hymn. We were facing death and we knew 1t and after the hymn was concluded many started to pray.
 One of the officers came in and told us we were headed for Gloucester har- bor and would soon be safe and this served to increase. our courage. I was feeling hopeful and confident myself when there came suddenly a roar and crash, the deck seemed to rise and the tops and sides of the cabin opened wide. The boiler had exploded! The boat appeared to slide to one side split
 
 down. The water poured into the cabin, the lights were out and l ex- perienced a few moments of awful ag- ony and then knew no more until I found myself in a spirit world which existence had often previously doubt ed but which I now know exists and where I am perfectly happy.
 I believed the boat would have reached the harbor safely had not the boiler exploded. I say the boiler ex- ploded. for I cannot understand how there could have been anything below decks excepting the boilers which could have caused such a tremendous chash and split the boat in pieces as it did. It was all over in few moments and we were all in another world The boat was lost with all her passengers, but we are all living and happy under conditions we never enjoyed on earth. This is the true story of the final trip of the steamer Portland.