The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
BRIDAL LPARTYSAVED'
FROM SINKING BOAT.
Maine Steamer Strikes a Rock
With Meigs-Houston We'd
ding Guests Aboard.
YACHTS TO THE RESCUE
$50 Persons From New York.
Boston and Philadelphia
Have a Narrow Escape.

PORTLAND. Me-. Sept 4.-The harbor
steamer Island Belle while returning
with wedding party from Clapboard
Island this afternoon, and having
aboard l50 persons from New York.
Philadelphia and Boston, struck a sub
merged rock which tore big hole in
her bottom.
4 huge volume OF water began to
stream in through the hole and for "a
time It looked as II a disaster would fol-
low. The captain managed TO get his
small boats out and these and some
motor boats which ran up managed TO
take OF all the passengers. The Island
Belle then went back to Clapboard
Island under her own steam. The
closeness OF the escape from disaster Is
shown by the fact that when she got to
the wharf she began to fill and sink rap
idly.
The steamer had been privately char
tered TO carry guests to and from the
wedding Of Margaret Corlies Houston.
daughter OF Samuel Frederic Houston
of Philadelphia. TO Robert Rodgers
Meigs OF the same city. Among the
New York guests were Dr. ana Mrs.
Theodore Sedgwlck. Miss Juliet Greene.
Mrs. John Wesley Castles and J. w. G.
Castles.
The ceremony had been performed
under canopy OF silver birches fianked
by "A floral screen Of garden lilies and
pink gladioli. More than 1000 guests
arrived at the Houston summer home on
Clapboard Island for the certm mony.
which was performed by the Right Rev.
Robert Goldman Episcopal Bishop OF
Maine. and the Rev Angus Andrews.
dean of the Theological Seminary Of
Virginia. Not all of these came on the
Island Belle. however for many used
private yachts and motor boats.
About I 30 i. NJ. the Island Belle
left the island TO carry the guests back
to Portland. More than half of the $50
who boarded the steamer were women.
The steamer was about 800 yards from
shoge when she struck the rock with a
force that shook many OF her passen-
gers Off their feet. Plates near the
bow mad been crashed through and a
Aole several feet In diameter lad been
Haue DelOW the water line.
The captain Instantly saw the danger
and stgnalled to other boats near to
stand by, Luckily many OF the private
yachts which had taken their owners
I to the wedding were not Tar away, and
these boats, principally motor boats,
| quickly went 10 the assistance of the
I Island Belle.
\ majority Of the women on the ISL
Z and Belle displayed coolness. refusing
to be frightened, although they must
| have realized their danger. as water
; was pouring into the vessels hold
through the ragged rip near the bow. A
| Few women appeared to be on the verge
OF Mysteries or faintlnG. but the stout
hearted soon cheered these up.
4 The transfer Of the women to the
small boats and yachts was made with
out mishap. although il was done with
great rapidity,
The water had not reached the Island
| Bellies engines, and the captain de-
tcrmined to try to get to the shore. He
managed to reach the wharf he had
Just left, and then his vessel began to
settle rapidly. Pumps were put to
work, and two oceangoing tugs pulled
her back to Portland in a sinking con-
dillon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Meigs will go on a mo-
| toring honeymoon trip and will make
| their home in Pittsburg. John Meigs,
! brother of the bridegroom. was best
man, and the maid Of honor was Char
! lotte Harding Brown, stepsister OF the
bride The ushers were Princeton
| classmates OF the bridegroom