Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25

reef He fred his Coston light as
warning, and ran for the station to
give the alarm. The Coston was not
seen, however, or came too late to
avert the crash. AS the Bay State
struck, a signal rocket went up from
her decks, and wireless calls for help
flashed from her aerials a moment la
ter.
Liehtship OF for Repairs
The lightship, whose station Is on
Cape Elizabeth, was towed to Portland
harbor three days ago for repairs. In
her absence a combined gas and whist
ling buoy was anchored five miles off
shore, and the coastwise shipping no
tilted of the change. Capt. Form OF
the Bay State knew of the substitu-
ton, but the dense fog of the early
morning made 1t impossible to deter
mine the location of the signal, and
the course was lost while search was
being made for it.
For two hours after the vessel had
grounded. there was little swell, and
the vessel rested easily on the rocks.
humping gently and making little wa
ter. With the turn of the tide she
swung broadside to the shore. COM
menced to roll and pounded heavily In
the ground swell. Some of her water.
tight compartments gave way before
the continued hammering, and soon
her engine rooms. filled with water.
1T was then decided that the passen-
gers should be taken off, and the work
of transfer began.
Only one passenger received wet
ting during the entire scene. This was
a man who fell into the water while
trying to jump into a boat. He was
rescued without difficulty.
The Bay State at a late hour Sat-
urday night was full of water and
well up on the rocks where the high
tide had left her. From her bullying
seams it seemed probable that 1t would
be only a question of time before her
breaking up. In the hope of stripping
her before this occurred the work of
taking out the freight and everything
removable was begun early in the af-
ternoon.
Herbert A. Clay. division superintend-
emit of the line, would make no state
ment as to the accident Saturday night
He declared that the passengers and
crew were safe and uninjured. and that
,
$3.50, 600. But the boat is gone" he add
ed.
The Bay State was built at Bath in
1895, and was one Of the best known
vessels in service on the Atlantic coast.
For many years she had piled between
Boston and Portland She was sister
ship Of the side wheeler steamer Port
land, which was lost in 1898, with all
on board. When the Bay State was first
built she was priced at more than $780,
OOO Her present valuation is placed at
$780, 900, the insurance amounting to
s250,000.
Will Maintain Schedule
The wrecking Of the Bay State will
not be the cause Of any break in the
regular Portland schedule of the COM
pany The steamer Governor Dingley,
which for some time has been tied up
at New York. will be brought to Port
land and will make her regular trip on
Monday evening. There is no regular
boat from Boston on Sunday, it was ex-
planned.
Among those Of the passengers whose
names were given as residents of Bos-
ton and vicinity were included Mr.. and
Mrs. E. L. Rowe. C. ]. Sargent. Mr.. and
Mrs. B. E. Simmons and William Con-
roy of Boston; Miss Ola Bunker. Brock
ton: Michael McQueenie, Lawrence; w.
Murray Cambridge. and James Black of
Newton.
William Sullivan. another Boston
man, who was among the passengers,
was seen on Commercial street, Port
land, several hours after his arrival
still wearing the life preserver which
he had buckled about his waist when
the impact Of the collision awakened
him. He had forgotten. in the excite
ment, to remove it.
Others on board were Henry st. An
drews. Whitinsville; Elmer Whitehouse
Worcester; Mrs. Nellie Nichols. Canton,
Me-: Mr.. and Mrs. F. A. Read. Auburn.
Me-: William Toole and James Conray
both Of Bangor; Del Chabot, Manville
r. l.; and F. ]. Mcdonald. Portland.