Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-10
BRITISH STEAMER
ON LEDGES OFF.
kENNEBUNkPoRT
Thunderous Crash of
Impact Heard Two !,
Miles
Wanby, Coming to Portland
For Grain Cargo. Almost
Certain Loss - Cable Run
Ashore and Bosun's Chair
Ready for Quarantine Officer
and Rescue of Crew

Kennebunkport. Me-, March s.-The
British steamer Wandby. "a days out
from Algiers, struck the lodges of
this port In fog today while heading
for Portland. She ran up so high and
whistled so loudly as she went that
caretakers of cottages on the shore
said they thought she was coming
through the kitchens. At low tide the
Wandby's crew could almost walk
ashore.
The steamer was regarded as a prob
able total wreck, but her crew stood
by, talking over weakened wireless
apparatus with the coast guard cutter
Ossipee. The latter, it was believed,
would be unable to pass the reefs
that grid the coast to reach the Wand
by's side.
With the aid Of Captain Louis Ba-
ker. U. 8. N, on leave at his home
here, who improvised wig-wag COM
munication with Captain Simpson of
the Wandby, it was learned that the
steamer was light, and had been polk
ing through the fog without having
sighted land since she left algiers.
The fog shut down again this after
noon and communication in this man
ner ceased.
The seas were running fairly high
and the steamer was humping on the
rocks when last seen.
The bow of the Wandby wasentirely
out of water at low tide and fully 100
feet of her keel was in sight. Water
pouring from small holes in the bow
indicated she had taken in considerable
and probably had been damaged amid
ships where she rested apparently on
the rocks. She was headed about
north when she struck.
Up to late afternoon no one was
allowed to go aboard or come ashore
pending the arrival of quarantine Off
GERS from Portland. A cable was run
ashore and a boss'un's chair was rugged
for their use and for representatives
of the underwriters who were ex-
pected.
The chair also was held in readiness
forthe crew of about SO men to reach
shore safely in case of an emergency,
though they were in no immediate
danger.
The fog was still down tonight but
the wind was freshening and word
was received of southwest storm
warning from Cape Hatteras to East
here late in the afternoon but was
unable to do anything or get within a
mile of the ship. t-,"
So great was the crash when the
steamer struck the rocks that the
sound was heard here and at Cape
Porpoise, nearly two miles distant.
Residents at first supposed it was
thunder.
Some slight hope for the safety of
the Wandby was held out by Capt.
Frank Nunan, owner of a fleet of fish
ing vessels, who expressed the belief
that she was resting on a sandy bot
tom which he said was the only gravel
spot in tn evicinity of Walkers Point.
Others could not see any chance for
her to be fioated. principally because
of the difficulty for large craft to get
within $50 fathoms of her.
The Wandby is British steamer
Of 1881 gross tonnage, built at Stock
ton, Eng, in 1899. She is registered
as being owned by r. Ropner & Co.,
Ltd, of West Hartlepool.
She. left Algiers light on Feb. IS for
Portland to take out 9 cargo of grain
for an Italian port for Chase, Leavitt
o. Co. Of Portland.