Ifthere was any doubt about the weather, Portland was not to sail. draft, and 2,284 gross to ns. A carved and ous. Passengers also used not be found. Mr. W ilPUBTLAND mAM PACKET CO.'S painted representation of a globe with the the steam ships fo r busiliams got the m essage to seal of the C iry of Portland decorated the ness travel. While Boston Blanchard ro delay their paddle boxes and a gilded eagle and globe was already an established departure until 9 PM so perched atop the pilothouse. After launch- center of trade, by the that more information ing, m echanics from the Portland Com1890s Portland was growcould be gathered about pany install ed the ship's m assive walking ing at a fas t pace and bethe storm. If there was any beam engine with a cylinder diameter of coming Maine's center of doubt about the weather, sixry-two inches and a stroke of twelve manufac turing. Portland's Portland was not to sail. A feet. The single cylinder transferred power tim ely, regular service and second report stated that via a twen ry-foo t long walking beam that, comfo rtable cabins proCaptain Blanchard was ordered ro sray in port in turn, ro tated the thir ry-fi ve-foot diam- vided a relaxing way of ~ :c .A.~~Y.- :....~;}~'7 E ~ - • eter paddlewheels. Fifry pounds of steam traveling along the coas t. PORTLAND OR TREMONT and strictly forbidden to sail. At 7 PM the ship's enpressure in its two iron boilers could bring For nearly a decade 100aWharf,Borl~~ t.i'~:.:.~ 1 1~~n4;·:.~.1 ~!i·~ ~ r. lll. s.i'~'Fr:.":~"~';.;:~1h•;.~;;;: : 11·~ gineers opened the steam the ship to its top speed of approximately Portland connected Bosn- .. fifteen knots. ton and Portland without ,,.,.;" ~~.~-~ -;~;;~ ~:·'·~~~··;:;~~~·~"~o•ST valves, setting the walking beam in motio n. As the On 11 June 1890 Portland arrived at much incident. None- "";r:::;.~;;::-r.:.~~·;:.::::~~:k~;;==:::r.:::-• ship pulled away from the Bos ton's Indian Wharf to begin service theless, one notable mis- ':;:;;.\'"·! General Offices. Portland. Me. I ' ·;;.:·:~~ ·· between Boston and Portland. The next fo rtune occurred on 8 dock with nearly 200 pasday the Boston Post publi shed that the ship September 1895 when it Advertisemen t in the Portland sengers and crew aboard , City Directory, 1890. entered the harbor "in gay holiday attire. collided with the excurtheir fa tes were sealed. As .. [with] freshly painted hull and pol- sion steam er Longfellow off Rowe's W harf Portland left Boston, the skies were clear ished brass trimmings, and gaily decked in Boston H arbor. Portland continued on and calm. Conditions deteriorated quickly in strean1ers, bunting, and fl ags of all its trip north once the vessels were sepa- offshore, however, as the ship left the safery nations . . . ." Portland remained in Boston rated, but the Longfellow was seriously of the harbor. Two fro ntal system s collided until evening before ir departed for irs first dam aged. off Cape Cod and produced hurricanetrip down east. From W hile Portland was like conditions with w inds whipping over 1890 until 1895 Portland moored to its berth at 90 miles per hour and seas towering over and Tremont provided Boston's India Wharf 30 feet. The las t sightings of the ship were daily service between on 26 November 1898, off Gloucester, Massachuserrs, around 11 the ports. In July 1895 a fierce storm was de- PM . At this point we can only speculate the duo was joined by veloping south of New what happened next. Did the high winds Bay State, a near copy of England. The weather and m assive waves overwhelm the vessel? Portland. Advertisem ents in Boston , however, Did a m achinery fa ilure cause the ship to in Bosron newspapers remained clear as the Portland underway in 1890. claimed that "The best scheduled steam er's route to sea coas t and seven o'clock deparinterior resorts of New ture time approached, E ngland is via Portland but the wea ther bureau Steam ers." Portland also began issuing storm transported freight along warnings that evening about the impending with passengers. In the summer months conditions. Portland's the steamships were ofcaptain , H ollis H . Passengers pose for souvenir photos. ten crowded with vacaBlanchard, whether tioners. The ciry of Portland was the gate- thro ugh negligence or ignorance, m ade way to M aine's popular summer reso rts. a decision to sail as scheduled. N ewspaThe ciry was a transportation hub used by pers gave conflicting acco unts as to what tourists ro reach the mo untains, lakes, and Blanchard was advised regarding the decithe famous Maine coast by smaller steam- sion to get underway. One report stated ers or trains. The Portland Steam Packet that the Portland Steam ship Company's Company and other similar lines prom- general manager, John F. Liscomb, teleised their passengers "The best of care and phoned C. F. Williams, the line's Boston the best of fare." They insured th at each agent, around fi ve o'clock asking to speak of th eir steam ships was clean and luxuri- to Captain Blanchard. Blanchard could
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SEA HISTORY 107, SPRING/SUMMER 2004
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