80 - A WELL-PRESENTED MODEL OF THE PORTLAND STEAM PACKET CO. AMERICAN RIVER PASSENGER STEAMER PORTLAND [1890]

A WELL-PRESENTED MODEL OF THE PORTLAND STEAM PACKET CO. AMERICAN RIVER PASSENGER STEAMER PORTLAND [1890] the 36in. carved hull with elaborate pierced and decorated paddle boxes, planked decks, white-painted passenger accommodation, saloon light, masts with rigging, twin stayed funnels with whistles, massive centrally mounted beam engine on A-frame, bridge with carved golden spread eagle over, coal chute covers, anchors and other details, mounted on 4 brass supports to inlaid display base with nameplate within brass-bound glazed cover -- 19½ x 14 x 44in. (49.5 x 35.5 x 112cm.) Built by the New England SB Corp., Maine, in 1890 for the Portland Steam Packet Company's overnight service between Portland and Boston at a cost of $250,000, Portland was a 2,283-ton sidewheel steamer capable of 13 kts. A handsome, well-found boat with capacity for 700 passengers, she remained on this run without serious mishap for eight years and had earned a reputation for safety. At about 19.00 on November 26, 1898, Portland departed Boston with between 160 and 190 passengers and crew aboard with a powerful storm system heading rapidly towards them. Although the Portland Steam Packet Company later claimed it had wired Captain Hollis H. Blanchard to postpone his departure until 21.00 because of the weather, many other ships scheduled to depart New England ports that night remained at the dock, but Portland ran the gauntlet. Two vessels later reported seeing Portland in Massachusetts Bay, but the following night, remains of the ship and her passengers began washing ashore on Cape Cod. The exact number of dead was never determined because the only passenger manifest was lost with the ship (ships were thereafter required to make a copy to be left ashore at sailing.) Although some 400 boats and ships of various descriptions were lost along the coast that night, the storm has been known ever since as the 'Portland Gale'. In 1989, divers with the Maritime Historical Group of New England located the wreck lying about 20 miles north of Cape Cod in 460 feet of water.