SS Portland and the Gale of 1898

Captain Horace H. Blanchard and the Boston to Maine Steamship

Aug 15, 2008 Jeannie Delahunt

Two severe storms converged off the coastline of New England, November 26-27, 1898. Despite severe weather warnings, the SS Portland sailed into oblivion, all lost.

Snow was already falling in Boston and piling up quickly. The wind velocity was rising as well. Captain Horace H. Blanchard, well known and well respected had sailed the Boston to Maine/Maine to Boston route many times. He was the captain of the SS Portland during the Gale of 1898, later known as the Portland Gale.

Gale of 1898 (Portland Gale)

One of the worst storms to hit the coast of New England, this blast broke up ships from Eastport, Maine to Block Island. Winds in excess of 60 miles per hour, reached hurricane force and rolling seas washed ships onto shore and those at sea sent out distress signals. Telegraph wires were blown down. Many homes were obliterated as well. The force of the storm even changed the course of the North River, not far from Boston.

The U.S. Coast Guard as we know it today had not been established. Help from the shore was limited.

SS Portland and Steamships

Steamers were popular during this time. The fare was cheap, usually about a dollar a person. The vessel was large and comfortable. Runs were generally made during the evening hours. However, this style steamship had a weakness. The hull was low in the water. Heavy seas could easily swamp it, if not break it up.

Captain Blanchard and Departure of the Portland

The storm had not reached its full intensity by departure time, although intensity was increasing. Captain Blanchard was well aware of the two storms. Promptly, at 7 p.m., the ship sailed from Boston's India Warf to sea.

As the ship sailed towards Portland, Maine, the seas and gale became fierce. There were a few sightings of the vessel. The first, later reported that the vessel was making slow headway. The next sighting--the vessel was heading out to sea, perhaps to ride out the storm. Another sighting--the vessel was not making any headway, but the seas and winds were pushing it south. It was last seen south of Boston. The last sighting also reported severe damage to the upper structure of the vessel.

At 5:45 AM the following morning, four blasts from a steamer's whistle was heard, probably from the SS Portland. The vessel had been blown far to the southeast of Boston.

Remnants of the Portland Voyage

Contents of the vessel began washing onto the beaches. There were life vests, oars, the ship's sign and doors. Bodies also began washing up. Unfortunately, the exact number of passengers on board remains unknown. The passanger list was not turned in before departure. It was estimated about 191-200 people had been lost, including members of Maine's Abyssinian Church. The vessel sank about seven miles out to sea, off the coast of Cape Cod.

Location of the SS Portland

The remains of the vessel were eventually located. Questions still remain. Did Captain Blanchard think he could out run the storm? Knowledge of the storm's increasing intensity had been communicated to Boston, why didn't the owners of the ship do something?

The answers, like the ill-fated ship are, perhaps, lost at sea.

Source

William P. Quinn, Shipwrecks Around Maine, Lower Cape Publishing Company, Orleans, Massachusetts, 1983, ISBN 0-936972-11-4.

The copyright of the article SS Portland and the Gale of 1898 in American History is owned by Jeannie Delahunt. Permission to republish SS Portland and the Gale of 1898 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

SS Portland