In 1847, John Martin (1823-1904) was among a group of Bangor area residents who went on a one-day excursion aboard the new iron bottom propeller steamer Bangor from Bangor to Belfast.

Martin, who wrote a journal in 1864 reflecting on his life and experiences, recounted the adventure -- and misadventure -- and drew this illustration of the steamer. It appears on page 252 of the journal.

He reported that when they arrived at Belfast, the owners decided to try to vessel at sea and headed for Rockland. They had not considered the tide -- and the bottom propeller prevented the vessel from getting into Rockland harbor at low tide. They made it back to Belfast but ran into low water and fog, delaying their return to Bangor.

The steamer was intended as a freight vessel, so there were no sleeping accommodations -- and insufficient food. The beleaguered party, tired and hungry, arrived back in Bangor at 4:15 p.m. the next day.