When this ship sank near Portland, bodies washed ashore for days October 29, 2016History, Homedrown, maine, permanent portlander, portland, shipwreck, Two Lights By Troy R. Bennett Less than an hour later the ship struck the top of Alden’s Rock, tearing a hole in the engine compartment. Before the water quenched the boilers, Capt. Borland gave the order to steam directly for land.