The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-03
THE STEAMBOAT PROVIDENCE
ASHORE

:. = "hen running fOr our har-
Lo,c eraay morning in a thick fog, about
' past O'Clock ran full butt upon Beaver
o'h'' where she remained last evening
I'D very perilous situation and great
entertained if she will be got off,
one iuchhy struck upon flat. slon;,g ,ocL -,
"hleh she was propelled by her imr.,ns a.
In the best berth the Point affo,ds
s"uck li'ie 10 the right or left, it is generally
thought that she must soon have gone 70 r;oo.S
ana rom the large number of passenyer. -,
board, (near 400, l75 Of whom were seanoa
the U. ;. ship Ohio,) great loss of life nil.
have ensued. Very fortunately for The h..
and passengers the sea was remarkably sn,oo,,,
off the point. She went on at the t,b of b;ch
water, with heavy freight on board, besides a
large quantity of luggage belonging to the pas.
sengers
Luckily for the passengers the steam ferry
boat Bloomington" happened to come down
here, and arrived just as we heard Of the dis
aster' about 10 o'clock, and went Immediately
out TO the Providence, and took off most of her
cabin passengers and their luggage, and carrie
them TO Providence. few had preyious.,
lett her in boats, and came to town, being fear
tul that she might roll over, or break in two 2.
the tide iei' She laid apparently easy all day.
however at low tide her bow being high and
dry, and as the sea has been very light she
may possibly be got off, If IL continues so. ,bn,
not without considerable damage. She is in
a very bad Sitivation, as Sam Weller would
say.
| We have conversed with several of the pas
sengers, who were unanimous in attributing the
accident to carelessness, as it was clear wbe,
they came round Point Judith, and Beaver tail
light was distinctly seen. Capt. Woosey was
IN command Of the boat, and was at the wheel
when she struck; the Pilot having turned in
alter passing point Judith, but had just got up
again. The CONSERVATION among such a num-
Der OF passengers may be easily conceived, es.
pecially as they knew not for some minutes
where they were, the fog being SO thick that
although the boat was within fifty yards of the
light house, yet they did not see it; but Mr..
Hazard, the light keeper, who was in the Ian
tern, saw the boat aud hailed her moment be-
tore she struck, but was not heard.
| The officer in command ofthe Seatnen. sent
ashore here, and chartered two sloops 10 take
them out, but the sloops returned without
them, and we understand they remained on
board last night. How much of the freight has
been discharged we do not know, but presume
not much, as the Stonnington took none of il
yesterday. We are informed that there is no
insurance on the Providence.
7. 5. This morning at o'clock the Prov
dence was still on the Point We saw he,
with good glass, and she appears to be in the
same position as yesterday. The Massaclu
settS has Just got in, and is putting her passen-
gers on board the Stonnngton to carry to Prov
ldence, and is going ont to try to tug the Prov
ldence of at high water, about O'Clock. Ills
the last and only chance Of getting her off, AZ
Capt. Comstock says she is humping heavily.
the sea having increased some. Capt. C. saws
she has not bildged, and does not now leak
more than usual They are now throwing $50
bales of Cotton, freight, overheard and towing
it ashore.
Capt, Townsend lay to with the Richmond
OIL the Point this morning, about an hour and
sent boat 10 the Providence to offer assistance.
+. z. S. The Providence came off at 90 m.
past 6, and drifted up the west side of the point
out we do not know in what condition. The
massachusetts got their soon afterwards, and
went round the point to her.