New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-08-07
NEW-YORk TRIBUNE.
CITY ITEMS.
Collision on the Sonnd-Steamer Commodor'
Disabled.


About IL O'Clock Tuesday night. as the
steamboat " Commodore Capt. W. IL fraLee was
en- her way to Tins City and was passing on >dyofooA'
on was run into and disabled by The steamboat Con
nec,icu,." Capt, Williams, bound for Norwich The
crcums tances, detailed by the persons on board
the " Commodore" were as follows
The Sound was covered With dense fog, through
the which Commodore" was making her way very
slowly, blowing her steam whistle al intervals OF
about one minute, when all al once the lights OF the
Connecticut" appeared through the fog, dead ahead
ana coming directly toward the " Commodore The
pilot of the latter boa; at put hs helm hard mp
aud turned TO the Northward Us far aS possible,
a, the same moment reversing the engine and
stacking speed. Tins prompt action no doubt
saved the boat and the lives of her passengers
An instant aflerward, the " Connecticuts" guard
fender struck the guards Of the Commodore" just
opposl,c The boiler, the " Connectcuts' contact
beng al point Just opposite her whecl-house The
guar,.fsnder of the Connecticut" passed over that
of The Commodore" breaking down the bul&heads
forcing The laboard boiler out of It's place, and let
ting tie water out OF II the force of the conclusion
also overSci the larboard smoke-ppe OF the Com
modorc," and did other damage OF less account.
Sofar as we Can Learn. the " Conncciicui'S whistle
was not sounded until after the collision, AMI even
then she passed on without stopping 10 learn what
damage she had done.
The scene on board the " Commodore" Was Tor a
umo eNciting and alarming IN the hishes, degree.
Women and children suddenly aroused from sleep,
were screaming or praying and running m every
direction, until the FIRST shock over. bUt tue
calm ai.d prompt oxertions Of Capt. .gaZoe and his
officers treasured them. and they soon became cont
paraliyely quiet.
One man, If We may call HIN 50, Jumped INTO
small boat and Was aooui 10 cut the faS:enIngs and
pull fer the shore alone but decided n,matlon thar
he would he shot if he attempted the thing, brought
hIA deck.
|, Is almost u miracle tha, tie Connecticut" did
not sink tie Commodore" IA an instant. and only
the energetic action of Capt frazee and the Pilot OF
the latter boat saved the lives OF several hundreds of
men, women ana children
We are at a loss 10 understand the coaduc; OF the
officers of the "Connecticut III going on without
inquiry but they may explain hereafter
Soon after the collision. the Empire State Capt.
br"y,on, ior Fall River, and then the &C. Wander
ont' Capt Stone, for Stoning,on, came along SIDE
'he Commodore" and offered assistance bai as
they we've going the other way, Capt. Frazee pre-
tered waiting Tor the Bay State" or knlcker-
cocker, which were coming down.
AboNi midnight, the "knickerbocker." Capt VII
cox attracted by the iollng OF the bell OF the dis
aoied ooat came Up and took her IN tow, getting I'M
der way about p o'clock, and proceeding hherward
Shortly after sunrise, the "Ansonlav Can't, Brooks
from Bridgeport assisted the knickerbocker~ as
far as HaIi's Island, where the Commodore an.
chored, sending her passengers forward on the
KnlckeroookeT" The "Comnodore vii, mob
ably BE- lowed IN this afternoon
A meeting of the passengers held on the
Commodore which was called to order BY Mr.
Sohenek, Of Mansfield, Mass, Ex-senator Simmons