The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-29
NEWS BY THE MAIL S.
Further Particulars ofthe Collision I'm Boston
IInrbor
cArrAIs noNNovAN's sTATEMENT.

CAPTAIN DosNovASs STATEMENT.
The statement OF Captain Donovan OF the Ocean as
We left our wharf at the usual hour Is o'cock) and
proceeded on for Bath, Augusta Hallowell
and other places the kennebec having board from
seventy five hundred passengers; is impossible
10 say with certainty just how many the list aud
other papers destroyed At the time just before
1he collision, of the approach of the
canada aud knew that il she Kept her course she
would inevitably strike us; but lghts were up
and whistle blowing confident that she saw
and heard US and would turn from her course there
several other boats-the steamer Boston Forest
City and Eastern State and ship aud brg-quite near
as were trying to pass TO the right but the Canada
bore directly for US; we perceived this continued
Bouthery course. The Forest City and Ocean were
nearly side by side perhaps the former might have been
quarter OF mile Off Finding that the Canada was fast
coming upon us and must soon strike us we hailed her
as loud as possible calling upon them to put their helm
hard to port. II they had complied, we should have
gone clear and the collision could have occurred
The lights oil the Canada displayed, but on she
came and those Of the and passengers who we're
aware OF the perilous condition in manifested
moment before the collision or at any rate TO lessen
Aer speed. was in the wheel house with the pilots
Bud my mate was probably below when the shock took
place 1t was indeed, awful the bows Of the British
steamer struck jsst abaft the Mrboard wheel emit
tng fearful chasm IN side and admitting the water
An torrents iimmedintey ran below to ascertain the
xent OF the damage, and ~ my utter horror perceived
soat the steamer WAS sinking and that she onfre
hurried upon deck to give the necessary directions
women and children were running in ali directions
snrekng Tor aid, and many threw themselves into the
The flames had In q few moments made sucb searf,l
0esaway, that there was hope possibility Of
cheeLng Their progress; and everything dry
comousabe, the fire spread with alarming rapidy all
er the deck The flames burned the rigging interior of
he boat drapcry-everything fine was sheet of are
pail but portion OF the deck forward | saw the
tcrilous condition, and endeavored, to the extent
- my ability, to restore and preserve order and with
3asonabie success ordered the passengers all forward
y that was the only point OF safety ordered
boats to be lowered instantly with of saving the
Passengers and crew Before the flames had such
Apid Roadway, the British steamer was able to back
0ater and detatch itself from our side.
endeayored to assist the women into the boats first
0ut IN some cases the hames prevented for few mo-
ments, but all who remained not having eaped over
board, were taken Off Igot the starboard feboat down
with great difficulty bnt the wooden cover fell upon me-
severely bruisng my leg and side got many people
board possibly could but in doing so it was with
difficulty that could keep the boat alongside for some
of those first in, being apprehensye we we're over
Crovdng it, attempted to shove Off but retained my
hold to the utmost of my strength having my
Dh in the attempt Finally, when as many could with
safety go in the boat board il left / jump.
ed into another boat and exered ourselves to the ut
most in picking up the poor beings who struggling
in the water We filed boat and put them safely on
Board steamer then returned and resumed work
OF picking up others this continued till boat had
All this time other boats busy as our own in
picking up persons from the water; and when we had
ed boat for the third time there not another
human being to be We believed that all had been
thus rescued who had not been drowned in leapng
Board at FIRST and then got on board the Forest City
believe that the three dead bodies up all who
have perished but it is impossible at this time say
with any degree Of certainty. The of people
rushing aft and jumping overheard at first was proba.
y because the steamer struck about the after gang
way. launched the life boat from the starboard quar-
Ter. Among the last Of the persons picked up Mr.
Kmball clerk Of the boat Several Of those rescued
had life preservers on
The last person rescued from the wreck was
.ho hung in the rigging, or chung to the woodwork on
ahe bows while the flames rolled all around him. He
taken of safely Had there been perfect order after
the collision took place. it is quite probable that there
was time enough to have taken off every soul with
safety. There were probably many twenty small
boats engaged in the of persons from the water
and wreck Charles Pope a colored passenger who was
saved, was so badly injured that his recovery is
tremely doubtful His wife very badly bruised.
In less than hour from the time the fire broke out
nhe wrecked steamer grounded the flats Deer
Island. About thirty men and boys were employed
years and this the first accident ever met with The
Canada stopped evidently before the collision but did
mot sheer out OF her had she done So the acct
dent would not have occurred.
MIR. MILLIKRN's STATEMENT.
Mr. c. Mken, first mate of the Forest City, corrobo-
rated the account given by Captain Donovan. He saw
LEI Of the sufferers He took command Of one boat
he sea wa. pretty rouab said he Eve took into our
eFere all in imminent ger but we got hold Of the
Bottom of the boat sustained ourselves until
smother boat come to relief We then proceeded
Agan in pursuance of the purpose pick up the
survivors filed boat with persons, and again
relieved of our company by putting them on board the
steamer
II was now so dark that we were utterly unable to
distinguish boat from another. We took up two
dead bodies, man and woman and subsequently the
body of little child, all Of which have on
board Two boats were sent out by the Forest City
had charge Of and the second mate, William Lee
had charge Of the other The passengers generally
rescued as fast as they jumped overheard.
The OF the two boys saved Edward Proctor,
aged H. and John Cole aged 49, and belong to Bath,
and were their way to that place to ship for sea.
young Proctor says that he twice clutched at little
chnd floating BY him, but in consequence Of man
jumping from the Ocean Immediately upon him, he was
unable to retain his hold.
little child, three years old whose parents could
the England child ws
ing in the water, crying for its mother.
The parents Of the above child, Immediately after the
collision and acting under the then prevailing panic and
ronsternation which had seized upon ALL to
Kiss each other, embrace, and leap into the water,
where they undoubtedly persisted.
A Mr. bartholomew Grady passenger on the Ocean,
soon after the collision leaped into boat with his child
little girl in his arms but the boat was turned over
billy drowned
Mr. Kennedy, passenger in the Ocean, picked up
5nsensble but rcsusctated after being brought
board the Forest City:
The Neptune arrived at her dock at about IL O'Clock,
Lady and little boy, survivors Of the i'll fated steamer
The little boy above is about four years old,
and attributes his preservation to the fact that he was
Two young ladies, each about is years Of age were
rescued by the Quarantine boat and brought to this city
and placed in the New England House.
The ladies at the New England House turned out en-
asse gave up their rooms clothes and took charge OF
he two unfortunate and rendered every assistance IN
ther power which ladies' under such circumstances,
Know SO well how to bestow At last accounts they
were doing well, and had nearly recovered from their
fright consequent upon their exposure
dropped his anchor at Quarantine about quarter OF
mile from the Ocean, when he heard the crash OF the
uwo steamers. He Immediately put oil with his best
Boat and reaching the scene was instrumental in
paving great many lives. Capt II is at the New Eng
land House - 49,
The Ocean was staunch boat six years old built in
gew York. of $50 tons burthen and valued at 5000
here Is no insurance the vessel Her freight con-
listed Of oil dry goods and large amount OF other
,erchandse and destined and owned principally in
Bath.
The following is list OF the officers OF the Ocean
Richard Donovan Captain Charles Kncade, first mate;
Fred Kimbal, clerk; John Jewett second clerk Geo
Stlfen first pilots James Collins, second pilot James
Soiners first engineer Eugene Good, second engineer
DIR Kelly, steward.
Captain Hussey asserts that he observed several small
boats about the wreck OF the Ocean, picking up trunks
uuggagc and such freight aoated Without any appa
rent intention restoring il TO the proper quarter but