Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-01-07
LOSS OF STEAMER VANDERBILT ON LONG
ISLAND SOUND.

The steamer Vanderbilt, of the Stoningtol
line, from New York for Stonington, wen
ashore at Race Point, Fishers Island, Tuesda,
morning at about o'clock. She has three
holes stove in her bow, and is partly full o
water. The passengers all landed safe OF
Fishers Island. The place where the disaster
occurred is about mile from the spot where
the Atlantic was lost in 1s47. The New Lon
don Star gives the following particulars:
'The Vanderbilt left New York on Monday
afternoon at her usual hour, A p. NJ. Off Hun
tington, it became thick and commenced snow
ing, and an effort was made to make Bartlett
Reef light boat, but it failed in consequence OF
the snow and high wind. After this the pilot
felt his way with the lead until the boat struck
on the rocks about O'clock Tuesday morn
ing,a little to the North and East of Race
Point, near the Government boat house, about
thirty yards from the shore. Immediately be-
fore she struck she was in ten fathoms of wa
ter. The crew and passengers remained on
board until 10 o'clock, Tuesday morning, the
storm still raging violently. A boat was then
lowered, party went ashore, and found the
Government boat house, containing a stove,
&c. They Immediately made fire and got
the lady passengers, thirteen of them into the
The boat was discovered Wednesday morn
ing from New London, where several vessels
and steamers went to her, but it was so rough
that they could not go alongside She had
seventy passengers, and they were taken to
West Harbor by teams, where they were put
on board schooner chartered for the OCCASION
and will! be taken to Stonington and sent over
the Stonington road to their destination. No
one was injured. The boat is a valuable one,
and this is her first trip with new boilers, sc.
She had no insurance. 1t seems to be the
unanimous opinion that she will go to pieces
being bilged in two places. We learn had she
gone ashore few rods from where she did,
the loss of life must have been great Lieut.
Carson, of the revenue cutter James Campbell,
brought off the United States mails in charge
of United States route-agent Mr.. Philbreck,
who accompanied them to Providence, via the
shore route"
The Providence Post says:
eve learn from Mr.. Jacob Silloway, of this
city, who was a passenger in the Vanderbilt,
that an anchor was let go before the boat
struck, but the chain snapped in two almost
instantly, and she went on broadsde to the
rocks. On the morning, before leaving, the
passengers took breakfast in the ladies' cabin.
A boat was then got out from the after gang
way, and after being connected with the shore
by means of ropes, the passengers were all ta-
ken off. The ladies, thirteen in number, were
taken off first. Each man took blanket and
a mattrass with him, which articles contributed
very much to the comfort of the company in
the house on shore. Mr.. S. said the water was
up to the lower tier of berths when he left the
boat. The personal baggage was saved, but
the freight was not taken off. Yesterday
morning,th the male passengers walked up to the
farm house, whence they were taken by
schooner chartered by Capt. Frazee, and con-
veyed to Stonington. Mr.. Silloway informs
us that as Capt. Frazee was walking up from
the wreck to see his passengers off in the
schooner, he dropped down in a fit from which
he had not recovered when the vessel left the
island.
The conduct of Capt. Frazee and his officers
during the trying scenes of the disaster is
warmly recommended by the passengers, near
ly all of whom joined in card testifying to
their appreciative consideration"