Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-04-27
The Destruction of the Steamer
City of Norwich.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.

fortunate steamer City Of Norwich, which
was run into, disabled, and afierward con-
sumed by fire Wednesday morning, April
18th, gives detailed account of the event,
by which ten persons lost their lives.
q Mr.. Tracy states that about half.past
three O'Clock on Wednesday morning,while
the steamer was pursuing her regular
course, just opposite Huntington, l.. l., he
perceived, about one thousand feet from
his port side, the shade Of dim light on
the sail of schooner coming toward the
City of Norwich. He Immediately hove
the wheel TO port and slowed speed, stopped,
and then backed the boat. Bot the sailing
vessel continued straight ahead, and with
terrible force struck the City OF Norwich
in her forward gangway, on the port side,
tearing away the guards, and staving in
/ her sides, sinking herself shortly after
ward. He Immediately blew three whis-
ties, as a signal of distress to any vessels
that might be in sight, or hearing distance
I
and endeavored 10 turn the head of the
vessel toward Huntington beach, distant
about two miles and half, confding in the
strength of the forward water-tight bulk
head to keep the boat afoat until she could
be run ashore. She careened, however,
to port, and could not be managed. by
this time passengers and crew were all
aroused, and came from their bsrths halt
clad, and trembling with fear.
In the meantime the waters continued to
rush into the aperture made by the sailing
vessel, and, in about ten minutes from the
time Of the collision, reached the lower
furnaces, causing the burning Goals TO be
thrown on the decks and timber work OF
the steamer. In the twinkling of an eye
the engine room was one mass OF flames.
With wonderful rapidity they spread to
, the upper decks, and enveloped the fore
part of the vessel.
At this moment the confusion and con-
:. sternation among the pas sengers and crew
: : utterly defy description. Captain Sturgis
and his officers seized hold Of whatever
life preservers they could catch from the
flames and distributed them among th'
persons on deck. The crew had become
unmanageable, and the captains order
for the safety of the passengers were no
needed. Huddled together at the ster
OF the vessel, ca h oCe intent on savin
himself, regardless of what fate might be
fall his neigh Dor, the fear-stricken men an
women stood regarding the slow but sur
approach of the roaring flames to the only
part of the vessel that yet remained intact
Some, preferring to risk life at the mere,
of the waves, did not wait till forced into
the water by the fiery element, but plung
ed into the surging pillows and seized hold
of whatever straw seemed TO hold out {
9 hope of safety. The screeches of the two
or three women on board rent the air will
terrible shrillness, and the men stamped
= and cried, and prayed and cursed; while
others, utterly overcome by fear, sank dowr
on the slerE sheets, or slid over the guard
lisless and half dead before dying. In
The meantime by the ex rtions Of the more
collected portion of the crew and passen
gers, the only life boat that could be laiC
hold of was lowered, and scarcely had Sh
touched the water before the flames cam
roaring around the fan-taiP of the steam
err forcing those who yet remained OF
board to jump off, or let go their grasl
from the timbers near the stern and rud
der.
The affrighted men and women in tn
water,som with life preservers and other
floating on boxes and boards, now mad
for the life-boat, and in an instant she wa
sunk to the level of the water by the mum
Der of those who endeavored to crawl owe
:. her sides. The captain and the pilot di
=, all in their power to keep the crew in sui
- jeeiion, and, as they struggled and fougl
&c to get into the boat, begged them to han
:, by the sides and not get into her and a
"a wonld be saved. But words were una
vailing. The men tore at each other lik
% madmen and struggled to raise themselvt
/, into the already filled boat. At last, struc
80 by heavy wave, the boat swamped an
!, everybody was thrown into the wafer
!, All efforts 10 right her prove fruitless, an
during those awful few moments moi
than one went down TO rise no more. I'll
:, scene that was now presented by the burr
!, ing vessel and her surroundings was teri
BILE in the extreme. The flames from Il
City of Norwich lit up the Sound f
-, miles around, revealing a most appallir
!. . sight For over quarter of mile, {
.be every side, the waters were covered vii
burning be xes and bales Of all desert
!; tions, amid which the struggling drownin
ones, the swimmers, and those with lie
preservers, were endeavoring to susta