The New York herald., 1866-04-19
The Steamer City of Norwich Run Into
BY the Schooner Gen. s. Van Vliet.
The steamer Burned and the
Schooner Sunk.
SUPPOSED LOSS OF eleven LIVES.
MAn9us OF THE MISSING.
Statement Of One Of the Rescued
Passengers.
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Statement Of One OF the RESCUED
Passengers.
&c &c. &c.
Another Of those shocking and disastrous coils ions
resulting serious loss Of life, which every now and
amin ssartle the community and send the ifeblood
Eseesang through the veins occurred on Long Island
Sound yesterday morning, At about fifteen minutes
before four O'Clock between the large steamer City Of
Norwich and the schooner General s. Van vlet- The
secdent occurred during the prevalence of slight fog,
while the vessels standing upon opposite courses,
ana when they nearly abreast Of Huntington light
Eleven lives supposed 70 have been lost and five or
six persons severely injured The following facts
relating 70 the disaster gathered from those board
sf the different vessels
THE STEAMER UNDER WAY.
The steamer City Of Norwich one Of the large
freight boats belonging to the Norwich and New York
transportation Company, and a. general thing carried
but few passengers She left Norwich, Connecticut,
under the command Of Captain D. B. sturgess, at one
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, with small amount OF
rsighs and half passengers. bound for New Lon
don where she was to receive the balance OF her
esrro pleasant sail of thry-one miles down the river
Thames brought the vessel her destination where
larse and valuable freight awaiting shipment on
board Of her The busy scenes always attendant upon
the ranserence Of merchandise to the hold and deck OF
large Sound steamers was accomplished with
aAs usual and proverbal Yankee dash and energy and
b hapast nine O'Clock the City of Norwich loaded
Utmost her guards AT ten O'Clock, after taking few
more passengers board, which made eleven in all the
fines or and, under pressure of twenty two
bounds Of steam the vessel started her regular voy
Age and beaded for New York. All on board were in the
Best Of spirits little dreaming Of the dreadful calamity
that soon 10 ovortake them.
THE COLLISION.
About three o'clock in the morning light fog or mist
settled on the water, but did not prveent objects at
q distance being plainly seen. At about fifteen min
utes before the lookout the City Of Norwich dis
covered q schooner about hundred feet distant
standing the eastward the wind which course was
heading her directly for the steamer When first seen
the schooner said 70 have had no light forward, but -
the alarm whistle was sounded she showed her
lights but then ate for before the course Of
other vessel could be altered clear Of each
other the coded and the greatest confusion i'm
mediately ensued.
The schooner proved be the General s. Van vliet,
loaded with oysters and was going at good rate Of
speed, the wind was blowing a still breeze. She
struck the City OF Norwich Just forward Of tho port
gangway with great force tearing and ripping her tim
bers and cutting large hole in her port side through
vessel commenced filing very rapidly.
THE STEAMER TAKES FIRE.
Amid the hurried hustle and excitement consequent
upon settling rapidly into the water the
cry Of Gre raised, and in few seconds the
forked tongues Of lvd flame were seen dartng out of
the vessels hold and this added greatly 10 the confusion
that already existed among tho passengers and crew.
The being supplied with upper aud lower fur
nsce the reached the lower fires and forced
the flames into the hreroom where they communicated
with the woodwork, ignited the combustibe materials
with which the filed, and but very few
minutes elapsed before the vessel enveloped in
Games.
As the IRE worked its way through the deck panic
sesed those board and rush was made for the small
boats and life preservers and IL with the greatest
dincuy that the officers could make themselves heard,
no that their orders ana instructions could be obeyed
The prevailing darkness the cracking flames the dense
volumes OF smoke, the piteous supplicatons OF the
and children and the hoarse shouting of the men
added greatly TO the trrors and fearful CONSERVATION OF
all on board OF the ill-fated steamer.
TRYING TO SAVE THE PASSENGERS.
Captain stugess ably assisted bv his officers and crew.
did all n his power aay the fears OF the passengers
and shortly after the alarm Of re was first sounded or
the boats be lowered for the purpose OF saving
Shose the time Of the accident most ol the
passengers and their bcrths soundly asleep,
and awakened from pleasant dreams OF nome only
iustan,aneous death Rushing upon deck, Just they
aroes from their beds they had nothing ON but their
Sukt slof tn
.snhava .nS ~ ,h,s condition. they ran wild and fran
s.cafy about the deck, vany striving TO reach
.Ir.hss ,hs ,hsv hsd with then, and ohers ins
only N s.vnr their lives
The nrst boat IN charge Of Mr. James " Adams OF
shs a,er,sr .nocessflIv lowered and being soon
eIIs6 nuued an IN ! cafe distance from the burning
.sssr,ss. mt shen ths second boat WAS nearly Allied
vith sueh a. The passense and crew AZ could he got
into n espsled and ali we're prccipaicd into the
water. Some OF the poor wretches immediately grAspea
che floating oars, while others clung ienaciousy TO the
boat Tor fully twenty minutes before tney wer rescued
and some sank 70 rss no more As those m tne Ss.e.
eiutohcd the gunwsles In ther enorts 70 keep anoa'
soe ooaa would turn over ana owe. Win 'nem snu ey
oeuid get no nrm hold with which 70 nang on 70 ne
rhsy remained In this periious position unth rescued
by The boats from the propeller ELECTRA
vuv ~ rcru. ro THE ryscuE
-. rroc.,,a, ri.cs,. can,ain 4 " Svc isft Provi.
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