The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-24
ANOTHER COLI .Sl0N ON THE SOUND.
One Steamer Sent to the
Bottom.
ENGINEERS and Firemen Seri-
onsly Injured.
Narrow Escape of the
Passengers.
THE COLLISION.

Abont eleven O'Clock on Thursday night the
steamer Continental left her dock at New Haven,
bound for New York. and by one O'Clock yester-
day Taorning when about five miles or the port, she
sigi ted the propeller Northampton, which vessel
let this port at six on Thursday evening. The
Continental was going very nearly at full speed,
heading southwest by south. ana the propeller was
mang her best time, running east northeast for the
hasbor. The law is that vessels approaching in this
manner should sound one whistle and pass 70 the
right or, in the event OF not being able 10 execute
that manoeuvre, sound two whistles and pass TO the
left. The statements OF the captains which are given
below, conflict as to the manner In which the required
sgnals were given and answered. and further EVIL
dcnce VIII be required on this head before any deci-
sion can be arrived at. 1t appears however, that
the pilot OF the Northampton endeavored TO cross
the bow OF the Continental, which was holding
STRAIGHT on the course she was pursuing when
sighted. The pilot OF the Continental Immediately
gnaled the engineer reverse the engine, but the
vessel being under full head of steam the headwav
could not be checked in time, and the boats came to-
gether with terrific shock. Tie bow OF the Cont
mental struck the Northampton on the port slde just
sbait midships, and nearly severed her In twain.
The CASUALTIES.
As the ramke bow Of the Continental crashed
through the hun OF the Northampton il broke the
steanpipe OF that Inflated vessel and the steam
rushed out and instantly filled the state rooms. Mr..
Beach, the chief engineer had the presence Of mind
to cover his mouth and nostrils, ana thus escaped
with few severe external scads but several Of the
nremen OF the propeller were dangerously scalded,
poor fellow receiving such frightful injuries that
his recovery is considered almost impossible.
THE PASSENGERS
OF either vessel were with few exceptions, thrown
into the widest terror and CONSERVATION by the
awful shock OF the collision and for time all was
horror and confusion. Nearly all Of those who had
retired TO rest thrown from their berths by the
violence OF the conclusion ana dashed against the
walls and nooring OF their rooms. Those yet In the
saloon and the few who were on deck were hurled
from their seats and standing places and hardly one
escaped without some slight injury. The first awful
sensation the panic-stricken passengers rushed
10 me decks OF their respective vessels and greatly
70 know what had happened, women and children
shrieked in alright. and the poor sufferers
steam, which was rushing ''' furiously 'I from
the broken pipe ana filling the compartments
sooner did the passengers and crew Of the Continent
tai discover that their vessel was not seriously dam
age aged than they Jumped on board the Nortnamp,
only upheld by the clutch her centre beams had
the bow, and labored CALAMITY in extricating the
poor sufferers who were wedQed In the debris. The
bow OF the Continental struck the stateroom occu-
pied by Miss Carrie f. Brown, OF Brooklyn and
crushed completely through the apartment. On
covering from the confusion occasioned by being so
rndely awakened from her slumbers the young lady
compartment that She was unable to move. Hear
ing her cries OF distress some OF the passengers
Of the Continental succeeded in penetrating
TO the spot and rcscuing her by cutting
q hole through the wall Miss Brown Is a
charming and accomplished young girl OF about
10 death in her berth Is almost miraculous and ex-
fraordinary to relate. She did not receive the
slightest scratch or bruise She recovered her COM
posure almost Immediately on being released and
did not seem to realize the extent OF the danger
through which she had been 81 wonderfully pre-
served.
The colored walters on board the Northampton
behaved In q most cowardy ana disgraceful man.
ner. In their selfish fear they seized upon all the
life preservers and left the women. children and
wounded men to sink or swim as best they could. As
many OF these despicabe darkies as could he found
when the confusion was over were soundly thrashed
by the indignant passengers OF the Continental.
STATEMENT OF THB CAPTAIN OF THE CONTINENTAL.
Captain j. Downs. OF the Continental, made the fol-
lowing statement 10 our rep0rter:-
when about i've miles on the port OF New Haven.
my lookout signalled "Vessei ahead" made ont n
vessel on our starboard bow carrying two lights,
red one on the port and green one on her sarboard
side. Took her for sailing vessel. Steamers should
carry bow and stern lights. she was bound to east
ward and we were heading west. aimed TO give
her wide BERTH but she turned southwark. Made
her out to be the Northampton. Seeing her coming
across bows we reversed engines, but
had too much Roadway to re able to back in time.
We struck her on the port side, abaft the boiler.
The shock was pretty severe on the Continental We
turned TO and got OF her passengers and crew,
and then finding she didn't go down tried
TO shove her INTO shoal water. We got
she instantly went down. she settled in three ia
thoms eighteen feet or water II was then half
tide. As she lies now her promenade deck Is about
level with the water the stern is down llttle II
was about ten minutes 10 two when she went down.
We then started back TO New Haven, where VIC
was on our starbosrd bow when sighted and ought
20 have held on her course Our lights were burning
brightly. IL was clear morning. There was con-
siderable excitement among the passengers, but
they soon quieted down.
WHAT THE CAPTAIN or THE NORTHAMPTON SAYS.
a N.
The Continental was about mile OF when ne hIst
sighted her. When she was sunclen'N near one
going 10 pass TO the rgnt. The Continental was
heading about southwest by west and the Northamp-
Ten was holding east northeast. The Continental
did not answer the whistle promptly.
Captain Stannard was landed at New Haven and
has not yet had time TO make a full report lie says,
however that lie directed the course OF his vessel
IN accordance with the law and that the Continental
was not so directed.
Mr.. James l.. Amsden OF Wesileld, Mass, who
witnessed the collision from the deck OF the Conti-
mental gives the following interesting details:-
When they FIRST eightcd the boats were heading
pretty nearly direct FOR each other. The whistles
were sounded simultaneously: but the signal being
misunderstood b. the pilot of the propeller, he at
tempted TO cross the bow OF the Continental which
wa keeping on its direct course under full head
this bunRng manUuyre II became apparent that
collision was inevitable. The pilot OF the Contnen
engine, but the Roadway u the large vessel
could not be checked. me bow OF the
GDntlucntdi hiruck the northampton on ncr
side crushing clean through the siaterOoms. "A the
bow OF the first named steamer crushed the upper
works OF the Northampton the steam pipe Of the
latter vessel was severed, and the steam rushing out
Glled the hold and staterooms. The engineer Of the
propeller was scalded aud number OF pas
sengers, whose names could not be learned in the
confusion incident to terrible affair suffered
elmilar but less severe injuries. All who could be
found after dligcnt search were taken on, the
gneer being found at his poet In dying condition
ON nasty investigation being made IL was found
that tne NoTthempton was in sinking condition.
being only held above the surface OF the water by
hanging a dead weight the bow OF the Conti-
mental which was .stin closely wedged into her hull
and upper works
Miss Brown the young lady who had such mar. |
row escape, lost all her baggage and Quantity ~
ye very Asteam tug, with barge in tow came up (
Jus after the collision, and the request OF me
Can tain OF the Continental lay by for time snd |
TOOK of some OF the passengers. The colored wait.
ers OF the Northampton were the worst scared OF anv
partles on board, their selfish instincts prompting
ti,a.. a. tn aban.