Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-09-02

Is d relleI from tue Oteau with WhlcG the first
tidings were received. The stories of the sur
vivors tell of fearful scenes on the sinking YES
sci and on the frail deck, which floated away with
its freight of terrified passengers and was dashed
to pieces in the angry surf, in sight of hundreds
of plying spectators, powerless 10 help the poor
creatures struggling for life in tie waves tossed
backward and forward by the breakers, as if in
cruel sport, and at last flung dead or exhausted
OIL the beach. Thase scenes are painful enough,
but after all, less distressing than some other
steamship disasters. where fire and scaldng
steam added to the terror and torture of the VIC
Tins, or than the hideous massacres sometimes
the result of railroad collisions.
1t is not quite agreed how the collision in tits
case .ook place. The officers of the steamer dc
clare that it was caused by the misconduct of
those navigating the schooner. What the latter
have to say FOR themselves is not yet ascer-
tanned. A report comes from New Haveh, which
we have nowhere seen confirmed, and which
perhaps deserves no notice, that the boats of the
New York and Providence line have long been
dreaded by the navgators of the sound, on ac-
count of their habitual disregard of the usual
precautions against collision. One account says
that the schooner's lights, il she had them, could
hardly have been seen through the storm, until
it was too late. All agree that the
night was wild and dark, with heavy
rain, high wind and rough sea, and
it is possible that no one should
be greatly blamed for the collision. But for
what took place afterward it is impossible not
to impute blame to the officers of the steamer,
1t was within their power and was certainly
their duty to ascertain whether serious damage
had been done. Help was offered by the Ston-
| ington, but refused, in the mistaken belief that
| it was not needed; yet within few minutes
| when the StoningtOn had passed beyond recall,
| the Nets was found to be sinking, and in less
| than an hour she had gone to the bottom. No
one can believe that an injury so great as to sink
the vessel in that short time could not have been
| discovered at once, if reasonable care had been
used in making the examination.
The conduct of the captain afterward seems to
have been courageous aud humane. For his
| well directed efforts to inspire his passengers
with courage and to preserve lite, he received
| the grateful Acknowledgements of the survivors,
\ but if he had possessed the prudence and eau
| ton that his position demanded, he might have
saved every life by not rejecting offered help I'M
1 til he had taken care to be sure that no help was
| needed.
The latest intelligence from the scene Of the
disaster will be found in our telegraphic col
umns. The following narrative of the events of
the night by a passenger whose home is in
| Brooklyn, we find in the New York World. 1t
| is perhaps as clear and complete as any that
| has been published:
1--WE left New York shortly after five P. NJ
| Thursday, and nothing OF special note occurred
| until the evening had far advanced, when vio-
| lent gale came up, and every person was forced
| to leave the deck. In few minutes rain began
| 10 fall, and the vessel rocked so heavily that
| nearly all the passengers became sick. By mid
| night it was almost impossible for any person
to stand up, and even then many who were ner-
| y0us had presentiments OF danger. 1t was very
| late when retired and it appeared but short
| time after when was suddenly Weakened by the
| halt of the steamer. My first thought was that
! we were aground, and felt certain, judging from
/ the state of the weather when | had retired
! from the deck, that our position was very pre-
| carious and Immediately made preparations TO
| devise some means to save myself. When |
| reached the upper deck | heard we had collided
! with schooner, and though looked in all di-
rections for the vessel, failed to see 1t.
| The scene on board ut the time was heart
rending-women with children cinging to their
| ulHul-uItSStb slODu iIuldilACu Win lCdi3 anu
| were scarcely able 10 move, others who were on
| deck sweoned away, and remained where they
| had fallen, while many OF the rem aiming women
| and children ran around the deck screaming
| and crying. Husbands were looking for their
! wives while little children who in the excite
ment had become separated from their parents
| ran from room to room in search OF them, and
| crying as though their hearts would break 1t
would be impossible for me to describe
the minute details of that few minutes;
but formy part as long as live l shall never
| forget it. A number of persons on board and
who am sorry to say call themselves men, were
not only greedy but heartless. Needless of the
| women and children who were already panic
| stricken, they thought. only of themselves, and
took possession of two and three life-preservers
| together with many other articles which
| would help save their lives. The result was,
| that scarcely any of the females on board were
| left any means to keep them from being lost.
| Ia less than two minutes after the collision
| the main deck was crowded, and some of the
| passengers, who imagined that the steamer
| was sinking, were preparing to jump over
| board, prelerrine to risk their lives in this way
than wait until the vessel was going down.
| The captain, however, did considerable to allay
the panic by assuring the people that no in
| jury was done to the steamer, and directed the
| pilot TO 90 in search Of the schooner. This
| was at fifteen minutes past four A. N. We
| sailed around in a circle for fully fifteen min
utes, but could see nothing that resembled a
| schooner. Just then the Stonington passed us,
| but receiving assurances that we were all right
| they continued on their journey.
| Scarcely had they left US than the cry was
| raised that we were filing with water, and al
| most simultaneously with the report the fires
| were extinguished. This intelligence tended TO
! demoralze all on board, and a repetition of the
| first scenes were re-enacted, but in a more
| frightful and terrible manner. The women and
| many of the men appeared TO have no control
/ over their movements, and refused TO make any
| effort to save themselves except by crowdiDg on
| the hurricane deck. Immediately three boats
| were lowered from the daVits, but by some acct
| dent one was swamped. To be candid, | would
| not venture my life in any one of the boats, and
it was miracle that all were not sunk as soon as
| they touched the water, for when the second
| report Of our sinking was announced u very
heavy sea was running, which threatened de-
| struction even TO vessel. Strange as it now
| occurs TO me, never during the whole time lost
| my presence of mind, aud to this fact alone do
| ascribe my escape. Not being able to procure
a lifepreserver, / stood ready to launch a
| bale Of cotton, TO which intended to hang until
was picked up. Every minute showed that
| the vessel was sinking lower and lower, and
| those on board stood speechless awaiting their
| fate. The poor women, who were huddled to.
gether on the hurricane deck, scarcely uttered a
| word, while the children stood by their side
| seemingly incapable of viewing the situation in
its true light, confident that no harm could be-
Slowly but surely the steamer kept settling
down, and when within few inches Of the main
deck bale after bale Of cotton was flung over
board, followed by two and three men who chung
TO each Of them. All Of a sudden the vessel
made a final plunge, a cry OF agony rent the
air, and the hull sank to the bottom leaving the
| hurricane deck on the surface. How the two
| portions Of the vessel became detached it is i'm.
/ possible to tell; but one thing is certain, it was
the only means which saved the lives Of any who
were on board.
As near as can remember was about one
hour aud half in the water, and made many
/ efforts TO guide my bale in the direction of the
| hurricane deck, which was riding the waves like
| an old whale boat While was coniecturing
| on my chances for escape the deck suddenly
neared me and cried for help. One of the men
| threw me a rope, which | caught and was pulled
| aboard in perfectly exhausted condition. The
raft at the time Of its separation from the hull
was some five miles from shore but the tide kept
| running it into the beach. We could see the
| people lined along the shore, and felt confident
| that what remained of our party were saved.
| This belief was greatly strengthened as we no.
| ticed that the people who were in the two boats
| were rescued. When within short distance of
| shore we could SEQ the immense breakers which
were rolling toward the beach, but gave II but a
| passing thought, thinking that when we had
| survived the sea Of few hours previous no pos.
sible accident could belall US when so near shore
| Scarcely had we reached the first swell than the
| trail raft was suddenly pitched edgewise aud