St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-02-14
The Northfleet Disaster.
SAD SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

The details of the terrible disaster to
the ship Northtieet is published, from
which it appears that III haifpast ten
1t night the Captain and others We're
alarmed 10y Il cry from the officer of the
watch. "A steamer is right into us. =
The captain and pilot rushed on deck,
had run into the vessel. striking her
mid>hips and cutting her below the wa
ter mark. The carpenter reported her
nearly half full of water
The pumps were started promptly
and the crew worked hard at them for
some minutes, but when it WAS found
the water was rapidly gaining, a panic
seemed to seize both the crew and pas
sengers, and the officers could not keep
the latter i'll check. \ crowd of men
and women had rushed up from their
hcrths, many only half clothed. The
Passengers had mostly retired. but II
few were undressing.
The noise of the collision is likeucd
10y one of them to Il peal of thunder.
and such WAS the violence of the shock
that those standing were knocked down.
1t appears that the steamer rebounded
and came Il second time in collision
with the NoIthticet. Water began To
pour i'll. and i'll IL very short time the
passengers quarters We're swampcd.
The women were slower to rush on
deck than the men, and many were not
i'll condition to 20 until Tie water rose
threatemingly around them. Noone on
board the steamer WAS heard to speak
although the loud and eager shouts
th.. ti..at 4.
her crew aware of the terrible danger
that existed.
She backed for two OF three minutes
and then >tcamimg rapidly away, wa,
soon out of sight. For half an hour tn.
scene on the deck of the Northtlect was
appalling. Women shrieked. mel
cursed, sw"re and fought their way to-
ward the boats. while the captain and
first mate roared out commands to the
men To keep back and allow the women
to get to the side of the vessel, but ap-
parentlN without success.
Rockets were fired and blue lights
bnrned. gun was loaded, but the
screw of the lamrod became detached
from the handle and the piece could not
he discharged. Signals of distress were
seen 10y several vessels, but appear Ia
have been regarded us signals for Il nj
lot. Meanwhile the scene on deck bat
Ties description. The captain finding
the men determined to leave the YES
sci went below and armed himself with
IA revolver, and ascending to the poou
deck declared his determination tu
shoot the first man who tried to leave
the vessel before the women were saved
hAf first 1,,, .I,.>.l
by number of the passengers by cut
ting the ropes. There being no ladder
at hand, the only way of getting into it
WAS 10y leaplng or dropping some twelve
or hfteen feet. As there was IL terrible
rush toward the boat the scene was Of
IL distressing confusion. and man and
Il boy fell into the water and were
drowned
The officers did all they could ia
force the men who first got the boat ia
leave il that the women might he saved
but To no purpose, even firing with
blank cartridges. 1t is supposed thai
at first 1t WAS unavailing. About thir-
ty persons having got into it. the boat
put of. Not one of the crew Were. il,
ii.
Another liteboat was launched \
man got into it and was ordered /,
leave. He refused. and the captai,
shot him i'll the calf Then Captai,
Knowles placed his wife i'll the boat an,
said to the bOatsWalm, who had alread,
got i'll. - Here's il charge for YOU. Bos'n
take care of her and the rest, and Go,
bless You" Wringing his wite's han,
lie babe her Good bye.' saving. -.
shall never see Won ap;Iiu''
1t is impossible to describe the PAM,
that ragged all this time. Heartrendin.
scenes were witnessed on all sides On,
OF the passengers seeing the captain
wife Ill the boat threw his own wife in