The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-08
COLLISION ON TIE SOUND.
The Steamboats, Doris and New.
port Run Into Each Other
Off Fishers Island.
Narrow Escape from d
Terrible Calamity.

The Sound steamboats, Doris, OF the Providence
hne and the Newport, OF the Fail River line. came
IN collision on the eastern end of Fishers Island
twenty minutes past twelve O'Clock on Saturday
morning. The Doris was on her regular trip 10
TINS city ana the Newport running to the east
ward, having left pier 20 North River on time
frlaay afternoon The night was every dirty as
~ was expressed, the snow falling so fast and
thick as TO prevent the officers on watch from see
ing any considerable distance Fortunately the
damage done the vessels is not serious and so far
as could be ascertaned ID one was injured
Inc DORIS reached her pier, q North River in
good season yesterday morning, and about noon n
HERALD reporter found Captain TORY sitting at
the dinner table In the small after cabin writing It
was said, MS statement oil the collision. When re-
quested to give 1t for publication nc
mOdestly refused on the ground that IL
would be injudicious, as in all likelihood
a lawsuit would grow out OF the affair, and he
wished to be right on the record. He said how
ever, that the damage to the Doris was not OF a
serious nature; that nobody was hurt and the ma
chinery not deranged. While Captain TORY was
decidedly courteous, one Of the party with him in
the cabin, and evidently belonging in the engine
or fire room of the vessel seemed to greatly fear
that the former would furnish statement for pub
LEGATION, as, interrupting the conversation thus
going on with the reporter, he advised him to re-
frain from speaking about it in the forcible yet
hardly polite language OF Don't say Cd d-n
thing about it, Captain" This refined and mild
hammered engineer or fireman thought his inter
ference a master stroke OF diplomacy and
looked for all the world as If he was proud of the
ADVICE he had given. Finding Captain TORY de-
cosion the '' llama damage e done the Steamboat
was Inspected py the reporter, when 1t was
as Saa IN
hull twelve feet from the bow on the starbOard
side, Just above the water line, and this was
covered with canvas and boards nailed over each
end OF the CLOTH There can be no possible doubt
that this steamboat had narrow escape from
lost they must have been in the terrible snow
storm then raging
The next person visited was the agent OF the
Providence line, Mr.. Isaac Odell. He knew nothing
about the particulars Of the collision, or, il he did
Ss tn 3
they have got to say; we don't think we are to
Pursuing the inquiry, MI Mangam, freight agent
OF the FAN River line. to which the Newport
belongs, was called upon. He had not been ad-
that in his Interview with Captain TORY, Of the
Doris, an hour so before, the latter admitted
that notn ooats nad slowea t taelr engines before
to the bottom. Nobody was hurt, and the damage
There is not the least doubt that the passengers
and crews OF the Doris and Newport narrowly
escaped terrible calamity.
Held To he In the Wrong-Memories
OF the Metfs Disaster.
NEWPORT, r. l., Feb. Z, 1874.
What threatened to be an appalling accident
through kind Providence has been averted, and
a repetition OF the horrors Of the Metis disaster
also avoided. The propeller Doris, as already an
nounced, while on her way to New York. nom
Providence, colided with the steamer Newport.
Captain Simmons of the FAN River line. The lat
ter's stem was turned completely around, and the
heavy wood ends above the water line were crushed
to atoms; the nagstaG was also carried away.
Both vessels lay to for some time. binding
snow storm was prevailing at the time, and IN
order to examine the extent OF their injuries.
The Doris reported mo DAMAGE to the officers
OF the Newport
Sails were Immediately placed over the hole in
,he Newport Fortunately the water was very
smooth and she did not leak faster tnan she could
be kept free by the pumps. She arrived here at
seven O'Clock, and alter discharging freight, pro-
ceeded to Fall River. This was an ill-advsed plan,
and it Is singular that the fate OF the Bristol which,
it Will be remembered coilided with and sunk the
British bark Bessie Rogers. August 10, 1872, and
after touching here, proceeded to Fall River, and
was obliged to be beached near Coal Mines TO pre-
vent her sinking, was not warning in this IN
stance. There was some CONSERVATION among the
passengers, but the majority Of them were remark
ably COOL The repair shop OF the company being
thls afternoon.
1t is estimated that at the least it will take two
weeks to repair the damages.
Your correspondent, upon inquiry on board the
! Newport this evening, ascertained that signal
| was given by the Newport for the Doris to fall or
TO the lett, the Newport at the same time steering
/ to the right, but the Doris also steering to the
RICH. and turning much faster than The Newport
was the cause OF the collision.
Nothing but an impartial investigation will de-
! termne who Is TO blame in the matter.
The Empire State, which goes on In the place or
the Newport, will probably not reach New York
before Sunday afternoon. Since last fall she has
been laid up In the bend OF the harb0r,
near the Asylum, and consequently was
not in readiness for service. Having no donkey
engine the hand pumps are being used to f her
boilers. Her anchors are also last In the mud, and
large force OF workmen are engaged In getting
| them up.
| Captain TORY, who had charge Of the Doris. was
| chief mate on the MetIs, owned by the same COM
pany at the time OF the loss Of the latter on Watch
Hill, aud 1t is singular fact that the collision this
morning occurred at about the same time. and alss
near the same spot, as the Metis disaster.