The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-27
Scenes Mt Fire Island.
FIRE IgI AMI Nav % 1

Scenes mt Fire Island.
FIRE ISLAND May %, 1874.
The iervent prayer Of the Florida wreckers,
"Please God, send some ships ashore" was
brought to mind yesterday on this little sand
island-whch possesses nothing remarkable but
its splendid lighthouse and its hotel-when shril
whistle OF distress was heard from some steamer
apparently stranded but q few hundred yards dis
tant. The treacherous and moving sands OF Fire
Island have engulphed many noble sailing craft In
late years. among which may be mentioned the
Persia, cyclone. &C., and, in fact, the Whole Long
Island shore between Montauk Point and Coney
Island is dotted with hulls Of stranded vessels.
The last well known ship lost on this coast is that
OF the French steamer Alexandra Lavalley, which
went ashore or Southampton beach, and is now
q hopeless wreck, deep sunken in the sand. It
may be here mentioned, while abiding to the loss
OF this fine steamer, that she had pilot on board,
but her captain, to save the ''on shore" piotage
Of perhaps. $780, had refused to accept his services
till he made Sandy Hook Lightship, and hence, In
all probability, the cause Of the disaster.
Louder still. through the foggy air, came
the sound Of the shrill whistle, and
few seconds later Mrs. b. s. sammis,
the wife Of the proprietor OF the hotel down to
the beach in the dense log, and during heavy
rain, to see what assistance she could contrive to
render to the distressed mariners in the absence
OF her husband. TO HERALD reporter, who ar
reported IN New York that large ocean Steamer Te
following statement:-
My name Is Mrs. b. S. Sammis. AT nine O'Clock
this morning l heard several whistles from q
lighthouse. Upon running down to the beach
discovered that large ocean steamer was ashore,
and that some eight or ten people from the Light
any effort to render assistance. They stated that
they would not be allowed to take out the govern
ment surf boat, as 1t was locked up. told them
that the boat In question must be got out forth
with. and after good deal OF delay the boat was
launched, mann "a % with a volunteer crew. under
Meanwhile sent orders to the hotel to have
fires lighted IN the bedrooms and TO get clothing
time thought 1t possible that the steamer might
be filing, and Thought /! would be prepared with
sengers.
ATTACHING A LINE TO THE SHORE.
Meanwhile the surf boat had reached the ship
the shore. When the boat came back learned
that the name OF the vessel was the Idaho, and
Immediately sent over a boat to Babylon with .
teegraphic despatch TO the owners In Wall street,
telling them of the misfortune to their ship and
that she was stranded between the lighthouse and
our house, Meanwhile the ships boats were being
lowered, and the Captain gave orders to COM
At about eleven O'Clock the cabin passengers were
landed here and cared for by u.s. There were sew.
era laule6 among them, ana Cney all acCed, nave
lear when told that they must enter the small
boats. Owing to the drencning rain the passengers
Will remain with US till tomorrow Tuesday.
WHAT Mr. sAMMrs HAS TO SAY.
My name Is B. s. Sammis The escape OF the
Idaho in not leaving her bones here Is something
wonderful. Had she gone ashore al nlgh wafer
nothing in the world could have saved her. for she
would have worked into the sand. snc carried
her anchors out and put steam to Them 6ut It had
no effect till the swelling OF the tide lifted her. and
she proceeded on her voyage TO New YORK, ap.
the beach. l only arrived on the island at three
O'Clock, when found Mr.. sandman, the purser OF
the Idaho, here asking me TO get transport for the
to BABYLON. / then obtained eight boats and at
six O'Clock they were all landed on the Long
Island shore, OF Babylon, and proceeded to the
Central Railroad station, by which they were
had come ashore at high water the Idaho would
have worked her way into the sand like the French
steamer Alexandra Lavalley, now lying on
the ood they could eat and d our best
respect for the poor people. ! would not give
them any whiskey, however, and consequently
kept the bar closed while they were here.
STATEMENT OF ONR OF THE CABIN PASSENGERS
Upon entering the hotel In the evening the cabin
passengers were all found eating their supper,
and, DOUBTLESS. congratulating themselves upon
they might thank their lucky stars, for many
points OF the Long Island coast show no signs al
human habitation for miles, and the women and
children would have Jared hardly II they had been
rain In the ,narshy quagmtres OF this barren
coast. The following Is tao statement of Chicago
clergyman, one Of the passengers
REV. r. Y. SwRET.
In reply to question from the HERALD repre
sentative, Mr.. Sweet after some persuasion con
sented to make the following statenent touchipe
the grounding OF the ldahO:-At about eight
O'CLOCK TINS morning, during heavy fog. We