The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-07
SINKING OF A STEAMER.

THE STEAMER WHAT CHEER SUNK NEAR
WEXFORD, Il. mo LIVES LOST-COMMEND-
ABLE CONDUCT OF THE VILLAGERS PERILs
OF THE Observation-Disclosures CoGGEsHALLs
STORY.
NEWPORT, r. l., March 6, 1875.
Much excitement was occasoned here at an
early hour this morning by report OF the sinking
of the steamer What Cheer, near WEXFORD, X. l., en-
route to this city, as several Newport passengers.
including Postmaster Coggeshall, were known to
be on board. She was chartered on Wednesday
by the Newport and Wexford Railroad Company,
connecting with the Shore Line Railroad Tor New
York, TO take the place OF the Eolus. which was
damaged by Ice, and her third
trip TO this city, leaving Wexford at
a quarter-past seven O'Clock last evening.
she had proceeded but q short distance
when she brought up with loud crash upon the
rock called "Tne brothers," abreast OF the light
house at the entrance oil the harbor. 1t was snow
ing and was very dark at the time, anG the pilot,
Peleg Wightman, claims that the bu0ys were car
RED away and that the bearings were lost. She
went on the rock at about One-thIrd ebb tide and
Stove hole eight feet by twenty feet on her star
board bow, and 1t is believed That other holes Will
be found below water mark.
NO LIVES LOST.
The passengers were remarkably cool under the
clrcums lance. On hearing the alarm. which was
made by the steamers whistles, the people OF the
village went to their assistance in 70 boats ana
succeeded IN saving them all, together with
the officers and crew. No one was even
injured The telegraph office at WhetfOrd being
closed, intelligence could be sent 20 the friends
OF the passengers before this morning. The conf
munIty were unremitting in their attention to the
passengers and We'd with each other in providing
Tor them during the night.
THE POSrMAsTER's STATEMENT.
Postmaster Coggesha. who was on board. fur.
nlshes the following statement to your reporter,
and it Will be seen that the company were very
negligent IN leasing their boat IN the condition. in
case OF accident In winch sue was i0unu last
evening"
.'Although the situation was for time very
perilous," SAID Postmaster COggeshall, call on
board were very calm and Tree from excitement,
as The stem OF the boat sunk in the water. the
ladies' we've placed IN the pilot house, where they
Interested themselves In sounding the alarm by
means OF the steam whistle. The whistle. the
shouting and the swinging or lanterns attracted
the attention Of the inhabitants oil the village,
VINO were all astr to render assistance. Tae
tenIion to getting the boats free. The
small boat was got loose put no
was so frozen down on tue deck that she could
not be go. Tree ultil alter assistance arrived rom
the shore, where under her were found two oars.
Inc boats arrived rom the shore. The one when
took OF the pass myers mad evidently been
launched III haste and was so wrencned that she
leaked considerably, anu constant balling was
necessary. Efforts were made 10 effect lan0lng
near the scene OF the disaster, but the ice along
the shore was so treacnerous that 1t could
not be accomplished and the boats
were compelled to return to the steam
ers dock, distance Of perhaps three
quarters vi mile. Everything possible seemed
10 be done by tue officers and men on the steamer
and tae people on the shore to renGer the slt ua-
ton OF the passengers as sale and comfortable as
possible. But they had not The necessary appli-
ances; their boats had even no thole-plns nor
painters, and 1t is o miracle that we Jared as well
we did. In TACT, we never could have reached
the shore had not brave and determined men
from wexford come TO our help III the prompt
manner in which they did,"
CENsURE OF THE COMPANY.
Mr. COggeshal and OF hers among tue passengers
severely ceDsnre the company, and 1t Is probable
that au investigation VIII be I've result. Inc
what Cheer cost ABOUT s3S, 000 ana was built and
is now owned by an American steamboat COM
pany OF Providence
The loss, as she was manned by the company's
named company Will pc remembered the
owners also Of the steamer River Belle, which
they leased In the same manner to the South
ern New Jersey Railroad Company, to run
TO Long Branch, and which MAS burned
ana sunk at the dock, LII New York, last summer
favorable weather holds Tor the next f0rty-eght
hours. she may be saved, although in badly
damaged cOnoition. Her after deck Is summers ed
while her bow Is Well upon the rocks Early this
morning the tug Reliance went to her assistance,
and this afternoon the tug, Charlotte and Isabella
also proceeded to the scene OF the disaster with
a powerful steam pump, diver and large num-
Der OF carpenters On toard. The company, WAC
are owners Of several steamers, do not insure
except against nre.