Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-10-06
SIlipWreCk.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., Oct. Ga dispatch
from Stoningon, last night, says the steamc,
| Frances hal Just arrived with the passengers
| from The steamer Massachusetts,. The passcu,
| gers left the wreck about one O'Clock. At that
| hour tho Massachusetts, was hard on the rock
| lust of the village Of East Marion, Il. |. The
water was nearly up to the main deck, and IN
| the opinion of the passengers the boat must q
to pieces No lives were lost nor any paSsan,
gers injured. The steamer Massachusetts, left
Now York Thursday afternoon. by | o'clock
| terrible gale was blowing, and it is reported
that the captain said he had lost his lights.
The fog was 50 thick that nothing could be seen
and the whistle was blowing necessarily. About
| 1880 the engines were stopped for few min
utes, then the boat went ahead slowly for lew
minutes when the engine stopped. La halt 3
| minute more there was terrible crash quickly
followed by two more. Some Of the passengers
were thrown from their berths by tho shocks,
while all were terribly frightened The people
poured out of the state rooms, and 10 few
minutes almost every passenger had on Lille
preserVer and was waiting for the worst, but
tho violence Of the gale being less severely felt
and treasured by the comforting words Of the
officers most Of the passengers took OF the life
| preservers, and some Of the cooler ones went
back to bed. This was about ono clock
| Half au hour later the wind which had been
blowing from the southeast suddenly chang
cd to the northwest aud beat upon the
| stranded boat with terrific force. The steamer
| which lay quite steadily began TO tbump hcavi
| ly upon the rocks. Tue alarm which had par
| TALLY subsidized, broke out atresh. fIc lille
nreserVers were once m0rc put 90, and
| there was a genera expectation that the
| boat would Immediately break ~. The wind
| howlel SO that conversation was almost 10.
| audible while above all was the incassant
| hump and sound OF heavy grinding which al!
koew Was eating out the bottom Of the boat.
The water vas rising 10 the t0reca5tIe aud the
About clock the northwestern lighted up lit
tie and dim black line Of shore could be- seen.
She apparently struck head 90 and swung
around until her bow pointed cast. The waves
were breaking On the windward side so furious.
~ that the spray dashed over the upper deck
and fell on the leeward side Of the boat. The
boat was 500 feet from the shoIo. and although
she formed breakwater the surf was running
very high On the beach. Soon after daylight
the position at the boat was seen from the shore
and there was speedy gathering Of the people
on the beach, About o'clock one Of the
steamers boats was lowered and some of her
officers went on shore. About 5 o'clock the
first load Of passengers went ashore in the steam
er's boat. A line was ruu ashore and the boat
hauled through the surf. The moment it struck
the beach it fell upon its side, the water poured
ia and the passengers got pretty wet. The
people of East Marion rushed into the water 10
meet each boat load and steady the boat and 10
some cases picked passengers up bodily and
carried them to the laud. The progress Of dis
embarkation lasted all the forenoon and it was
u o'clock before The last passenger was ashore.
When taken on board the steamer Fracis which
went to their relief the passengers began sing
ipg Moody and Sankey's hymns and inspired
By the occasion prayer meeting was held on
board. Hon. Neal Dow, of Me-, was on board
and improved the occasion to deliver tempe
rance lecture.
Robert S. Anderson has been appointed
United States Attorney for the Territory of