Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-10-11
General News.
Wreck of Steamer Massachusetts,.

The steamer Massachusetts,. of the Ston-
ington line, grounded on Rocky Point, five
miles east of Hotton's Point, last Friday.
The vessel lies in twelve feet of water and
is badly strained.
The Massachusetts LEFT New York at 8
O'Clock Thursday afternoon with about 100
passengers on board and large cargo of
freight. The day had been stormy, and
the violence of the storm Increased as
the boat went down the Sound. BY ii
O'Clock "A terrible gale was blowing. and IL
i reported that the captain said he had
lost his lights. The fog was SO thick that
nothing could be seen. and the whistle was
blowing necessarily. About IL 80 the
passengers report that the engines were
stopped tor few minutes. then the boat
went ahead slowly for a few minutes. and
then stopped again. In half minute
more there was terrible crash quickly
followed by two more. some OF the pas
sengers were thrown from their berths by
the shock, while all were terribly fright
ened People poured ont of staterooms rs
II they felt their time was short, and IN live
minutes almost every passenger had on
life. preserver and was waiting for the
worst.
There was. however, no confusion aud
no outcries. Two or three women are re-
ported To have tainted, but this report is
emphatically denied The officers of the
boat told the passengers that the boat was
aground, and that there was no danger nj
present in the sheltered condition in which
the boat then lay The violence OF the
gale was less severely felt, and reassured
by the comforting words of the officers.
most OF the passengers took oil the liie-
preservers ard some of the cooler ones
went back to bed.
T.. 81 a "a hAnT
later the wind which had been blowing
from the southwest suddenly changed to
northwest aud beat upon the stranded
boat with terrific force. The steamer
which laid quite steadily began to thump
heavily upon the rocks. Every sea would
raise her IN the air and she would come
down with awful force upon the rocks and
writhe ard grind until it seemed as If she
must 90 to pieces. One OF the passengers
describes the motion of the boat rs being
like that of n toy serpent when set on tre
The alarm which had partially subsided
broke out afresh. The passengers who
had gone down to bed got up again III
| haste.
The life rreseryrrs were once more put
on and there was a general expectation
/ that the boat would Immediately break up.
| sim the officers and passengers preserved
! admirable compOsurc, although there was
/ excuse for fear No one knew where they
were II was so dark that absolutely noth-
1 inc could be seen The wind howlcd so
! that conversation was almost inaniiblc.
while above all was the incessant thump
! and the sound OF the heavy grinding.
which all knew vas eating the bottom or
/ the boat.
The gildln. on the staterosms began 10
fan down and in some of the state-rocms
the brrths even fell TO the floor, so mach
was the boat spread. The rods which beli
I IN. chandeliers In the main saloon had
/ snapped ike pipestcms, and pieces ofthe
/ side of the boat had been broken away.
The water was rising in the forecastle aud
the deck hands set to work 10 Lighter the
boat. Overheard went cotton, flour, whs-
XIV. sugar. until at least half the cargo was
In the sea The other half was Kept n 10
balance the boat.
Thu. the might wore away and It vas
night which the passengers Will not non
forget. About { o'clock the northwtster
hyhtcd up a little. aud a dim, black lie of
shore could be seen. As the mornin, be-
can 10 break Il became apparent thu tho
boat wa, on Long Island. She apparently
,iruck head on aud swung around til her
bow pointed cast
The waves were beating on the wind
ward side so furiously that the slEay
dashed over the upper deck aud tell onthc
leeward side OF the boat. The boat vas
about $40 feet from the shore. and although
she formed breakwater the surf was nm
ning very high on the beach. soon ater
daylight the portion OF the boat was sen
from ashore and then speedy gathering
OF people on the beach. Abou, o'clck
. one Of the steamers boats was lowered
and some OF the officers went on shore.
Boats soon put OIL from the shore. -
D O'Clock the frst boat load OF PASSENGER.
- .'el0aL all Lss'tGEn
sets passengers left on her. 4 prayc
meeting was held on board. Hon. Nea
T. Dow. who was on board, iDproyed til
I I opportunity TO lecture on Temperance
D The spot where the vessel is ashore
within mile or the place where the Com
modore was wrecked ten years ago. an
: i one OF the worst place. in the Sound.