New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-11
OCEAN PERILS.
LOSS OF THE MONTGOMERY.

STATEMENT OF CAPT. WINTERS, OFF THE WRECKED
STEAMSHIP.
Capt William II. Winters, commander of
the steamship Montgomery, which was sunk OF Cape
MAY by collision with the Seminole, arrived in this city
from Boston yesterday, accompanied by the surviving
members Of the IL conversation with TRIBUNE
reporter he SAID did feel at liberty at present TO
cxpress any opinion about the responsibility for the acct
dent Who the owners he had not yet ascetaned,
rs the enrolment list had been lost with everything else
on board Capt Winters, however. gave the following
account of the collision;
The MONTGOMERY was about IS miles from Cape May
M 1870 A. M Oh Sunday, when the whistle OF steamer
was heard about point on the starboard bow The
wind was sOuthsOuth-east and freshenne' with heht
rain and fog The first mate whose watch was from
midnight to a. M, deck and as soon as the Wills
lie vas heard ordered the vessel 10 the starboard and
brought the steamers light abeam Capt winters was
in his room at the time and Immediately rushed deck
into the pohouse and ordered the engine TO he stopped
1t was done az once, but as he came out
the Seminole struck the Montgomery on the
starboard quarter The Seminole moving at the rate
of about nine knots hour, and after her hight showed
that she was coming head the crash was almost IN
stantaneous The buwaks and part % the pilot-house
of the Montgomery were carried away. The Seminole
then backed and swung alongside AZ the Montgomery
WAS sinking rapidly Capt Winters ordered his crew and
passengers get board the Seminole Even then her
decks were OH level with the water. Several persons
succeeded IN reaching the Montgomery, while others
coud not get up the gangway before the vessel began to
settle Can't Winters went board the Seminole, ac-
companod by the mate and found only eight persons of
the crew aud passengers The boat OF the
Seminole was at lowered and sent in search OF
other survivors. One OF the Montgomerys boats was
found with seven passengers IN IT. Immediately amer
the collision this had cleared by Ratchet that
was by chance near at hand Tie axes we're all below
and but for this fortunate circumstance tie survivors III
the fe.loat would have been drowned The boat when
vessel settled The Scmnole's boat returned with three
additional persons hat returning faed {" find
my more. The Montgomery went down in less than
seven minutes. Only two three persons got IN The
life ot time TIE others, clinSng 10 plcccS OF thc
wreck were picked NJ afterward. Capt. winters satsd
that he had made statement to the cncCt that TIE
officers OF the Seminole not 10 blame lie lad bld
smuly that the and himself had been well treated
after being rescued He would not state, however That
ANY blame should he attachcd o. them The l0t was
very dense. aud the Montgomery was DOW!lg Whlsue
once a minute. -, q, - ..
not tie agents OF Tie Mon; eouCgy. TIE vessel was IN
thc hands az trustees John Roach of the Morgan lfcn
Works, and Richard pol!lOn. Mallory Co. We" the
AGENT fUr three months during tie ups 10 Port loyal
Wien the Montgomery ceased running there she vas
Havana. Nir. wand said hc owcd pat OF me vessel
ard that IL chartered fOr tis t1 only from Mallory
A Co Inquiry the CUgtC.n-hGuee found ne name 81
John Mcclure as ~, owner Herman Gepckc VINO
bnu,l Tie vessel ate! Nr. StTCisG deatE. had nothing
10 say about tie ownership The II Of The ost already
nni;shct T. correct Win ire exception that Alice lh
lips. the assistant cook. drowh MOI Alexander