The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-06-13

on the Narragansett. He relates the
following story: Aroused by the noise
Of the collision, he Immediately real
ized what had happened. and hastened
from his stateroom, carrying his panta-
looms and coat but leaving behind $500
and q crutch, which he usually uses.
he having but one leg. The boat was
now on fire, and there was scene Of
the utmost confusion. A woman
nung herself upon him screaming,
'-Saye me and my child" He man
aged TO dress himself and struggle on
deck, where there was a scene OF eqally
mad confusion and frantic fear. A
dense fog prevailed, and only the whis-
tie and bell Of the Slonington gave to-
ken Of her presence. Not far on there
was a cry for life boats, and one was
cut Loose from amidships. near where
Wilcox was standing. lie threw him
self over the side OF the boat and fell
safely within il. Others followed, in
cluding n woman, who buried him be-
meath her weight. Some one cut the
boat loose, and Il was pushed on from
the burning steamer TO avoid being
swamped by passengers who were
swimming about supported by life pre-
servers and pieces OF furniture and fill
ing the air with cries for help. The
boat was pulled out, and within short
ltime the Naragansett sank. leaving to-
tai darkness ON the water. The boat
remained out for a while-Wilcox
judged II 10 be about three hours
when, feeling the approach OF a COM
Ing storm. he urged the men TO pull
for the steamer Stonington, which was
stIll blowing her whistle. as the only
escape from being upset. They did SO
and were saved
The boats contained thirteen per-
sons. including Wilcox. Three of
them, he thinks, were OF the crew Of
the Narragansett. Wilcox did not
learn the name OF any person in the
boat.
Some children were rescued stark
naked. while very few Of the women
had anything ON but their underclothes.
II Is said the officers did not let the pas
sengers know the true state Of affairs
and that many OF the women were in
duced by them TO return TO their state
rooms, thereby losing time. and likely
lives. le
The disaster caused intense anxiety
in this city and throughout New En-
gland, where the passengers IN general
belonged.
A deck hand in the life boat beat the
fingers Of. an old lady desperately cling
ing 10 the side Of the boat. She begged
TO bc saved, but was compelled to let go
her hold and was probably drowned.
Providence, June IA passenger OF
the Narragansett estimates the number
Of lost at fifty; the clerk OF the Maria
gansett places them ut thirty.
New York, Jnne 12.-The purser Of
the Narraganset stated that there were
not more than 800 passengers ON the
boat and that the loss cannot exceed
fifty, rs Il is known that more than 200
were brought to this city and large
numbers were taken back to Stoning-
ton. II Is also known that the schooner
which came up sent out boats and
picked up several people. A passenger
and q naval cadet were swimming about
for over an hour before they were picked
up. One young man was seen to delib-
erately shoot himself when the cries OF
fire and that the boat was sinking were
raised. The report of pistol was also
heard In another direction.
A deck hand Of the Narragansett says
he jumped overheard as soon as the COL
lision took place and chung TO a broken
spar. He saw boat lowered from the
Narragansett overthrown. and the oc-
cupants, he thinks, all drowned. In
Eve minutes there was fivo feet OF wa
ter in the hold, and In ten minutes after
the collision the steamer was burned to
the waters edge.
An old lady struggling in tho water
was found to have an eight -months-old
babe clasped in her arms-her grand
child. The shrieks and cries Of terror
OF men and women were terrible. A
raft was made. and passengers crowded
upon II in such numbers that some per-
sons tainted after getting a foothold
upon It. Ropes flung from the raft
were eagerly clutched and frantic ef-
forts were made to reach 1t. Although
the weight OF people sunk 1t six inches
under the surface. It was finally taken
In towsby q row boat.
Leonard, OF Booths theater, one of
the passengers, condemns strongly the
officers and crew Of the Narragansett.
The captain was the first to spring for
the Life boat. A Mrs. Osborne threw a
six-year-old child to the life boat and
then jumped from the main deck and
was rescued. She had only night clothes
on and the child was naked. The
screams were heartrcnding and contin-
uous. Some Of the passengers think
$50 must have been lost. Wives, moth
ers, husbands, children, parents. all
mourn lost ones in tones never to be
forgotten.
Mrs. E. NJ. Soule, OF Boston, was