The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-06-16
crutch. which he usually uses, having but one
leg. The boat was now
ON FIRE,


leg. The boat was now M
and there was a scene OF the utmost terror and
confusion. woman flung herself upon him
managed 10 dress himself and struggle on
deck, where was scene of equally mad con-
fusion and frantic fear. A dense fog prevailed
and only the whistle and bell of the Stopipg-
ton gave token OF her presence, not far or
There was
CRY FOR LIFE BOATS,
and one was cut loose from amidships, from
near where wilcox was standing. He threw
himself over the side ofthe boat and fell safely
within II. others followed, including the w0-
man who buried him beneath her weight.
Some one cut the beat loose and 1t was pushed
of from the burning steamer to avoid being
swamped by passengers, who were swimming
about supported by LIE preservers or pieces OF
furniture and fillIng the air with
CRIES FOR HELP.
The boat was pulled out, and within a short
time the Narragansett sunk, leaving total
darkness ON the water. Inc boat remained
out for what Wilcox judged 10 be about three
hours, when, feeling the approach of a
coming storm, he urged the men to phil for
the steamer Sionington, which was stin blow
Ing her whistle, as the only hope TO escape
being upset. They did and we're saved.
The boats load, including Wilcox, numbered
thirteen. Three of them, he thinks, were of
the crew OF the Narragansett. wilcox did not
learn the name of any person in the boat.
ANOTHER STATEMENT
of passenger made TO a reporter of the Provi-
dence Journal, says: The passenger was ly,
heard three whistles Of the approaching
steamer, which sounded as II over his head.
In an instant the collision occurred. The
Nsrrsgausett fell away about quarter OF a
mile and soon
AN ALARM OF FIRE
was given The flames blaZed so fercely and
spread so rapidly that the passengers wer
obliged TO leap over from the hurricane deck
into the water, and were seen In every d1rec-
ton clinging TO seats aud life -preserYers, and
a rfa@a
ingtOn by the light Of the burning vessel, and
fully 80 persons were rescued" Tins paSsen-
ger estimates the number ahoat at nfLy; me
clerk of the Narragansett placed the number
at thirty.
W. ID. Book, of PIttsburg, and John WEIGH.
of Milwaukee, are saved. Rev. DR.. LOCKWOOD,
who died after being taken from tile water,
was on his first trip West.
WHAT THE PURsER SAYS.
The purser of the Narragansett stated that
the bost s1d thaf b ins 90 cap eTceed
fifty, as IL is known that more than 2OO were
brought to this city and large numbers were
that a schooner which came up sent out boats
and picked up several people. passenger
and naval cadet were swimming about for
over an hour before they were picked up. One
young mas was seen to deliberately
SHOOT HIMSELF,
when cries of lire, and that the boat was
sinking were raised. The report of a pistol
was also heard in another direction
jumped over board as soon as the collision
took place and clung to broken spar. He
saw a boat lowered from the NarIagansett
overturned aud the occupants, he thinks,
were drowned
1t is said in ive minutes after the collision
there we've five feet OF water in the hold, and
in ten minutes the steamer was burned TO the
The scenes subsequent to the collision are
described as heart-rending. A boats crew
discovered al old lady
STRUGGLING IN THE WATER,
and when they pulled to where she was 1t was
discovered that she claSped an eight-months
old in:ant-her grand chnd-closeIy TO her
breast, and both were picked up. The col
lisiOn, 1ire and sinking of the Narragansett
occurred within such short time that many
in their rooms asleep AT the time must have
been lost. The shrieks and cries Of terror OF
the men, as well as women, were terrible.
WHAT ANOTHER PASSENGER SAYS.
Clarence Leonard and wife, recently of
Booths Theater, were passengers on the Mar
collision the Lights were out. Hs cried, "For
Gods sake light the gas that may save my
wife" Somebody did did light bd the ,erogsS gas,
the saloon shouting, "Put on your
lite preserveIs Win some difficulty we found
two in our room and tired % fasten them TO
our bodies. but being without proper fssten-
ings, when we got into the water they were
more of an impairment than use. They
worked over our heads and were without sup
port, but finally we managed TO get hold OF the
Iopes OF life raft and were lifted upon it.
She kept cramped on her knees for some time
| A dozen OF persons were clinging to the ropes
around the raft ana making frantic efforts to
| get upon it. The raft was six inches under
water, through the weight of persons clinging
| TO 1t. The rait was finally towed by tow
| boat TO the City OF New York. Leon
| ard speaks in strong terms against
THE CONDUCT OF THE OFFICERS
and crew of the Narragansett, He says the
| Captain was one of the first TO enter the life
| boat. A Mrs Osborne threw her six-year-oid
Jumped for the same boat ana was rescued .
| She had nothing on but her night clothes and
| the child was naked.
THE sHRIEKs OF THE DYING
| and the pleadings of those in the water for
| assistance were something never 10 be forgot
/ ten. y lady passenger on the City of New
/ York said, when she saw the Narragansett the
vessel was all in flames. 1--WE heard scream :
| ing-oh, such screaming. IL seemed as If II
| never would end 1t came from the boats and
4 from the water and everywhere. Everywhere
were people floating with life preservers,
| MOANING AND CRYING
| out in despair. Some OF the poor wretches
| drifted by US, out of hearing, and the cries
/ that were lost in the distance wrung our
| hearts. We could not help them. Our boats
and children, picked up from both The yes
/ sells. There were altogether about lSO OF them.
| They said there was as many lost. Some had
| their husbands, and their misery was heart
| rending. Some of the children rescued were
stark naked, While very few OF the women
bad anything but their under garmep IS.
IL is satd the officers did not let the passengers
| know
THE TRUE STATE CT AFFAIRS,
| and many women were induced by them TO
| return to their state rooms, thereby losing
time and likely their lives.
The disaster causes intense excitement In
this city and throughout New England, where
the passengers in general belong. Leonards
| adds that the deck hands In the lIe boat beat
the fingers off of an old lady desperately cling
| ing to the side OF the boat. She begged to be
| saved. but was finally compelled to let go her
hold, and was probably drowned.
| Further News Regarding the Terrible Affair.
FoUGHKEEPsIE, N. ", June l3.-Dr. Kilt
redge, of Fishkill Landing, one OF the surviv-
ors of the Narragausett, states that he staid on
| board of the steamer while the fire was pro-
crossing until 1t got so hot that he had to jump
overheard, aud during that time he did not
see single officer of the boat, nor hear an
order given and the life boats were not lower.
ed unit tihe flames mad made great progress
He and his son were picked up by boat from
the City OF New York.
|