The Portland daily press., 1880-11-08

PROVIDENCE, r. l.. Nov. 6-Steamer Rhode
Island of The Providence line, went ashore on
Ronnet Point near Beaver Tail, Narragansett
Bay, at about 4.30 o'clock this morning. No
passengers were lost, but several of the crew
were hurt i'll the confusion and wreckage, and
at daylight the passengers and crew were safe
ly landed. The steamer is considerably broken
up, aud there will probably be considerable
damage and loss of freight.
Another dispatch says the steamer struck
Whale Rock at 3.15 a. M. then making
water the steamer was headed in shore, where
she is now lying and will no doubt be total
wreck. The hreS were put out, the passengers
were ali saved and cared for. A dense log
prevailed at the time. The passengers speak
very highly of the GOODNESS of Capt. Mott and
the other officers.
AT o'clock one hundred of the passengers
of the Rhode Island arrived in this city. From
asummary of the statements of the passengers
1t is found there GaS little confusion and alarm
when the vessel struck. The ladies in parti-
cular were remarkably cool none shreked
and none tainted. Nor was there any
evidence of sefshness or panic among the
men which characterized the n Narragausett dis
aster. Some of the ladies were assisted to put
Oh life preservers, but the majority were per-
fectly reassured by the words of the officers
that the vessel was sa g. Still it was an
anxious waiting for daylight. The waves
beating heavily against the vessels timber
and furniture falling about.
The behavior of Capt. Mott and his officers
was in the highest degree cool and re-assuring
the fog continued thick all night, but at the
first dawn of day preparations were made for
landing the passengers. Life boats were
launched and brought around by crews that
showed the effect of discipline in themselves
as well as intelligent command in the officers.
and the passengers were carefully embarked,
the women and children receiving every as
sistance. Much of the baggage was taken off
with them and i'll fact except for the alarm
and delay the disaster was almost without
effect upon the passengers.
The trip was the last which the Rhode
Island would have made for the season. The
steamer was valued at $5U0,000 and how
much or how fatally damaged it is impossible
10 state at present. The were 100 tons of
freight on board, consisting of usual miscel-
ianeous cargo. Tugs were promptly sent over
from Newport to assist i'll saving the wreckage
and everything possible is being done TO
secure it.
The list of names of passengers were taken
as they left the boat and the number was as
certained TO be ITO.
Capt Waters of the Newport Wrecking
Company says the steamer is total loss.
About ten per cent of freight has been washed
out. The remainder can be saved only by
lighters, as she lies under high bluff. A
light on Whale Rock would have prevented
the disaster. The Senate has three times
passed the act for light at that point. but it
failed in the House.
NEWPORT, Nov. Capt. Simmons of
steamer Newport who came through the
sound the same night the Rhode Island was
wrecked reports that the fog whistle at
Beaver Tail light opposite the Bonnet where
the steamer struck was not blown, and that
had 1t been In use he or some of his officers
would have heard it, as they were keeping a
sharp lookout On account of the fog.
Nearly 100 bales of cotton have been brought
to this port by sailing vessels. Twenty or
more sailing crafts from here have been
cruising about the wreck all day bat the most
they were able to pick up was floating timber
and other debris. The sea has made COM
pleie wreck of the steamer and only the parts
of her which will be saved are her engines amp
boilers. The heavy sea resulting from last
nights storm has prevented any work being
done on the wreck to-day.
Steamer Bristol of the Fall River line ar
rived here about half past nine this moIning,
having been delayed on account of the storm.