South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-06-18
The Narragansett Disaster.

I iHSuuut oceaeS-feop4e Eushiug Nntly Up
on Deck and Leaping Blindiy Overheard. &c.
New LONDON, Conn. June 12.-An
appalling catastrophe resulting in ter
rible loss OF life occurred late las. night
on Long Island Sound opposite the mouth
OF the connecticut river. The sLeamc
Narragansett, o. the Stonington Line,
| col!ided with the Stonipgton Of The same
line. The former took fire and sunk
and large number of passengers were
drowned, or burned to death. The Mar
ragansctt left New York AT Eve O'Clock
Friday evening, with as near as could
be ascertainei, between $50 and 400
passengers. The steamer made good
time, having full head OF steam on
BY 4 o'clock most of the passengers, a
large portion of whom were women and
children, had retired. A few men lin
gcred In the cabin and smoking ROOM
All was quiet in the saloon, and on deck
Toward ten O'Clock dense fog came
up. The engines were slowed at inter
walls, as tue men n the wheel had great
difficulty in getting their bearings. The
| fog grew in density as the boat proceed
ed eastward. There was Just enough
breeze stirring TO make the boat rock
slightly in the long swell of the Sound.
TIE COLLISION IN THE FOG.
AT III: ~ the pilot of the Narragan :
sett saw the lights OF the steamer, and
its gigantic black hull come looming
through the mist, The boats close togeth-
or. On approaching the Narragansett
the other steamer proved TO be The Ston.
| ington. 1t seemed bat second before
1 hnN n mo INT nzft O.
ton struck tue Narragansott full on the
stat5oard side, just forward OF The pads
die wheel. The shock of the collision
was terrific. Both vessels quivcred
from stem to stern. They careenci so
much it seemed rs if they would both
caps!ze. The bow OF the Nsrrag ansett
was far into the hull of the Stonington.
The side of tho Narragansett was torn
away 50 that her boiler room aud fur
naces were exposed.
The StoningLon's bow was stove 10
pieces and threw q gaping opening the
WINTER poured in in torrents.
| The boats were locked together FOX a
moment &c the Impetus OF the s toning-
ton Caused her TO sheer Off and lass the
Narragausett. Her engines stopped
u.
and after she passed the Narragsnsett
| she lay idly on tue swell! OF the sound
TIE STRUGGLE FOR LIVE.
| The effect Of the collision beegars de-
| sctiption. Ga the Stonington all was
confusion. Men, women anil children
| sprang from their berths, shrieking with
fright, running Lither and tEither, en-
deavoring 10 ascertain Tie extent OF the
calamity. The passengers crowded on
deck, many in night clothes, and added
TO the confusion by their shTicks. The
officers OF the StonjngLon, fearing their
noat was sinking, PIT hepumps at work
and for time refused 20 permit the
lowering OF boats. A number Of deter
mined scattering men on board ;nsist-
ed they ne permitted to 60 TO the assis-
lance OF those on the Nar7aganseLt, and
they finally launched boat and pro-
ceedcd On their GRAND OF mercy.
On the Narragause,t, at the time Of
the collision, every one was i'm bed when
the crash came. 4 frightlul scene Uf
oonfu ion ensued. People fed half na.
ked to The upper dcchs, screaming and
rushing franticaiiy in oil directions aud
leapiEg headlong overheard AL the
lights were extinguished by The shocl;
and all were in darkness thus adding TO
the CONSERVATION. but this was soon fol-
lowed by tic appalling sight OF sheet
OF flame leaping up into the air, showing
that the vessel was on fire. The ex-
cltement then knew no bounis and the
fire burned 50 quickly and iercelg that
people were compelled to leap in:o the
darkness and water beneath, scizing
Iifc-buOy3, mattresses and planks. or
Whatever else came to haul. One man
was seen TO draw o pistol and deliber-
atoly shoot himself through the head
Meanwhile the NGCragansett settled
steadily i'll the water AMI when she final.
~ sunk NIL was darkness again except
the g,immeC from the lights on the Ston-
ington anal passing steamer the Getty
of New York" These vessels had
meanwhile lowered their boats and were
saving ail they found floating in the vi
entity. The screams or tho dying, and
the pleadings Of those in the water were
something never to nc forgotten. There
were over four hundred people, includ-
ing passengers and crew, on The Maria
ganseti. The loss OF life is estimated at
30. Many of these rescued alive are
badly scalded. Two died on the SION.
ington after being taken ont OF The wa
ter. Every one lost their clothing one
woman lost So 5000 in money. The crew
OF the Narraga is blamed for inof-
iiciency. Captain Young, Of the vessel,
being oGe Of che first TO get into the life.
boat The Narragansctt went down in
five minutes after the collision. Two
babies were forgotten in the stampede
and were left locked mp in state room
| and burned. the mother, who e. iu
paroxysms OF grief was rescued. An old
lady, Margaret Muir, Of BROOKLYN, aged
80, was picked Up floating IN the water
and holding IN infant granGcbild above
her head. Mrs. 3. y. Dix, Of Brooklyn
was on the illfated vessel with her three
children and nurse. They we're al
/ placed on q raft but tho raft upset ant
/ Nc I4f.- com t,v hC,. III Il - l.