The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-06-14
in the Captains room, and heard three
whistles Of an approaching steamer, which

into the water, and were seen IN every di
rection clingipg TO seats and life preservers
The purser Of the Narragansett stated
that there were not more than 800 pasBen'
gers on the boat, and that the loss cannot
exceed fifty, as II is known that more than
200 were brought to.
W. D. Beck, Of Pittsburgh, and John
Welch, OF Milwaukee, are saved.
The damaged steamer, the StoningJou,
moved up by the light OF the burning yes.
eel. and fully 800 persons were rescued
This passenger estimstes the number oil
lost at fifty. The clerk Of the Narragan-
sett placed the number at thirty.
A passenger and naval cadet were swim
ming about for over an hour before they
were picked up. One young man was seen
to deliberately shoot himself when the
cries OF "fire" aud that the boat was Sit k.
ing were raised. The report OF pistol
was also heard in another direction. A
deckhand OF the Narragansett says he
jumped overheard as soon as the collision
took place. aud cluDg to broken spar.
He saw the boat lowered from the Nara
gansett overturned, and the occupants he
thinks were all drowned.
1t Is said that in five minutes after the
collision there were FIVE feet OF water in
burned to the waters edge. The scenes
to the collision are described
as heartrending. The boats crew discov-
cred an old LADY struggling in the water,
aud when they pulled TO where she was 1t
was discovered that she clasped an eight.
infant, her grandchild, to her
breast. Both were picked up. The col
lision, fire aud sinking OF the Narrag g4nsett
occurred within such short time that
many in their rooms at the time must
have been lost. The shrieks and cries OF
terror OF men as well as women were ter.
rible.
Clarence Leonard and wife, recently OF
BIolh's Theater, were passengers on the
Mr.. Leonard says at the
time OF the collision the ligths we're out.
He cried, "For Gods sake, light the gas,
that may save my wife" Sjmeb ,dy did
light the gas, and just then a man rushed
through the saloon, shouting, "Put on
your life-preseryersn With some diff
:ulty we found two in q room, and tried
10 iasten them TO our bodies. but being
without proper fastenings, when We got
INTO the water they were more oi an i'm.
pediment than use. They worked over
our heads, and were without support, but
inally we managed TO get hold OF the ropes
II raft and were lif ed uponit. The raft
was so crowded that my wife tainted. She
sept cramped on her knees for some time.
A dozen Of persons were clinging to the
'opes around the raft and making frantic
Efforts to get upon 1t. The raft was six
inches under water through the weight oi
persons clingiug TO It.
The raft was finally towed by row.
BOAT to the city OF New York. Leonard
peaks in strong terms against the conduct
II the officers and crew OF the Narragan.
,ett. He says the Captain was the first 10
snter the life-boat. A Mrs. Osborne threw
ler six.year old child from the main deck
o him and then jumped for the same boat
ind was rescued. She had nothing on but
1er night clothes, and the child was naked.
The shrieks Of the dying, and the pleading
)i those in the water for assistance were
something never TO be forgotten.
Mr.. Leonard adds: "a deck-hand in
iie-boat beat the fingers OF an old lady des.
,erately cliDging to the side OF the boat,
She begged TO be saved, but was finally
compelled TO let go her hold, and was prob
.bly drowned"
A.lady passenger on the City ot New
York saAi, when she saw the Narragansett
he vessel was all in flames: ave heard
icreamingl Oh, such screaming It
seemed as u il never would end. II came
rom the boats and from the water and
everywhere. Everywhere we're people
iuating with life preservers, moaning and
,rying out in despair. Some OF the poor
Tretches drifted by US out OF hearing, and
hen the cries that were lost in the dis
ance wrung our hearts. We could not
help them. Our boats came and went,
loads OF men, women and chill
lren picked up from both vessels. There
we're we're altogether about one hundred
,ud iity OF them. They said there were
Is many lost. Some bad lost their wives
md some their children, or their hus-
bands, and their misery was beartrending
J. me OF the children rescued were stark
naked, while very few OF the women had
ANYTHING on but their undergarments."
1t is said that the officers did not let the
passengers know the true state oil affairs,
and many of the women were induced by
hem 10 return TO their siaterooms, there.
b. losing time and likely lives. The chill
iren saved we're in the main naked, while
The women for the moSt psrt were in
The disaster caused intense anxiety In
this city aud throughout New England,
where the passengers generally belonged.
CONCISE REPoRr FROM NEW LONDON.
Ngw LoNpUS, CoSS., June l2 The bow
Of the steamer Stonington was broken in
for considerable distance. The Nara
zansett was struck just abaft the forward
making great breach into
which the water poured in a Hood. A
heavy fog prevailed, and the vessels we're
proceeding at reduced speed. The Ston.
ington bounded dozen feet by the force
Of the collision. The Narragansett in
! antly began 70 all. AS soon as the ofti-
GERS cUmprehended the nature OF the dis
aster, they aroused the sleeping passen-
gers about $50 10 number, and made
to remove them. The pass
engers came hurryiDg on TO the main
deck, and learning the peril they were In,
they became pauiC stricken, and the most
vigorous efforts OF the officers to restore
order were futile. The many ladies on
board were calmer, as q rule, than the
men, and there were fewer exhibitions oi
paraiS zing fear among them The officers
made all haste tn lower the boats and pro.
vide Iaits, but hslrirenzied passengers
could brook no delay, aud many sprang
overboard and swan or a ,ated close about
the slnkiug craft, making their presence
known by dtspairiug cries for hep. The
YArrapansett was provided with seven
metallic lifebpats and three patent RATS.
The SlouIngton bad an equal number,
and the City Of New York had eight life.
boats aud two Rats All this liie-saying
apparatus was at once put into use. Before
the first boat load bad been gent oh tite
49,. .L.a..aL akn m ain dhnk and In 4