The Portland daily press., 1880-06-14
HORRIBLE
An Appalling Disaster
on the Sound.
Collision of Steamers Mar
ragansett and StOningtOn.
The Narragamsefs Fakes Fire and
About Fifty Passengers Drowned
or Burned to Death.
Thrilling Experiences of the Sur
vivOrS.
HEARTRENDING SCENES AROUND
THE WRECK.
Statements Of Eyewitnesses Of the Dis
aster.
HEARTRENDING SCENES AROUND
THE WRECK.
Statements Of Eyewitnesses Of the Dis.
aster.

New YORK, June 12.-Yesterday afternoon
the steamer Narragansett of the Stonington
line, plying between New York and Stoning-
ton, left her pier in the North River in this
city, with full complement of passengers,
who were bound for Boston and intermediate
points ON the through route between the me-
tropolis and the New England capital. At
$50 p M, On Whereabouts. the steamer Ston-
ington of the same line, left Stonington, Ct,
bound in the opposite direction, and also with
a full passenger list. The two vessels proceed
ed on their respective journeys, and every
thing went we'll. Before the last mentioned
boat had got under way, however, heavy fog
dropped down over the sound-one of those
fogs for which Long Island sound is famous
and the customary cautionary measures were
taken. The fog extended along the whole
length of the great body of water lying be-
tween the Connecticut shore and that of Long
Island. and the disagreeableness of the wealth
er soon drove the passengers of both vessels
within the cabins, and it was not long after 10
o'clock when Early all were in their berths in
the staterooms. About II. Is p. m. the fog, ac-
cording to all accounts, was settled well down
over the water and, to use the expression OF
one who was on the the Stonington, was $50
thick that it might be cut with a knife"
Cornfeld lightship, few miles from Sarbrook
point, on the Connecticut shore, was neared by
both, each being due there at about the time
stated. The Stonington and Narragansett
were each feeling their way, and the light it
were being sounded. Suddenly the lookout on
the Stonington saw the lights of large steam
er ahead. The pilot rang the bell to stop his
boat but it was too late. While the vessel was
sackening Roadway, out from the darkness
forged her sister boat, the Narragansett, COM
ing at nearly full speed. A moment of sus-
pense, and the huge floating bulk, filled with
its cargo of sleeping humanity, crashed side on
to the Stonington, the bow of the latter strik-
ing the Narragansett on the starboard side,
forward of the Wheel and penetrating half the
width of the latter's deck Staterooms were
swept away like egg shells. Tranquil sleepers
were hurled from their berths with terrible
force. Lights were put out and the saloons of
both boats were filled with horror-stricken
men and women. Recoiling from the blow,
the Stonington fell back twenty feet or more,
and then was discovered great gaping hole in
her bow, where the timber and planking had
been torn away to below the water line, and
for distance of some fifteen feet on hori-
zontal line. Water poured in fast and, for a
moment it was thought the vessel would go
down. A hasty examination showed, how
ever, that there was no immediate danger of
this catastrophe.
But how was it with the Narragansett? She
was the aggressor, and she suffered for it. Her
whole side forwerd was cut away, and, as we'll
as the fog would permit, could be seen a row Of
spaces where once had been staterooms, but
where now nothing but twisted, tangled and
broken debris could be discovered. She was
literally, in this quarter of her frame, smashed
to a jelly.s Confusion at once reigned
paramount on both boats. all efforts of the
officers of the two crafts to the contrary, and,
to make the scene morrterrjble, great jet of
flame shot up out of the wrecked Narragansett
amidships. This completed the picture of
ruin presented, and now it was seen that the
great vessel was doomed. The rails of the
steamer were lined with frightened humanity,
and life RATS and boats were got in readiness
and launched as soon as possible from both the
Stonington and Narragansett. Fortunately the
steamer City of New York of the Norwich line
came up. She was bound for New York. Her
officers and crew at once rendered their asss-
lance, and her boats were soon swarming over
the water in the neighborhood of the burning
vessel. Scores of persons on the Narragansett
jumped overheard, and several were drowned
before rescue could reach them. Many more,
RATS and transferred to the City of New York
and Stonington. Meanwhile the fire on the
Narragansett gained Roadway, and shortly the
craft was in flames from end to end. Remain
ing aboard longer was out of the question, and
the few remaining persons on her were not
long in getting into the water. In half an hour
the great vessel was burned to the waters edge
and sank. She went down in shallow water,
and her hog frames were this afternoon to be
seen projecting above the surface of the water.
The first body recovered was that of lady,
subsequently, identified by a telegram from
New York detective as Mrs. Checks of Bos-
ton. A few minutes afterwards Rev. E. B.
Lockwood, pastor of the Fifty-eighth street M.
E. Church Of New York city, was taken from
the water in a chilled and exhausted condition.
The body of Mrs. Checks and Mr.. Lockwood
were put aboard the Bloomington, and there the
gentleman expired, he being conscious for
only few moments after his rescue. Further
search at the time failed to reveal any more
bodies, and the Stonington, with fifty of the
rescued persons, thirty of whom were ladies,
hoo to WI ho ifxyo If No,
York with, it is said, 200 more of the Nara
gansett's passengers proceeded to New York,
where she arrived during the morning. The
cond ition of those passengers aboard the Ston-
ington, takeE from the Narrangansett, was
pitiable in the extreme, many of them being
without clothing except what they had gone to
bed with the night previous, and the same may
be said of those aboard the City of New York.
Blankets, sheets, etc., were brought into requi-
sition, and were the only garments, beside
night clothing, that many of the passengers
got until their arrival at Stonington and New
York