Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-08
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STEAMER RHODE ISLAND WRECKED
A TOTAL I.OSS.-ALL ON BOARD
SAVED.

PRovIpENCE. II. l., November &. Steamer
Rhode Island, of the Providence line, went
ashore on Bennett Point, near Beaver Tail,
Narragahsett Bay, at 40 A. NJ. No passen
gers lost, but several of the crew were hurt,
in the confusion and wreckage. At daylight
the passengers and crew were safely landed
Steamer is considerably broken up, and there
will be considerable damage and loss of
freight.
LArER-The Rhode Island is wrecked on
the north side of Whale Rock. She struck
at 3.l5 A. NJ. The steamers head is in
shore. She will be a total wreck dense
fog prevailed. Passengers speak highly of
the GOODNESS of Capt. Mott and officers. Gil
frey, the head steward, is severely hurt by a
chandelier falling on his head. There are
$50 passengers on board. Freight from be
tween decks is floating about and is being
picked up by boats All hands saved
A despatch at the company's office SAYS
steamer is logged and bilged. Steamer Davis
is ordered from Stonington to assist in saving
freight.
A passenger says the steamer struck about
o'clock. There was considerable alarm
and confusion aboard. The chandeliers
crushed down and for moment there was
total darkness and danger of fire. Capt.
Mott-and officers behaved with great cool
ness. Calming tut pdssthptls anu "ssuill
them of safety, and in short time the alarm
subsidized although some of the passengers re-
tanned their life preservers. As soon as
light, boats were lowered and landed
the passengers. Some of them by crossing
South ferry and walking considerable dis
lance were able to take early train from
Narragansett Pier. Others remained until
the noon train.
None of the passengers were injured. The
smoke stacks went by the board. At the
collision the hog frame was broken. The
sea was heavy and good deal of freight was
washed overheard The place If the wreck
is bad and exposed to considerable force
from the sea. 1t is not more than two hun
dred yards from the shore. At the time OF
striking it was low tide. When the port
smoke stack fell, it crushed one passenger
leg, but not seriously. The hog frame is
gone aft, and the vessel is iaboring heavily.
There is heavy sea frons the southeast
The loss to the Stonington company on the
Rhode Island will probably be $500, 900. :
| f. c. Boan; of New York, says: Tie pas
sengers were mostly in their staterooms an1
berths: where great panic and confusion
reigne1. many running out in their night
clothes and screaming. The shock was yery
severe The captain Immediately ordered
the steam to be blown off and the fires drawn,
and then turned his attention to the panic
stricken passengers.
Both Capt. Mott and his first officer acted
with great GOODNESS and decision, so thai
quiet was soon restored. Water soon came
in, and it was not long before the vesse
swung around broadside to the sea. and began
TO break in two. The stern also began e
/ break badly In the meantime no one knew
| exactly where he was in the dense fog ant
darkness.
The passengers all put on life-preservers
assisted by the captain and officers and then
amid the surging of the waves and the grad
ual opening of the seams and crashing Of tim
bers, waited for daylight, when line wa
stretched to the shore and every man, womal
and Child on board was safely landed, it'll
after o'clock. The captain sent to the farm
houses for teams, and ali were taken to Mar
ragansett.
Great credit is due to the officers and ere,
for the manner in which they conducte
J themselves in the trying emergency. Tn
head cook displayed much bravery, in hi
bare feet carrying the passengers over tn
sharp rocks.
few persons were slightly bruised an
injured and there were several narrow escape
from having limbs crushed by the openin
and closing timbers. 1t had been very roug
all night.
. Some Of the passengers from the Rhod
Island arrived at Newport j. Goodrich, Jr
of Haverhili, Mass, says: The night W;
calm, but the weather was very fogyy. Whe
she struck she made terrible noise, as 81
went over on her broadside.
u The passengers were all landed in sms