National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-06-14
APPALLING DISASTER.
A Steamer Sunk in Long Island
Sound.
Severe Loss of Lifc--Two Steamers Collide
in Fog-Terrible Alternative of Death
by Fire or water-Fearful Scenes
ut the wreck-Detaiis of the
Disaster--The Statement
of Captain Young.
rho nisnstsr ON Lonr rsIand sound.

NEW YORK. June l2.-Iho steamers Nlita-
gansctt and Stonipgton, of The Stouiugton line
of sound steamers, came in collision oil the
mouth Of the Connecticut river about mid
night last night. The Stonington struck the
Nnrragausctt about midships on hcr starbourd
side and faked her 10 her stern. The shock
put out all the lights aud bursted the gas
tank, and in few minutes she was on hre
aud soon after sunk in four fathoms OF watcr.
The Stonington remained by to render assist
ance, aud the steamers City of Now York
and Providence came to her assistance, and
all the boats aud lic-rafts OF the four steam
ers were launched and put in service Two
hours elapsed before the last passenger was
picked up, most of whom were transferred
to the City of New York. The passengers
say the officers and crew of the Narragansett
behaved with great coolnoss and nervo.
FRIGHTFUL SCENE.
Tho scene WIS frightlul. The shrieks and
cries Of the passengers of the Narragansett
were distinctly audible on the Stonington
They could be seen leaping into the water
and rushing frantically in all directions
The boats of the Stonington were lowered
after delay Of several minutes and by that
time the Narraganset had settled and was
sinking. BY some blunder the plugs in the
life-boats were left out, and they filled with
water. This caused additional delay. The
men in the boats did not know how to row
thcm At last they reached the scene OF the
wreck, and picked up number of persons who
were floating on life-pr, servers, mattresses,
chairs, tables, planks, etc. The scone was nppal-
ling At this juncture the City of New York,
from New London came up and lay of ut some
distance. She lowered her boats and picked up
as many OF the drowning passengers ms she
could find. When all hope Of further rescucs
were abandoned the Stonington, after transfer
ring some oftlo acknowledgements, 17Ii in num-
Der, to the City of New York, returned to
6tonington. The City Of New York, which was
afraid OF going ashore, then started for New
York with the rescued passengers on board
1t is not known how many, If any remained on
the Stonington. Many Of the passengers res
cued were badly scalded. Others were half
naked. The passengers on the New York ex-
hibited The greatest sympathy and compassion
for the sufferers.
HRRoIc LADS OF THE NAVY.
NEW York. Juno 12.--Several boys from
the United States steamer Tennessee, who
were passengers on the Narragansett were
very active in organizing the crew of the Mar
ragansett and in aiding to avert u panic.
Among the saved appear the names of Miss
Lizzie Peal, of Philadelphia; Mrs. Fred Still
son, Atlanta, Ga; Ann Rodcn (colored) Wash
ington; w. l.. Prosser and j. Smith, Tennes-
see; Joseph Eglnston, jr,, Wilmington, Del;
Mrs. George Thayer, Pleasantville, Pa; #. L.
john and L. II, Quinn, Baltimore; j. II. suhz-
book, Joseph Albert, Craft Hoy aud ]. S. Della
win, Philadelphia.
1t is stated that none Of the Nariagansett's
books or papers were saved. Her captain csti-
mates the number of passengers leaving New
York ut 800.
ONE OF THE sADDEsT EVENTS
connected with the horrible calamity is the
case Of Mrs. A. Z. Dix, Of Brooklyn, wife of
Mr., A. Z. Dix, n broker Of the firm of Dix &
Phyfe. Mrs. Dix was on tho Narragensett
with her three children aud nurse. All are
I'm Mra iy al Ill,
into the life-boat after the collision, but the
boat was capsized. Mrs. Dix, her nurse, baby,
little boy and girl clung 10 tho boat, but the
boat was turned over in tho same way three
times, and Mrs. Dix saw her baby, her nurse
md her little boy and girl washed away. She
and another lady were the only ones left in the
boat. After more than nn hour they were
picked up by IN Officer and men in u boat from
the City Of New York and taken on board the
boat She wore diamond earrings. and the
diamond rings on her hands were mbedded in
the swollen flesh. The skin had been torn off
her fingers, hands and wrists by the boats sides
aud ropes TO which she had cung for her life
As soon as the City of New York arrived
word was sent 10 Mr.. Dix in Wall street, and
he rushed TO the pier aud found his wife. The
meeting of the father and mother who had lost
their entire family brought tears to the eyes
of every one in the saloon. Tho other sur
viv0rs who had not met with so great losses
Pathizing with the unfortunate man and wifc
whose children had been drowned.
HEARTRENDING SCENES AT THE PIER.
The City of New Yorl; brought to her pier
in this city about $50 of the survivors.
great crowd of anxious friends and relatives of
the passengers had assembled az tho wharf In
tho cabin, in the saloon, on the decks Of tho
City of New York and on the steamboat pier
the scenes were Of tile most heartlending char
acter. Women who had lost children or hus.
bands were weeping bitterly, and some Of the
men who had been in the wator for hours had
scarcely enough strength to sit up, Little
girls and little boys were crying aud looking
for their parents Scarcely survivor was
clad in n complete suit of clothes.
Men aud women, young and old, were
wrapped in blankets or had single articles of
apparel, which kind fellow-passengers Oh
board the CiIy of New York had loaned them.
Now husband who had learned that his wifo
or sister had arrived on the City of New York
and had been saved, would arrive aud two sor.
rowlu persons would be united. Then
woman would rush out, stateroom and close.
ly scrutinize young boy, who happened to be
crossing the deck, saying, "Ah, that looked
like my boy" Many OF the passengers left the
boat soon after its arrival, and went clad in
blankets, with no shoes and no hats, to buy
some clothing.
cRAZED BY TIE EXCITEMENT.
Alvin Rundcll, steward on Havcmoyer's
yacht, was passenger on the Narragausctt,
being on his way TO his home at East Green
wich, Il. /. He was ono Of those who remained
on the steamer to tho last and by aiding in
building RATS of loose tim Ders aud other ma.
terial at hand, helped to save at least score
of passengers who were unable TO help them.
selves He was among those passengers trans,
ferred to the City OF New York Excitement
proved too much for him, and when he
reached this city he was entirely deNuged.
He was taken TO Prince'strcet police station,
where the police surgeon examined him. He
gave hope Of his recovery when he had OBJ
tanned rest and sleep. His friends were
found, and took care Of him later In tho day.
SHOT HIMSELF TO ESCAPE DROWNING,
Mr.. +, NJ, Forward, passenger said: "When
the crash occurred, my stateroom door WAS
burst opon. l rushed on deck aud, with seY.
eral others, jumped overheard, all having lifo
preseryors in their hands Before going
reused several persons, and saw one young
man deliberately shoot himself through the
head, when no realized tue danger he was in,
/ with several others was picked up by ono
Of the small boats Of tho City of New York,
which had c0ine to our rescue"
TWO LITTLE CHILDREN BURNED.
NJ. aud Mm, Frederick Stilson, Of Atlanta,
"a, wore on their way east with their two
uttle children, II appears that they took