The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-06-17
Terrible Stesmboa Disaster.

ragansette colllded on Long Island Sound
about 11:l6 p. II. June IL. The bow OF the
steamer Stonlngton was broken in for q dis
lance OF ten feet from her stern. The Nara
gansett was struck Just abatt the forward
gangway, making great breach into which
the water poured In floods. A heavy fog pre-
vailed and the vessels were proceeding at re-
duced speed. The Stonington rebounded a
dozen feet by the force OF the conclusion The
Narrsgansett instantly began to I'll. As soon
as her officers comprehended the nature Of
the disaster they aroused the sleeping passen-
gers, about three hundred and fifty In num-
Der, and made preparations to remove them
The passengers came hurrving on to the main
deck and when they learned the peril they
were in they became panic stricken, and
the most vigorous efforts Of the officers
to restore order were futile. The
many ladies on board were calmer, as rule,
than the gentlemen. There were fewer exhi-
billions OF paralizing fear among them. The
officers made all haste to lower the boats and
provide rafU, but half the frenzied passengers
could brock no delay, and many sprang over
board and swan or loated close to the sink
Ing craft, making their presence known by
despairing cries for help. The Narragansett
was provided with light metallic life boats and
three patent RATS. The stonington had an
equal number, and the City of New York had
eight life boats and two RATS. All this life say.
Ing apparatus was at once put into use. Be-
fore the first boat load had been sent off. the
firo broke through the main deck. In very
short space OF time the whole lower deck was
adsme. The scene was then one Of indescrib-
able terror. The few previously calm became
panic stricken. One man shot himself in lis
frenzy, and In the ladies' cabin more than q
score OF women lay in swoons. The cries Of
terror and distress were agonizing. The Of:
hcen Of the Narragansett say about 200 per.
soes were put aboard the New York, and fifty
aboard the Stonington. As the passenger list
was lost there Ia no way Of oflearning the names
Of the drowned. Just - the last boat left the
Narragansett the fire burst forth on the hur-
ricane deck, and in twenty minutes after the
collision the Narragansett sank. The upper
part OF the hog frame, the walking beam and
masts are out Of water. Her starboard hog
frame is badly burned, and all the woodwork
OF upper deck, save part of the hog frame, Is
burned away. She lies in about thirty feet OF
water. A wreckfng steamer was dispatched
to the scene OF the disaster from
New London this morning, and divers will be.
gin work tomorrow, probably. Five bodies
were recovered from tho wreck to-day, four
men aud = child, the latter badly burned in
the face. Largo quantities Of stuff aoated
from the wreck to day aud were secured. This
morning the keeper of the North Dumping
light house, picked up metallic life boat, bot
tom up, containing lot of life preservers that
were marked "Nsrragansett." It is supposed
that the boat was overcrowded, and had upset
and all drowned. It is thought when the div
ers penetrate the cabins m any bodies will be
found. Allowing for exaggerations 1t is be-
heved that the total loss will be about fifty.
Since fsur o'clock eight more bodies have
been recovered and taken to Mantle, where
coff1ns viii be sent by the steamers company.
One Of the saddest events connected with the
horrible calamity 10 the case Of Mrs. A. P. Dix,
Of Brooklyn, wife Of 4 brother of the firm Of
Dix and Pheyfe. Mrs. Dix was on the Nara
gansett with her three children and nurse.
All arc lost but Mrs. Dix herself. They were
all helped into life boat. Men tried to lowe
the boat but water poured In and cspsized it.
When the life boat rIghted again some Of the
women were carried away and the men aban.
doned the boat, Mrs. Dix, her nurse, baby, lit.
tie boy and girl clung to the boat, but the boat
was turned over in the same way three times
and Ars. Dix saw her babyj her nurse, her
little boy and girl washed away. Her dia-
mond rings were imbedded In the swollen
flesh, the skin being torn of her fingers, hands
and wrists, by the boat sides, and ropes to
which she had clung for life Al soon a. the
City OF New York arrived, wsrd was sent to
MI. Dix. He rushed to the pier and found
hb wife. The meeting Of father and mother
who had lost their entire family brought tears
to the eyes a every one. The other surviv.
Or who had not met with 10 great losses for
got their own misery for moment in sympa-
thixing with the unfortunate man and wife
whose children were drowned.