The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-06-17
FIRE AND WATER.
COLLISION AND DEATH AT SEA.
Collision of the Naragansett and StOningtOn
on Long Island Sound-Terribie Scenes
on Board the Steamer-Fierce
Flames and MeTCiless Wa
ters Take from
80 to 100
Lives,

New York, June 12.-The steamboats, stoning
ton and Narragansett belonging to the same lne
came in collision Friday night In Long Island
Sound, and the Narragansett took fire ana SUNK
in four fathoms OF water, The collision occurred
about Ills p NJ. of the Connecticut river Inc
passengers from both steamers were transferred
to the steamer City of New York of the Fall river
line, to Boston, and they arrived In New York at
1925 Saturday morning. The steamer Slonlngton
arrived al $50 Saturday morning with ABOUT oO
survivors from the Narragansett Ihe pow OF IN sne
former was stove in near the water line she
struck the Narragansett on starboard side FORWARD
of tine wheel house The shock burst the gas
tank and in fifteen minutes the Narragansett was
on fire, and soon after sunk. The steamers new
York and Providence came to her assistance ana
ali the boats and life RATS Of the four steamers
we're lowered and put in service. Two hours
elapsed before the last passenger was picked up
New York, June 12 The purser of the Nara
pansett who was saved from the vessel before she
went down, reports that there were fully 300 pas
sengers on board, and that only $50 have thus far
been found. One young man, seeing that he
could not escape from the burning boat, shot hlm'
self. The surviving passengers tell terrible tales
of the heaTt.rending scenes at the wreck Wlthln
ten minutes after taking fire the boat had burned
to the waters edge. The scenes subsequent to the
collision are simply indescrlOable, II is claimed
the passengers did not know Of the hre until u
was too late for many Of them to be saved me
children who were saved were mostly nakeu,
while the older passengers were merely dressed III
| their night Clothes When the cry OF nre Iaug
through the cabins Of the boat the utmost terror
and confusion followed. dense fog prevailed
and only the whistle and bell OF the StonlngLon
gave token Of her presence not far on Inc
steamers City of New York and St0nington did eX'
cellent service In picking up the suIylVoTs, @ One
of the officers states that deck hand IN lie boat
beat the fingers Of an aged lady who was desper'
ately clingiag to the side of the boat She begged
to be saved, but finally compelled 10 iet go ana
sank beneath the waves. II is almost Impossible
IN obtain all particulars Of the accident ana llst
of the saved. W, D. Beck, Of Pittsburg, aud John
Welsh, OF Milwaukee, are known to be among
those rescued Clarence Leonard ana Wlle re-
Gently of Booths theatre are among those saved
Leonard says the scenes were SIMPLY appslllng
He states that the lights were all out and the pas
sengers were so crazad with fright that they had
not presence of mind enough to put on life pre-
servers He states that the shrieks OF the burning
people and the peadings OF those In the water tor
assistance was something he would never forget
There was no discipline on board the Narragan-
set and the officers were among the hrst 10 leave
the burning vessel. The plugs were out OF the
life boats which caused them to sink as soon as
they touched the water, and the most OF the lie
preservers were out Of order. Three passengers
died from fright after having been rescued by the
StoningtOn. Among those saved we're W. d. kog'
ers and wife of Akron, who give an extended &C
count of the accident From all accounts u Is
thought that from so to 100 lives were lost. full
list Of the passengers could not De ootaineu
INCIDENTS OF THE DISASTER,
H.. Richards Of Providence, occupied state
room near the pilothouse and near where the
stonington struck the Narrsgansett. He first tried
to omen the window and failed, he then with diff
Aculty forced the door open, Not realizing the
serious character of the accident, he dressed him
self leisurely and went upon the hurricane deck.
Here he found a crowd Of people in frantic
state Of excitement and fear, Said he: VI saw
man and his wife, bringing with them chlld,
They appeared obe wild 18th fright. The woman,
who had on life Dreserver, after rushing TO and
fro for O few moments. spTang OVerboard WIN q
terrible scream. The man danced about ana
screamed like a madmaD; then suddenly selzlng
the child, he hurled II overheard and sprung on
himself l never saw any one Of the three again.
and think the child was drowned"
HIS FUNERAL SERMON PREPARED.
John A Davis, Of No. ll3 West Forty-fo nth
street, who was reported among the missing was
not on board the Narragausett He had LETT his
home with the intention Of sailing on that steam
er but could not procure state room, lie had
some objection, also, to sailing on tnls steamer
because II landed at an Objectionable hour III tne
morning, and at the last moment be cnangeu MS
mind aud went by the Providence line. The
members of his family did not hear OF his chang
ed intention, and the rumor spread rapidly
among his friends that he was one Oh the victims
He did not send telegram TO MS Wlie announce
ing his safe arrival at his destination because he
thought she would not hear Of the disaster TIL she
read the morning papers, and he had expected to
be at home before that time. Fully convinced
that he was lost the clergyman Of his church had
prepared a sermon about his sudden death. When
he arrived at church his friends surrounded him
and offered him hearty congratulations.