Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-06-19
WRECK GE FIFE NAREAGAN-
EEET.

Narragansett; which left New York On
Friday evening for Stonington, and her
companion, the Stonington, which left
Stonington for New York, collided, off
Cornfeld light, near the mouth OF the
Connecticut river, Long Island sound,
about Ills o'clock the same night. a
dense fog prevailed 4, the time, but the
captains of both steamers; being conl-
dent OF their courses, were SAILING at
fair rate of speed. The officers of the
Stonincton first sighted the Narragan-
sett on their starboard bow, and altho'
every effort was made to avert COLI
sion, the bow of the Stonington struck
the port side of the Narragansett for
ward OF her whee!-house. The shock
broke the boilers and burst the gas
tank, and III less than fifteen minutes
the steamer was on fire. The passen-
gers were nearly all in their berths, and
when the crash came there was terrible
confusion. Volumes of scalding steam
passed through the cabin; and Tor atew
moments no one seemed to know what
had happened. Men, women and child
rem rushed from their statc-rooms, many
in their night clothing, screaming and
struggling to reach the deck. When
lights were procured frantic rush was
made for chairs, life-preseN ers and mat
resses, in which husbands were scpara-
ted from their wives and mothers from
their children, while, to add to the hor-
ror Of the situation, it was found that
tie NarragaGsctt was or fire. y rush
was made for the boats, and, as there
were no officers there to ship them, the
passengers cut them adrltt and srug-
gled into them. The steamer was fast
settling, the heat from the burning
wood work was becoming intense, and
with last despairing effort the terrified
passengers leaped into The dark waters,
some with life-preservers, others with
ont, and others with chairs and pIanks
which they had succeeded in securing.
| The shock of the collision had driven
/ back the Stouipgton a considerable dis
lance; and when the excitement on
board of her had subsidized and the blaze
Of the burning steamer could be seen
/ through the thick fog, the boats were
( lowered, when it was found that there
were no plugs to stop the water holes.
. This necessi;a,ed further delay, but at
last the boats were rugged and manned,
and many of the drowning men and
/ women were rescued.
The steamer City OH ew York, bound
from New London to New y ork, sight
ed the burning steamer, and bearing
/ down, her captain (Lamrhcar) at once
lowered his boats, and for an hour and
half 1.-The sailors who manned them
pulled around, picking up The almost
/ iifrlcss men and women in the water,
and then taking them to the steamer to
be ,cudcd and cared for. Several OF
them, however, died Of sheer cXhaus-
ton after their rescue.
The NarraganSctt soon bnrned to the
waters edge, and the hull, with her en-
/ tire cargo, sunk in eight fathomS OF wa
ter. rs no accurate list Of her paSscn-
gers vas kept it is difficult to estimate
the exact loss of life. 1t is believed
that there were 500 passengers on board
Of whom the City Of New York took
200. While the S,onington carried sever
al to Stouincton, and the hopes are
that not more than % or so were lost.
The StouiuGtou, fortunately, escaned
with but slight damage.
No special cause can yet be assiGnc!
for the disaster, although it is said that