New-York tribune., 1880-06-13

sett tuaf saw the Stoniugt0n Wteu an0- teI0<x1
The accident. occurred shortly after 1i akla6 81
night, We'wcre running at q pretty fair mn
4 speed at the tlns as was also The StoninxtcD M.
struck US amidships. on the stafboard Id, 1n(x
raked Us clear to the Wheel The forcs Of the <ot}
lsion caused the Naragansett to list heavily ~
port. and Ia less than Ave minutes she went d6N15
as for as the main deck and grounded. Sh0r(lt
after that saw sheet Of flame shoot up out a. ~,
engine-room. and in q few minutes the entire 1ni(t
| was on FIRE. ,z2
"The moment saw what bad happened rushed /;
for the hurricane deck and tried to cast loose e
raft which had been placed there but was uusuc,1
cessful in so doing. then slid down post to tie
saloon deck and tried to cast loose another liferf
but was again unsuccessful. By this time the Are
had gained such rapid headway that hardly knew
what to do. and for few seconds il seemed aejf4 /
oil was up with me- / then saw To-
raft floating in the water abort way from W.
steamer, and, as ID was my last chance. Jumped
overheard and began padding for 1T. Whet shor4s
distance from the raft became pretty well Sx.3
hausted and had it not been for line which had;
been left towing behind would most assuredly1
have been drowned, The moment caught hold o.
that began pulling myself hand over hand toward
the raft, and finally, with great difficulty. succeedsd
Ia reaching it. At that time there were five ladies
and one child on the raft" Mr.. Henry wisely ro-;
mained in the water holding himself up BY man
rope. Alongside of him was woman who wanted
| to get upon the raft. He persuaded her that sho
was safer where she was, and she remained there
until she was finally rescued by one Of the boats
sent out by tho Sronington TO pick up passengers.
The steamer Massachusetts. Of the Providence
Line, W rs also on the scene and rendered efficient
service in saving the victims Of tue disaster. s
Mr.. Henry gives much credit to the officers of the
Stonington and Massachusetts for their Efforts md
adds word of testimony in favor Of the Narra-
gansetts passengers, who werc lie says, remarkably
cool under the trying circumstances. He dwells q
with evident feeling the terror of the night aud
says that although he was shipwrecked once be-
FORE the experiences of the past night ter
rible than anything he had ever thought possible.
When Mr. Henry reached the life-rafr ii was about
11:4O o'clock, as his watch stopped then. He was
in the water fully an hour and half, at the end OF
which time the raft had been lghtenel of part OF
got out Of the water He was taken off the raft &
shortly after 2 O'clock and went on board the Z
StoniDRton. While he was on the ratt one OF tho
women was lost. OF the others, four and o child
were saved
HOW THIRTEEN PEOPLE WERE SAVED.
J. Fl. Wilcox, adjusting agent of the New-York
Life Insurance, Company and present resident
of Chicago, who was OH the Narragansett'
gives to O reporter of The Providence Joxr-
nal tue following story of his remarkable 81.
cape, and the incidents which he observed: He
had retired to his stateroom. No. 80, which is
about amidships, and was awakened by the crash %
glass, and Immediately became aware By the wrench
and groan of timber that the vessel had been struck
or run upon. Mr.. Wilcox has had the misfortune To-
lose Leg and instantly feared he should be penned
in his stateroom by fastening Of the door il he J
did not quickly get out, without dressing, with.
out his crutch and making only one futile
grab for his pocket-book containg $500. which he
left under his pillow, he made way out into the
aisle with his coat and trousers In his hands. {#
BY this time the boat had taken fire from the
blazing gas, and there was a scene OF the utmost
terror and confusion. A woman flung herself upon
him screaming, Save me and my chld!" OF
course Mr.. Wilcox could do nothing in bis helpless
condition. He managed to dress himself and strug1
gle on deck where there was scene of equally mad
confusion. disorder and frantic fear. dense fog
prevailed, so that nothing could be seen on the
water, and only the whistle and bell of the ston,
ington gave token of her presence. Not far Oh
there was cry for life-boats, and one was cut
loose from amIdships from near where Mr.. Wilcox &
was standing. He threw himself over the side and
fortunately struck safely within the boat Others
followed. including a woman, who buried HIM be. =
meath her weight. Es-
Some one cut loose or united the rope, aud tho.
boat was pushed off from the burning steamer to 4
avoid being swamped by the passengers who werd
swimming in the water. supported by hfe-pre1
:
with cries for help. The boat was pulled out, and
within short time the Narragansett sank. leaving
total darkness on the water. ,r,.
The boat remained % S out for what St, Mr., . WiieSs
approach of the coming storm OF wind and rain, Pc
urged his companions to pull in the direction OF the
whistle as the only hope to escape being overset. 81
They did so and arrived safely on board the Ston-
iugt0n. The boats load; including NJ Wllccx'
but three of whom, he thinks, were Of the crew Oh
the NarragaEsett.
WILD RUSH FOR LIFE.
Albert Fl. Munford, Of the firm of Cornells g. Num-
ford produce dealers, was passenger on board tho
Stonington. He says that he was lying on tho B
lounge in the captains room. He heard the thres
whistles of the approaching steamer, which sounded
as if they were right over bis head. aud In an in-
slant the collision occurred. Immediate prepara-
tions we're made for the rescue Of passengers. and
the Stonington was moved toward the burning
steamer which blazed MP 30 rapidly and fercely
that the passengers were compelled to leap from
even the hurricane deck into the water. People
were seen in every direction cnging to seats and
life -preseryers which, in this case, did most eecs
tual service. IL
Mr.. Manford says that the best of discipline pre-
vailed on board the Stonington, and everybody
took hand in manning the fe-boas and life-rsfts.
About forty minutes after the collision the Nara
eansett sank and everything was Ia total darkness
with the exception Of the lights on the Stonington,
the fog being of great density.
The work of picking mp survivors continued until
daylight over three hundred being taken on board
Some Of the survivors were greatly exhausted from
long exposure in the water, and man and woman
died after being taken on ooaru IN spite Oh eVefy
effort to revi, them.
The steamer City Of New-York, Of the Norwich
Line. came up and assisted rescuing the passon-
gers. considerable number Of whom were taken 70 (
New-York. -, 80,
It is estimated that the loss of life will not exceed
On arriving at Stonington the people Of the town
showed the greatest generosity and kindness Great
numbers of the passengers were rescued with only
thair ninhk clnthaa. hnt thaY were AhindantlY