New-York tribune., 1880-06-14
DELAY IN GETTING OUT THE BOATS.
CLERGYMAN'S EXPERIENCE.
ACCOUNT GIVES BY TIE REV. W. II. ROGERS. o
OHIO-PATHETIC INCIDENTS.

ACCOUNT GIVES BY rHH REV. w. II. ROGERS. or
OHIO-PATHETIC INCIDENTS.
The Rev w. II. Rogers aud wife. of Akron Ohio
were on the Naraganser, Oh the way to Boston,
where Mr.. Rogers was TO preach in the Church of
Christ to-day. Mr. Rogers detailed his experience
| TO a TEDUNI: reporter as follows:
| 81 was sleeping in my berth in the Gentlemcn's
cabin. when was awakened by terrible crash. ]
| Immediately tumbcd ont OF my berth and
| found the cabin filled with an CxcIcd
| crowd winch. haf-dresscd. ran hithcr
| and thithcr, not knowing what was the matter or
! which way to turn Presently some one came down
into the cabin and said that there was no danger,
| and then the people became more qmct, and many
of them began dressing. That quiet lasted only a
| moment for there came another crash followed by
heartrending cries and screams. was dressing at
| the tIne and before had finished the water sud
| denly rushed in and came up to my knees. OF
| course ] got out of that as speedily as possible.
went up stairs and found a perfect panic there.
People were crying and rushing about
in all directions. Husbands were looking for
their wives wives for their husbands,
| and sometimes husband and wife hand in
| hand frautically sought for their children from
whom they had become separated. The widest
| CONSERVATION prevailed. Some gentleman ran
| through the crowd trying to calm the people. lie
assured us we were perfectly safe and succecdcd in
| tranqulizing a great many ; but III few moment )
| we began to SEQ smoke pouring from the bow
end of the cabin and then the turmoil began again
"Ihe same gentleman who had tried to quiet the
people before, shouted thai the engineer was only
blowing off steam. AS at that time we did not
smell the smoke we thought that was oil that was
the matter, ] was with my wife then, trying TO
calm her She was very nervous and was crying.
Suddenly the gas in the cabin went out, and We
were in total darkness. Then we all went ont on
the promenade deck at the stern Of the boat.
Soon the fire began to blaze up at
the bow Of the boar, which seemed tipped
up higher ont of the water than the stern
then the passengers began jumping off into the
water and by the light of the Burning bow we
could see plumbers OF people in the water. had 40
life preserycr; my wife had one however, and
said to her. Let us jump overheard : but she said
NO not Just now let US wait TIL we have TO Jump
"At that time we could see no Gfc-boats. but
nrettv soon lfe-boat came along and we jumped
overload and succeeded i'll catching hold Of tho
side of the life-boat, and were soon helped aboard
by those on the boat About that time other life
boats were being lowered; the RATS were beng
rigged and many people taken from the
burning steamer and picked up from the
water all around u.s. All this time
despairing cries for help filled the air; the
boat whistles wero blowing and everybody seemed
half distracted. After got III the lIfe-bOat we
rode around for over half an hour. We were afraid
the lIfe-boat would 90 down in the fog. We did not
know winch way we we're going till We came in
s0ht of the lights of tho Stonington, which soon
afterward took us aboard.
"Pretty soon the steamer City of NcwYorli came
alongside and word was passed to the StoninCton
that all passengers bound for New-YoTk would
transfer 10 the City of New-York. A great many
went over and not long aftcrward all the rest OF us
were ordered over. as the Stonington was supposed
to be- in a sinking condition. We lost all OF our
trunks. aud my wife lost all OF her clothing and
w,s obliged to come to the city wrapped in sheet.
Manv OF the passengers on the City of New-York
CANA down m similar apparel. though some were
fnrtno1tc in being able 20 borrow clothing from
nossen gers all Of whom were very KIND indeed"
Mr.. Rogers related several incidents TO the re-
norter illustrating saddcst phases OF thcdisastcr
:. One lady iron Georgia was taking her two CHI,
dren 10 visit their grandparents in Maine. who had
never seen them When she heard the crash she
left the statcroon TO what was the matter ana
locked the door behind her, fearing the children
wtsnt sct up. become excited, wander of ana got
llosf When sse went to 60 back to the staieroom
tho Gre had advanceu sU rapidy that NOBODY coula