Daily Republican., 1880-06-14
THE NARRAGANsErv BURNED.

ZONE from laulny Joys away. V.
-~-s
~ THE NARRAGANSETT BURNED
. The Great steamer Smashed in b.
10 she StOningtOn-Fire Complete
T. Her DestrnctiOn-WiId Scenes
A Great Struggle for Life.
SToENGToN, June IL "A terrible &C
cident, resulting In great loss of life
D happened at about 1l.40 last night +
r the steamer Narragansett of the Stoning
= ton Line, which was run into by tn
0 Stonington Of the same line, about thre,
miles west Of the Corn6eld Point light
boat. The Narragansett immediatel,
, took fire. No definite information car
T bs obtained here OF the loss of life.
The Narragansett left her pier il
Nav York at s o'clock last evening
with good load of passengers. The
company's officers here say that there
$ We're 300 aboard; the passengers say
that there were between $50 and 400.
The staterooms and berths were full,
and when the steamer got in the Sound
cots were spread on the floor. The boat
was commanded by Captain Young,
the crew numbered about sixty men,
Captain Young was regularly employ
ed as the first pilot on the Narragan-
sett, and had taken the place Of Captain
Walden, who had been called away to
testify in law suit. He has been on
the Providence and Stonington Lines
for over twenty five years, and is the
captain Of one Of the Winter freight
boats on the stonington Line.
All went we'll until about IL. 40. Az
this time the beds had been spread in
the saloon, and the greater part Of the
passengers had gone to bed. The
steamer was heading about northwest.
Suddenly the whistle began to blow
vigorously. This continued for several
minutes and was noticed by many OF
those on board. Suddenly q crash
came. The steamer had been struck
forward of the wheel on starboard, and
huge chasm was made in her side.
The blow, singularly enough, was not
severely felt, except by these in the
immediate vicinity, and many thought
that schooner had been run into, but
a glance showed the extent Of the acct
dent.
The scenes that followed battle de
Iscription. Men and women rushed
half dressed from their staterooms cry
ing for life-preservers. Almost i'm
|msdiately following the collision smoke
was srelled. The darkness in the
saloon was still dense. One or two
men we're cool. One negro went up
and down the saloon trying to calm the
frightened women and children,
"There is no danger; all is safe; keep
quiet" he cried. 1.-THE boat'son fire !"
was the terrible reply. SIT amt! 1t
amt !" cried the negro. But man
quietly whispered that the boat was on
fire, and he set TO work manfully to
help the women and children.
AN AWFUL MOMENT.
As the flames were seen coming up
from the vicinity Of the furnaces the
excitement reached fever heat. Men,
women and children rushed frsntically
around begging for life. preservers.
Many people did not know how to put
them on, and in several cases the straps
we're found to be broken or wanting al
together. Many persons rushed to the
hurricane deck, and there terrible
scene was before them. The flames
were rushing up through the hurricane
deck, lighting up the water all around.
A half or three quarters Of a mile away
lay the Stonington, helpless also she
had been disabled by the collision
People thought she was g., 70
leave them to their fate. "Comep
"Coms back" they shouted a'H y.
The steamer, which had keelegg.Ho Ter to I
port when struck, began to sip ffadu- 6
ally, and all prepared to jumtu, TO tee q
water. Men busted themselvs ~ tying Z
the life preservers around tH women. '
The passengers say that no q iars were /
to be seen. The pilot-hou Re vas de- 4
serted. A rush was made fd Pr to boats. n
They were tightly tied, bux wee finally n
unlossed. The first boaE tltt was t
launched was oapsized. It<EB full Of +
people. In some of the boats the plugs 8
we're cut, and men cut open life-pre-
servers and made plugs of the cork. The d
second boat had to be pushed off, the o
working as bsst they could. 8
Then the boat on the quarterback n
was filed with women and children, t
but the davits were rusty and would
net work. The people were helped q
quickly out, and it was finally let o
1own and then filed. The dismay Il
was increased when it was found that h
here we're no oars in the boat and the 81
.opes were in confusion. The boat b
loated away, hut soon drifted back to L
he burning steamer. There was great a,
LANCER that it would be drawn down in b
he suction if the steamer should sink, 81
md with board and their hats the
men finally got it in a safe position. ii
THE WORK OF RESCUE. fl
Meanwhile three women who had o.
umpad over board had been picked up. 81
An old woman who had on life pre- CT
erver was also found. She lad upon o.
Ter breast babe whose mother had o.
,een drowned. The flames had now a.
aimed great head way and had driven 81
many into the water. b
The scenes on the steamer were cI
,eartrending. According to one of the h
passengers the Captain had on life Of
rrserver, and refused to give it to
roman, who with her husband pleaded ir
or it. According to another, the off lc
ers had all disappeared and the crew h
,ere worse than useless. They jumped .
nto the wster, it is said, like flock st
+ sheep. .,
Haste was laade to lower the boats and M
,rovide ats, but the half frenzied men ga
nd women would brook no delay and W