New-York tribune., 1881-08-30
A STEAMBOAT AGROUND.

GREAT ALAKM AMONG THE EPAssENGRT.s-srArR-
hENTs OF THE coMPASYs EMPLOYEES AND or
PASSENGERS ON THE BOAT
The steamer State of New-York. of the Neu-
aork ana Hartford Line, ran aground in the
connecticut River, near Goodspeed's Landing
about o'clock on Sundas night. More than
@oo passengers were on board, and they were
much alarmed when the vessel struck
some object in the water. The name only
lasted few minutes and all the passengers
were safely landed. Sidney SelIew, the bag
gage-master, has been missing since the acci-
deht, and 1t is feared that he has been lost
DETAILS OF THE OCCURRENCE.
Inc state OF fNew-York started at the usual hour
~ ene aloernoon and proceeded down the Connecti-
cut hlver, making several landings where passep
gers were taken aboard. Aboat 8 o'clock some cf
the passengers went to their sfateroons hut many
VI onem remained on the main deck singing songs
ana enjoying themselves. The number of nassen-
gers is estimated at 200 as all the I6O stateroo,ps
o.' 'e Doat had been engaged, and nearly fifty per-
sons were without rooms The night was dark A
oegah 10 settle on the river after the steamer
started ON It's trip, but was not dense enougb IN oh
scure objects in the river When near Csooasr..as,
LANDING the pilot noticed three schooners nj cho-
IN the channel o. the river. AS the steamer an
preached them Captain Dibble gave orders TO eo ts
the starboard of the vessels, as the water was
shoal on the other side. To avoid an accident the
engines were stopped, and the steamer moved
slowly around the schooners. The first one a. an
chor was passed safely and the bow of the vessel
was pointed 10 the channel of the river Without
any warning great crash heard, and instantly
the steamer careened TO the starboard The officers
rushed TO the lower deck, and found that the
steamer had struck some unknown obstruction in
the water, and that large hole had been made
under the engine-room.
Wneh the oincers returned to the upper deck great
confusion prevailed among the passengers. The lar
had thrown some of the sleeping passengers from
their berths, aud they rushed TO the deck to learn
the cause. The passengers who had remained on
deck ran franticay through the saloon thinking
that the vessel would sink in a few minutes Crowds
surrounded the places where the ,xer
stored and several persons in their haste aaiuSed
two or three of them to their bodies Women
screamed and men became wild with excitement.
One woman ran mp stairs shouting ''Murder p beliey
ing that that the only suitable word 10 express
her idea of the situation. In a few moments tl,e
cry was heard that n woman had jumped overheard
with her baby, but this statement could not be
verified. Some persons assert that the woman had
dropped her child accidentally In the water which
flowed through the cabin, and that de khand had
simply picked up. Quiet was finally restored by
the good MANAGEMENT of the officers The second
mate went on one side of the steamer and a deck
lives were not in the slightesr danger. They said
that if the passengers only kept order they would
soon be landed. All the staterooms were entered
and the people were told to prepare to land
In the meantime the steamer WAS rapidly filling
with water. The deckhands and walters were on
the lower deck when the vessel struck, and they
were forced TO the upper deck. In few minutes
the lower deck was filled with from two TO six feet of
water. The captain found that the steamer would
not obey the rdder, but he knew that the water
was shallow and he determined to allow the boat to
drift TO the nearest beach For over half mile the
steamer hoated with the tide. when she suddenly
ran against a beach. The bow ran up high on the
beach and the stern sank low in the water As
the vessel toppled over ali the water in the lower
deck rushed with great force to the stern Some Of
the passengers were there looking after their bag
gage, and they were drenched with water.
The stern sank in about twelve feet of water and
the main deck was completely submerged All on
board were ordered To the forward part of the upper
deck, where they were compelled TO remain shiver-
ing in their wet garments until assistance arrived
The ferryboat a Goodspeed's Landing went 20 the
aid of the disabled steamer as soon as
possible, and the passengers were transferred and
taken TO Gelston's n ptel, where they were made
comfortable for the iiight. me persons, however
refused TO discontinue their journey and came 10
the city by train Sunday night. More passengers
reached the city by train yesterday morning but
about fifty arrived last night in the steamer
Granite State of the same line This steamer lad
been an excursion from Hartford to Martha's
wrecked passengers aboard and Transferred her own
TO the City of Har ford.
As soon as the passengers learned that they wcre
in no danger, q rush was made to secure their hag
gage. Baggage master Sidney Selew busy IN
his room delivering euch satches and travelling
bags as he could find. One of the officers of tho
boat saw him looking for the baggage belonging to
two women Just before the steamer was beached.
He had delivered their baggage when the stern OF
the vessel sank low in the water and the ofscer
and the women ran quickly TO the upper deck.
The baggage master has not been seen sinc.A
IL is thought that the water rushing throush
the lower deck filed the little compare
menu where Sellew had the baggage stored and
that he was unable 10 get ont The officer who
saw him in the oaggage-room thought that Sellew
mad Followed the women 70 the upper deck. Many
of the deekhands refuse believe that SeIlew has
met with an accident and assert that he will vet be
found.
The officers Of the State Of New-York remained az
the wreck all day yesterday. The bow OF tine
steamer Is raised high on the beach, but the water
reaches the upper deck tho s;crn. Nearly ali the
siatcroons att arc submerged. Captain Dibble sent
a telegram to the Coast Wreckng COMPANY Al No
40 Wail-st stating that the vessel had met with an
accident ana asking that aid be sent immediately.
The wrecling steamer Rescue, with the Necessary
men and appliances, was sent 10 the OF the
wreck.
STATEMENTS or EMPLOYEES OF THE COMPANY
William III. Winer. the steward of the State of
New-York, was in the dnng-saloon when the vessel
struck. His story is as follows: =" WAS in the sa-
Icon aud had inst given the order clear the tables
when saw the water rushing in. Il seemed to be
two OF three feet deep it entered the sa oon The
tables and chairs. as they strack by the water
wele knocked down and began floating about. The
wafer came in on the starboard side There were
several walters IN small pantry the port side
not have escaped. called 70 the walters aud they
GOT out IN time to get upstairs safey.~
zone q to bed hs had Tay inst s sue and t m had
his trousers and boots and escape. The basket