Connecticut western news., 1884-05-14

washed away when the steamer went down. He did not believe that any one had escaped in them. However, if they uad, he did not want to raise any false hopes, his opinion being that they never would be heard from again.
 When No. boat was being lowered the tackle was cut too quickly. and its occupants, who were all passengers, were upset in the sea. X number of them, including Mir. Bennett of London, Ont, he says, clung to the boats bot tom during the remainder of the night, and were picked up in the morning by the other boats.
 On Sunday, after drifting thirty-five hours, they were picked up by the Theresa.
 The members of the rescued party on board the Titania presented a pitiable appearance. So sudden wils the acci- dent that many of them who were in their hunks at the time, had to hurry on deck and into the boats in their night clothes. Most of them had very con fused idea of what really transpired.
 There was a crash and a rush to the boats as the ship went down amid the shrieks and lamentations of the passen- gers. Those on duty at the time re. member seeing red light flash for an instant, followed by an instantaneous crash, after which nothing but confusion followed, the steamer beginning to sink, and hurried preparations being made to launch the boats.
 The bark which collided with them went down instantaneously. The fright. ened passengers rushed on deck in their night-clothes, and a scene of iudescrib- able confusion ensued. The women went into mysteries, and the men refused to move. The women especially ob- iected to leaving the doomed vessel, some who could have been easily saved absolutely refusing to budge an inch. Those who chung to the bottom of the capsized boat all night suffered terribly from the ice-cold water, though the sea was calm. Nevertheless they did not lose heart.
 One of their number, a man named Donaldson, was underneath the capsiZed boat until they were picked up by one of the other boats in the morning. When she capsized he kept his hold and went with her, managing to secure a position above the bars, where he remained talk ing to himself and moaning until he swooned. His companions on the out side were unable to assist him.
 In the morning when they were picked up the bottom of the boat had to be broken through to get him out, when he presented a horrible appearance from his long exposure to the waves and lack of fresh air. A few days afterward how ever. he got all right again. During the Swfx Er~.. otl had not a drop of water to drink and were beginning to feel all the horrors of extreme thirst when they were rescued by the bark Theresa
 The rescued seamen are from all parts of the world, but Glasgow men predom- mate. Glasgow was also the port where they were shipped. James Patience and another, however, are Americans, and belong ill New York. One of the mum. Der lost brother, and all showed un- usual emotion ill speaking of their drowned comrades.
 They all agreed that the case of the State of Florida was the quickest and most appalling disaster they ever heard of. Andrew Steele, of Ayr, surgeon of the steamer, was of the opinion that the real inwardness of the accident would never be ascertained, as the whole thing was too sudden. The passengers were all ill bed at the time, and so were the sailors off duty. He says the officers, crew, and passengers all seemed to have lost their heads.
 \ PASSENGER $ STATEMENT.
 James n. Bennett of London, Ont. said the cnllis on occurred at about II IA o'clock. At the time of the accident he WAS m the surgeons
 NG.NVN NaaNNf nay rushed to death when the Ponema came crash ing into the State of Florida amidships The vessel that struck them went down at once with all nn board except the Captain and thr, men, one of whom became mad from exposure and want of water. and died in tue boat bsfore the party were rescued.
 After the State If Florida had been struck she uuiyrred like an aspen leaf. Tremendous volumes of wat r rushed into the body of the vessel which immediately began to settle down at the bow. The Cap'an seemed to have lost his head completely. He awakened the TaSsen- gers and told them they must take to the boats instantly. but It appears that he made no effort to devise plan by which the pasSen- gers could get into the beats.
 At the time of the collision the Captain was in the cabin. He rushed on deck in his nie Int dress and assumed C, mmand the deck haN- ing been up to that moment under the charge of the first officer. Many of the passengers came on deck iu their night clothes, too be- | wilder,d and dazed to make any attempt to | save themselves
 | Il,e women went into mysteries, and the men would not awaken them to a sense of their ter rible danger until the boats pushed away from | the ship and the lunges preliminary to the sinking took place, wht n the most heartrchu- | ing cries and appeals for help were heard untn l the iiual plunge was made.
 l The wrecked steamer carried eight boats. | two of which were crushed by the collision and ] four of which were launched. Mir. Bennett | saw one of the remaining two hanging by one | davit. He heard that II was not considered a ! safe boat and that the ropes were cut m order | tO hinder any one from using it. What De- ! came of the other boat he does not know. | Walter King. of Toronto, occupied the same 1 cabin as Mir. Bennett, and when the ship was about going down came to him and said
 For Gods sake, Bennett, stay by me. am | unable to swim.
 | Bennett and King then got into one of the | boats, the lashings uf which were cut at one l end, throwing all of the occupants into the sen Thirty might have been saved but for this mishap. Only seven were picked up.
 Mir. Bennett says he chung with others to tho boat all night Their position was a terrible one, but none lost hope. and toward morning | they succeed q in hailiug one of the other | boats. All night long they could hear peoplt | grooming and struggling underneath the boat | and as many of those on top had lost friends 1 and one a brother, their feelings can be better 1 imagined than described Toward morning l the noise ceased. and they came Co the con ! clusion that their companions had succumbed When they were rescued they broke through | the bottom of the boat with their oars, and a horrible sight met their eyes.
 Eight bodies were floating there, while 2 | man named Donaldson was still alive. although unconscious from the effects of the imprison ment.
 Mir. Bennett was of tho opinion that though the boat was hanging hy one davit, they migh have succeeded in laEEchlng II safely had I not been for the Capt.in's order Co the thirI officer to 20 ahead. which had the effect o drawing the boat under.
 The night was very clear and the oceai smooth He cannot account for the collision
 After drifting thirty six hours they were picked up ly the Louisa of Car,iiif, which transicIrc'
 them tn the Norwegian bark Theresa.
 Mir. Bennett says the conduct of the Captain
 of the City of Rome was shameful, as tha
 steamer passed not more than half & mil