New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-08
THE STATE OF FLORIDA SUNK
COLLISION WITH A BARK AT MIDNIGHT.
ropry-roUR PERSONS REscUED-DErALs OF THE
DISASTER.

--sool-od steamer State of Florida. Great precau-
tions were taken to prevent the survivors from 1aik
,no ohout the disaster instructions to that effect
having been forwarded to Father Point Indeed all
appeared to be completely under the control OF lhe
cantan and it was with difficulty that any informa-
tion could be obtained. The persons saved consist
of ten passengers and ten sailors. 1hey were
Joseph BENEFIT first class passenger; Andrew ar
bairn and David Struthers. second class James
Patience Josiah Hale and Eliza Churchous. steer
age: James Allen, Third Officer, Andrew NJ Steele
S. n Armstrong Francis Graham. Daniel waiver
passage worker: David Cline storekeeper; Alex
nnder Mitchell donkeyman; james Thomas hre-
man: w II. Smith passage worker; George for-
rester second steward; Neil McKeller, James
Mckenzie. Robert Young John Mcdonald, John
Sandstram stewards; John Mckay and Adam
McFarlan. assistant cooks; William Mllar, bakers
mate.
The following are on board Norwegian bark
Theresa: Janus Thompson, Chief Officer THOMAS
Barr boatswain Peter Patterson, carpenter henry
Anderson lamp trimmer, John Silverblade, quarter
master John Miller, Quartermaster, John smith,
Charles Love- George Armour and william lawson
seamen; John Beard, William Hslop, second en-
cineer; Edward BOYLE fireman. John Mcdonald,
fireman; Jane Mcdonald, stewardcss Hugh Morgan
Peter J. Renne Martin Patterson, Francis Watson,
steerage passengers.
STATEMENT OF THE THIRD OFFICER.
The Third Officer James Allan. says that the
Florida left New-York on April II, with about loI
passengers and crew. and full general cargo All
went well until the night of April Is, at 1870 p
m when the vessel came in collision with the bark
Pomona, of Chatham. n. B. He says Everything
went right till Friday, when at p M, l retired,
leaving the Chief Officer James Thompson, on duty
The first thing heard was a crash, then signal 10
stop the engines. l went on deck, and saw red
lights on the starboard bow. The Chief Officer
cried out "Collision." The last bearings were
taken at noon / believe from this that the col
lson took place at 400 latitude north, 36' longl-
fude west At noon the bearings were 40 so
north. and 80 35' west. At once saw the bark 60
down took lamp from my room and went to the
side of the vessel where the collision occurred and
saw large hole in the side. | thought that the
vessel would 90 down. and at once told the Captain,
who ordered out boats Fifteen minutes after that
the vessel went down, stern foremost.
THE TITANIA's VOYAGE
According to her log the Titania left Glasgow on
April 2S and the 29th encountered strong south
west to northwest gales and high seas On May D,
at p. M. while proceeding up the Gull OH bird
Rocks. she observed ship exhibiting two bright
lights and thinking it wished to communicate, bore
down. and took off twenty-four passengers and
crew rescued from the State of Florida The vessel
arrived at Father Point on May 7, at G:30 a. M.
receiyed pilot, and proceeded to Quebec. The pas
senpers were taken off the ship Louisa, OF Cardiff
of Bird Rocks. The City of Rome passed them
when on board he Louisa answered signals, but did
not STOP 1t had been the wish of Captain Mclean of
the Titana TO have the shipwrecked mariners taken
oft his vessel in the stream at Quebec, which Ross
q Co. the agents here arranged for. Having received
orders from the Montreal agents. Redford IL Co.. to
proceed direct to Montreal with all on board, the
Titania only waited long enough to change pilots
On this account only few minutes could be OBJ
tanned to make inquiries.
sUFFERINGs BEFORE THE RESCUE.
The persons shipwrecKed were despite all the
kindness of their fcscuers badly clad and were
anxious in their inquiries rs TO the treatment they
were likely to receive in this country They were
all much confused in their accounts OF the disaster
They felt shock. heard hoarse whistling felt the
vessel shiver from stem to stern and had an idea
that water was rushing into the vessel. Some of
them rushed on deck only TO red light which as
suddenly vanished, the vessel with which there had
been collision sinking out of sight. Some OF the
women refused to leave the sinking ship although
Il was possible for them to be saved. The water
was intensely cold. Some of those who clung to a
boat which had capsized speak of the horrors OF the
situation as something dreadful the waves break
ing over them. After a delay which seemed to
them hours they were picked up by of the
boats One of the men, Donaldson. had been all this
time underneath the boat, having crawled beneath
fine thwarts which supported him. He was uncon-
scious part of the time His companions knew of
his condition, but not able to help him. When
daylight came, they broke through the bottom of
the boat and rescued him. His fright and suffer
ings drove him half mad. IIe however, recovered
in a few days For thirty-six hours the men on this
boat were without water and when rescued by the
Theresa were getting almost hopeless.
STORIES oF THE SURVIVORS,
James T.. tiencp "A sailor of Baltimore saws that
III he night of the accident was beautifully clear.
though there was no moonlight the being per-
fectly calm. He had turned while lying In his
bunk and suddenly heard a signal to stop. He saw
vessel bearing down on them and heard shout of
Collision"
Joseph Bennett of London, Ont, boot and shoe
dealer. SAID that he was picked mp at the bottom of
an open boat on which he was for thrty-five hours
The boat upset, two men alone being saved
OF the boats crew. Bennett chung to
The keel of the boat for eight hours.
Another man was under boat alive with six or
seven corpses and they had TO break the bottom Of
the boat with an TO get HIM out. Another
survivor said that the only woman saved
Stewardess Jane MacFarland, of Glasgow, who was
saved by Chief Engineer Balm, who gave her his
place in the boat She refused to get in. and he was
forced to throw her in BaiE went down with the
ship "
Bennett the only cabin passenger saved, saysthat
Alien was the only officer who. had any
self-possession about him. He induced
the passengers to take 10 boats which they had de-
clined 10 TO. Mr. Bennett said that when the order
was given a rush made for the boats
and number with himself got in. he describes
the panic as frghtfu Bennett and Others
saved complain that the City of Rome refused to
reply TO the signals given them from the Theresa.
WHAT WAS LEARNED IN THIS CITY.
DISPATCHES RECEIVED BY TIE AGENTs-THE PAS
sENGERs AND CREW.
The news of the loss of the State of Florida with