The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-16
THE OREGON.
Further Particulars Concerning the
loss OF the Cunard Steamer.

Loss of the cunard Steamer.
The Total Loss Said to be About
sI,5oo,ooo.
The Schooner that Struck the
Steamer Sunk with All on Board,
NEW YORK, March 15.-Captain Cottier
of the Cunard line steamer Oregon, which
was run into and sunk off Fire Island yester'
day, says that at 4.30 o'clock Sunday morn
ing the steamer was sailing with fresh
breeze from the west, when sailing vessel
suddenly loomed up. When first noticed she
showed no light, but when she was too close
to clear she showed white light. Could moi
say on what part of her. The Oregon was
running under full head of steam. The
vessel struck us amidships and stove big
hole in the port side. All the water tight
compartments were closed at the time, but
the Oregon went down about 12.45. one
fioated for about eight hours after she was
struck. She now lies in % fathoms OF water
northwest from Watch Hill, l.. L. Ine tops
of her three maStS are visible aDoVe tne
water, and the vessel is upright. We work
ed from the moment of the collision'as i we
expected her to sink, but / did not believe
she was going to sink, and we took extreme
precautions. The pumps were OF no use.
Soon after the accident occurred steamer
passed us, a National line boat | think, but
went on. The vessel that ran into us must
have sunk Immediately.
Capt Cottier made only a verbal statement
this afternoon to the British Consul The
Captain said that the course OF the oregon
was north by west when the light was seen
off the port bow of the steamer: Nhen
struck she was going Is knots per hour, ana
the helm was put hard a-port. Chief Ofhcer
Matthews was in charge, and there were
lookouts in the forecastle and at the fore
mast. The wind was west by north, with
fresh to strong breeze. He could have res
cued every soul on board the Oregon with
cidcd to send the case to England for lnyes-
tigati0n.
Another Account.
At half-past o'clock the Oregon was
steaming along for New York, with Fire Isl
and light plainly visible. Suddenly there
was crash A coal-laden schooner had
,lcshed into the steamer nearly amidshlps,
an the water began to rush in through a
huge hole in her side. The schooner's bows
were stove in, and having very little free
board she sank almost Immediately In the
terrible confusion that followed it was inn
possible to discover the name of the schoon-
er. 1t is beyond all doubt, however, that all
of her unfortunate crew perlshed.
Meanwhile the scene on board the oregon
was terrible. Aroused by the crash half
dressed passengers rushed on deck in frantic
haste. Women shrieked, men ran about to
and fro in aimless haste, and for a time all
was terror. Captain Cottier and his officers
did all they could to allay the fears of the
$50 passengers. They was assured that
there was no danger, and after while they
Gained down. The water kept pouring in
through the shattered plates on the. side.
The steam pumps were started, and though
these powerful engines threw out great v0l-
umes of water from the hold the captain saw
the sea was getting the upper hand OF them
and the Oregon was doomed to desCructlon.
The Oregon had several water tight compart-
ments. 1t is generally supposed that q
vessel possessing these safeguards cannot
founder, and that though one or more COM
partments should fill the others would have
sufficient buoyancy to keep her at1oat. In
the case of the Oregon, however, the water
seems to have got from compartment No. 3:
where the schooner struck her, and filled the
other compartments Otherwise it would
be different to account for the sinking.
Chief officer Matthew'S Story.
Chief officer w. G. Matthews to- day made
the following statement: 81 went on the
watch at o'clock Sunday morning. 1t was
dark but the weather was tolerably clear.
The fourth officer was also on the lookout
with me on the bridge, he being on the port
and / on the starboard side. There were
three men ON the lookout also, two on the
turtle book forward and one on the forepart
of the promenade deck. The collision occur
red at 4.30 a, m. The first intimation had
of the proximity of the schooner was when
bright light was shown ou the port bow. The
light appeared to be held up at times and
then it darkened gagain so much so that L
took it to be pilot boat, and knowing that
the captain was not going to take a pilot un-
til getting up to the bar put the helm hard
apOrt to bring him more broad in the bow. l
assumed the light | saw to have been held
by man standing on tine schooner S deck.
The fourth officer and myself saw it together
The lookout men say say they reported 1t
but did not hear them. There were no
other lights on her. | cannot saw how far
the white light was away when saw 1t but
| had no idea of collision. When pnt the
helm aport the vessel had not changed her
course nor had she when the collision occur
red. ! could not see the sails or masts of the
schooner until she was on the point of
striking us.
After she struck us ordered the engines
stopped at once. The Oregon was coming
around all the time and we tried to see what
became of the schooner, but could not see
her anywhere. The captain came on the
bridge as soon as he heard the engineers
telegraph looked around the horizon, but
could not see the schooner. Ii she was
afioat, she would have been on the stern of
our steamer. / heard no cries and no COM
munication passed between us.
A Passengers Story,
One of the Oregon's passengers related to
a reporter on board of the Fulda last night
tine following story of the collision and the
subsequent sinking of the ship. He said:
81 was up in my stateroom talking with my
wife when the shock came. 1t was twenty
minutes past o'clock in the morning. The
weather was cloudy, and the moon was just
visible struggling through the clouds. The
sea was calm and smooth, and there was no
fog. All of a sudden came blow and a
shock like that felt at the shooting of a can
non. The Captain, who was below at the
time, rushed on deck, and many of the men
followed him, all asking what was the mat
ter. People rushed madly on deck clothed
in all sorts of peculiar continues. Ladies in
little else bnt nightdresses and shawls, came
out of their cabins and gazed with anxious,
agoniZed faces at the officers and men. 1t
was scene of indescribable confusion, anx-
iety and terror. The captain ordered us all
below and then ordered us on deck again.
When we heard that the steamer had been
run into by schooner, one of the passen-
gers said that he had seen the schooner ten
minutes before the collision occurred.
Immediately after the collision, when the
water was pouring in through hole large
enough to draw horse and carriage
through, some of the firemen struck work
and the captain had them locked up below.
For an hour or two the ship drifted about
helplessly, and sighting some passing steam
ers we signalled them with rockets, but they
either did not see us or paid no attention.
Immediately after all the ships eight
boats were lowered, and in perfect order,
first the women, then the passengers in their
order of cabin and steerage, and then the
crew, were lowered into them. All
hands behaved admirably, the captain and
doctor being the last to leave the ship.
At s o'clock the pilot boat No. II and the
schooner Fanny III. Gorham came up to us
and took us all out of the boats on board. A
little after the Fulda came up and took us
all on board. The Oregon did not sink until
twenty minutes to two"
The Lost Mails.
Postmaster Pearson states that by the
steamer Oregon there were despatched 59S
r .cI o4o o,.oI