New-York tribune., 1886-11-08
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE DISASTER
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCMl


NEw-!IAvEN, Nov. 7.-Ihe United States revenue
steamer Manhattan Lieutenant Commander Iozler
In command, went to the bottom off Southwest
Ledge two miles outside of this harbor at $50
o'clock this morning AT the time the vessel sank
there was a heavy sea on, with fierce gale blow
ing. The Manhattan came into this harbor last
night and anchored in the channel of the yacht
clubs house. Ihe Custom House officials seem TO
know little about the vessel mission IN these waters
his morning about aclock three of the officers
of the Manhattan came ashore In small boat.
landing at Long Wharf. They remained on shore
about hour, and after getting the
morning papers went aboard again.
Immediately after this the Manhattan got under
way and headed down the harbor William
Kane. an oystcrman at Oyster Point, says to night
that lie noticed the vessel PASS out of the halbor
and set course toward the southwest and that
she pitched heavily in the sea. She shipped two
three seas and ap alently struggled very much
IN the eac. She then tn ned half around toward
the eastward, and Kane says her condition grew
more laboIed. lie ran to inform the tug office
in this city by telephone to send assistance, and
was gone only ten minutes He was unable to ring
up the city Office, however. and when he returned
the vessel was still struggling against wind and
tide. 10 all appearances tue vessel could
not to be controlled by its wheel. Kane SAYS that
he then ran about forty feet across warehouse
floor to call his employer, and that when he re-
turned after an absence of not over two minutes.
the Manhattan had disappeared from view. Not
vestage of her to be seen. either by the naked
eye or with the aid of glasses.
kane's story corroborated by James Smith, the
proprietor of hotel at South End,
the eastern shore, seven or eight
miles from the point where Kane saw the vessel
sink. MI Smith says that when he first saw her
the Manhattan was on her side. shipping sea alter
sea. aud bnally careened over ana went dowa In
very few minutes from the time lie first noticed
the vessel Two or three other persons ON the
eastern shore, all at different points of observatloD
tel stories OF the disaster that fully bear out
those told by Smith and Kane. The tug Alert.
OF this port, went down to the harbor about i
O'CLOCK thls morning; but, ON account oil the OK
tremeiy heavy sea and wind, could not 90 outside.
She saw nothing IN the way of wreckage. however
When the Manhattan sank the tide was setting
full out INTO the Sound, and whatever wGeckage
there may have been would go directly out to sea.
Late tnis afternoon quantities of pilot bread and
may have been broken from vessels abn oil cans
and some miscellaneous articles hoafed ashore
with tne incoming tide, on the east shore, within
stretch OF two miles from the lighthouse point at
the moutt OF the harDor to the eastward
y no NJ mAnhattan Is described as being OF scpooneI
rig. with length of eighty or ninety feet. ner
crew 10 estimated at from fifteen to twenty-nVo
men IN all. he east and west shores are Deins
patrolled tonight in search of bodies that may 10
washed ashore, but up to midnight no reports h"'0
been received from any point.