The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-24
THE OREGON.
Judge Drummond's Graphic Account of the
Disaster.
Inter Ocean. March Is. ]


Judge Drummond, who was passenger on
the Inflated Oregon, arrived in the city last
night. He went to the residence of his
daughter, Mrs. Farwell, in the Charlevoix,
where be will remain for day or two. The
gentleman was looking well. and there was
a feeling of lively contentment visible in his
face as he sat beside his daughter and talked
of the narrow escape of the passengers and
crew of the Oregon from death. "You
know" said the Judge, 81 only went over
on matter of business We left Liverpool
for home March g. and had enjoyed very
pleasant weather, considering the time of
the year. March Ia the accident occurred
/ had been awakened early in the morning
of that day. how / can not tell. lay awake
for considerable time, listening to
THE ONLY SOUNDS AUDIBLE,
the measured throb of the massive engines,
and the low splash of waves as the ship
threw aside the waters. Suddenly there
was a crash, accompanied by the cruDching
of wood, then sound as If some heavy SUBJ
stance bad fallen a great distance. The noise
lasted only an instant; following it there was
a silence, and then, above me, heard the
rush of feet, the surge of the waters, and the
voices of officers in command shouting or
ders to the seamen. The crash occurred but
few feet away from me. little forward of
amidships. jumped up, and after hastily
dressing went on deck. The greatest con-
fusion prevailed; passengers and seamen
were alike excited, although the officers did
their utmost to quiet and allay their fears.
Looking around tried to find the cause of
the crash; it was dark, about 4:20 O'Clock,
and / could see no craft on the waters. 10
our right the lights on Fire Island shone
Il
the left lay Long Island Sound, stretched
away amid the darkness. The Oregon was
still steaming ahead, and the Captain
ORDERED ALL THE PASSENGERS
on deck. The hope-deluslve, it shortly
appeared-that the ship could not sink be-
cause she was water-tight bouyed us up for
time, but the Oregon took a list, and some
among us knew she was doomed. Pilot boat
No. IL hove in sight, but remained at re-
spectacle distance. The captain ordered
that the women and children be put on
board first. By this time the water had
reached and extinguished the fires of the
steamship, and the firemen had come on
deck. AS the first boat was about to leave
a number of the firemen jumped forward
and tried to press their way into the depart
ing boat. One of the officers barred the way
and scuffie followed. The mutineers
seemed determined 10 get on board, but
were beaten back by the use of axes. After
all the women and children had been put
on the pilot boat the schooner Fannie A.
German of Belfast, Me-, hove in sight, and
we prepared to board her. BY the mismsn-
agement of that ship many hours were lost
in transferring the passengers; she lay about
mile distant from US, and it took some of
the boats two hours to get to her. The saw
ing of minutes means in such cases.
THE SAVING OF LIVES,
and affairs looked desperate for us at one
time. OF course everything was done to
effect stoppage of the leak. 4 couple of
steamers passed us, but they did not come to
our assistance; it is fair to presume they did
not understand us. BY II o'clock we were
all on board of the schooner. By that hour
it was plain to see the Oregon must sink
even before left for the schooner the water
swept the main deck. Forty minutes later
she went down. The stern rose high in the
air; she was poised minute, then gradually
and gracefully she disappeared. 1t was a
dreadful catastrophe, but her end was worthy
of her beauty and grace. The opinion of all
was that a finer ship than the Oregon never
crossed the oce4n. After she went down,
and we thought had been lost sight of for
ever, her topmasts re-appeared Shortly af-
ter she sunk the steamer Fuldy hove in
sight, and we were transferred quickly and
safely to her. 1 can not speak too highly of
the treatment We received while on board
snip. IOSt everything nau, except some
papers which took occasion. to remove from
my trunk"
SIN regard to the question of
WHO WAS TO BLAME,
it was said, by the men on watch that the
schooner did not show any lights until she
was almost upon the Oregon. However that
may be, several of the passengers who hap
pened to be on deck, said they saw the
'schooners lights long before the collision.
The steamer was going at the rate of eight.
cen knots an hour, the wind was blowing
slightly from the southwest, and there was
little sea on. 1t appears to me that the