The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-19
THE SINKING OF THE OREGON
The Story of the Disaster Toldby Pas
senger from This City.
DR.. John Chambers Explains the Discipline OBJ
served on Board the Cunaders-The Catas
trophe as Seen by Judge Drumm0nd.
HOME IN SAFETY.


HOME IN SAFETY.
Two Indianapolis Passengers on the III Fated
Oregon Return and Tell the Story.
Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Morgan. of this city,
who were among the passengers on the ill-fated
steamer Oregon when it sunk, arrived home
yesterday. In speaking of some of the scenes
| and incidents of the wreck to Journal reporter
last evening. Mr.. Morgan said that when the
officers discovered that the vessel was sinking
and ordered that the passengers should be
aroused and told to come on deck without delay,
he at first supposed that the steamer was on fire.
He and his wife dressed quickly, but he was COM
PEELED to go on deck without his shoes, as many
of the other passengers did. because they had
| not been returned to his state-room after receiv
ing their regular nightly backing Following
the directions of one of the stewards he after
wards went below and hunted out his shoes
among lot of others While there was some
| thing Of a panic among the passengers when
they were first aroused, Mr.. Morgan says
that the excitement was soon subdued by the
GOODNESS of the officers. and there was perfect
calm on board while all were watching the YES
sci gradually sink, and waiting anxiously for
| rescue from their peril He speaks in highest
praise of the cool, heroic conduct of the officers,
and especially Of the second mate. When the
We, women and children were placed in the
| ards took advantage of the oppor-
| tunity to escape from danger with
them, but this could not be controlled by the
officers. Some Of the women refused to be sep
arated from their husbands, heroically declaring
that they would prefer to risk drowning with
| them. The parting was the most trying feat
ure he says OF the experience, but it
was borne with wonderful calmness
| and fortitude by all, with the excep
his firmness. broke down and bade his wife
FAREWELL as she was placed in the life boat.
Mrs. Morgan refused to leave her husband, but
was lifted over into the boat and was separated
from him before she realized it. Three hours
afterwards, with 500 Others he taken on
board the schooner which came to the rescue of
the passengers, and was transferred to the Fulda-
Within an hour after their rescue the Oregon
went down. No attempt was made to save
any baggage Those who had ample time to 60
below did not care to take the trouble, and
seemed to be perfectly Indifferent about the loss
of valuables. None of the passengers saved
anything more than the clothes they wore and
some were scantily dressed. Notwithstanding
the disaster and his narrow escape, Mr. Morgan
speaks in praise Of the Oregon, and says that in
deciding upon the trip he selected passage on
her on account of her great speed and general
excellence.
Judge Thomas DrummOnds Experience.
Chicago Times.
Of the eight hundred passengers that were on
the Inflated ocean steamship Oregon. that sunk
almost in sight of New York harbor last Sunday
morning, a number were Chicagoans, among
them Judge Thomas Drummond. Last evening
reporter found the Judge at the home of his
daughter, Mrs. Farwell, and although very
weary, having but short time before arrived
from New York, the venerable and venerated
jurist willingly told the story of the disaster
"Lying awake in my berth, rejecting that
within a few hours l would again be on Ameri-
soil" said he, II was startled indeed almost
| thrown from my berth, by violent shock, tSat
seemed to como from the side of the vessel near.
| est my state-room. Before could dress and in
yestigate the cause, heard sounds of confusion
| on deck, and EXPLANATIONS of affrighted passen-
| gers In the cabin and saloon. fastening on deck
the fact that we had collided with schooner was
| made known, and shortly after the captain, who
was in his cabin at the time of the collision, gave
orders that all passengers prepare for any
emergency that might arise Examination
showed that the Oregon had been struck below
| the water-line short distance forward of amid
| ships and that she was taking water fast A
| brave seaman was lowered over the side of the
vessel, and with mattresses and pillows he en-
| deavored to lessen the leak, but without avail
| We were assured, however, by the captain and
| crew that the Oregon was provided with alright
compartments and could not possibly sink
Then all steam was again crowded on and we
continued on our course. The collision occurred
| at H10 A.. M. ships time, OK about AS New
! York time. An hour later, just about sunrise,
the water had risen in the hold of the vessel and
| put out the furnace fires; consequently we lay
helpless, but hopeful. as we saw the pilot-boat
| approaching our vessel. In the distance we
| sighted two steamers, but failed to receive any
reply from them in answer to our signals of dis
/ Tl~E &c A1Aw.x
stronger time passed. and was not allayed by the
l captains order that all the women and children
| prepare to be transferred to the pilot-boat But
! despite the feelings of fear and anxiety there
| was no disturbance or confusion-a few hysteri-
| cal women and weeping children, but no more
| And, with the exception OF a few rascasly fire.
men, who attempted to enter the boats with the
women, not man made a murmur offered
objection to this arrangement A few axes in
| the hands OF vigorous seamen, and revolver
| cooked in the Captains hands, drove back the
| cowardly stokers. By this time-I should say 1t
| was o'clock-the schooner Fannie A. German,
from Belfast Me-, hove in sight, and approached
within hailing distance to give us assistance
| We had but ten boats and at best considerable
| length Of time would be necessary to transfer
| the five hundred persons remaining on the Ore
| gon. But the schooner, instead of lying to-
| kept lacking back and forth. and at times was a
| mile distant from u.s. and in one instance there
| was two-hour interval between the departure
| and return of the small boats. Before all the
| passengers had been transferred to the shooner,
| however, the steamship Fulda, of the North
| German line. came in sight and the work of
| transferring all the passengers to her broad
| decks was speedily accomplished. While the
| transfer was being made the Oregon went down,
| ut exactly 20 minutes of l o'clock, about eight
hours and fifteen minutes after the collision oc-
CURED. She tottered and trembled, then bow
| first sunk easily and gracefully into the waves,
creating but little disturbance on the surface,
| and left only three masts projecting above the
| water
GAS to where the blame lies, have my own
| opinion, and will state it The night was very
clear, Fire-isand light was plainly visible, and
/ the low Long Island coast easily discerned,
| though some miles distant. Either the lookout
| the schooner had suddenly changed her course
and in lacking was headed directly across the
! Oregon's course. The lookout SAYS he did not