The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-03-17
SUNK BY a COLLISION.
Tn. cunarder oregon Goes Down.

SANDY Hook, n. j., March A.
On her way to this place, while be-
tween Fire Island and Shinnicock,
the Cunard steamer Oregon coliided
with an unknown deep-laden three
masted schooner al 4:20 clock this
morning The schooner struck the
Oregon on the port side, immedi-
aiely under the dining saloon, tear
ing large hole In her side under
water. The chief officer was In
charge, Captain Cottier being below.
The hole was a very large one, and
the water poured through 1t IN a
great volume. The big steamer i'm
/ mediately began to settle, and hasty
arrangements were mada to man the
boats. There was 40 panic, the
discipline OF the crew being perfect.
Pilot boat No. IL and the schooner
Fannie A. Gorham were in halllng
I distance, and the passengers were
transferred to them. The ladies were
fist taken of. All the passengers
were safely removed not "a single life
being lost. The passengers were
again transferred to the North Ger
man Lloyd steamship Fulda, in
ward bound, and were brought to
Sandy Hook at 6:25 p. N.
The Oregon was built by John
Elder q Co.. at Glasgow, for the
Guion Line, and was launched on
June IA, 1888. She arrived here on
her initial trip Oh October IA, 1888,
making the run from Queenstown 10
New York in Z days, 5 hours and
so minutes. AT that time she was
the most magnificent, N st powerful
and fastest OF the then transatlantic
vessels. With the exception OF the
Etruria, of the same line, she re-
tanned record for the fastest speed.
La August, 1884. she made the run
from Queenstown to New York in
6 days, 8 hours and AZ minut :, this
being nearly "A hours shorter than
her first trial, and the fastest on rec
ord On her return tri TO Queens
town she made the run In six days,
ii hours and 9 minutes. The dl-
mensions Of the Oregon were 52O
feet IN length, 81 feet breadth OF
beam, 403 feet depth of hold and
125O tons gross Measurement. She
was built OF iron, with nine trans
verse water tight bulkheads. five
iron decks, and a strong turtle-back
deck forward and aft as protection
from the heavy seas. She was fitted
to accommodate $40 saloon, 81 sec
ond cabin and 1000 steerage passen-
gers.
Here, owing to the low tide, the
Fulda was obliged TO anchor. The
/ last man to leave the Oregon was
/ Captain Cottier. The ship filed
slowly and sank at / o'clock.
The saved of the Oregon are lS5
irst-cabin, 66 second-cabin and 3S9
stearage passengers and 2O5 crew.
Ii Is stated by passenger that the
hole in the Oregons side was about
Fix feet in diameter, and that when
the two vessels came together there
was report like an explosion. it
1 is believed that the mails were
saved.
The fitting Of the Oregon were
unusually fiHe The grand saloon;
capable Of dining the whole of the
$40 cabin passengers, was placed ia
the fore part Of the vessel, and was
laid with q parquetry floor, The
ceiling decorations were almost ex-
clusiyely confined TO Q white and
gold The panels were OF polished
satinwood, the pilasiers of walnut,
with gilt capitals, The saloon
measured 81 by 81 feet, and was .
feet in height IN the lowest part. 4
central cupola of handsome design,
. feet long - feet wide, rose in a
height OF - feet, and gave abundant
light and ventilation.
The most striking feature Of the
vessel was its enormous steamIng
power. The engines were simple IN
construction and represented ca
pacity greater than any before put
on an OCEAN steamship. Her boiler
power was correspondingly large, as
may be realized from the fact that
she burned more than 800 tons Of
coal in each twenty-four hours.