Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-15
SINKING OF THE OREGON.
AN UNKNOWN SCHOONER RUNS
HER DOWN IN THE BAY.

| Eheseukers anu crew SAFELY AEhnAterren
to Other vessels--The Baggage and
Most of the Mails LOst--A Calm Sea
and Dawning Day Rob the Accident Of
Horrors.
SANDY HOOK, March lathe steamen
Oregon was run into by schooner be-
tween aud O'Clock this morning willis
east Of Fire island, having two holes
stove into her. She commenced sinking
at once. Part of her passengers were
transferred 10 pilot boat and part TO the
schooner, and 1t is believed they were all
subsequently transferred to the steamer
Fulda. There are over 800 of the passen-
gers and crew OF the Oregon ON the Fulda.
The Oregon was entirely abandoned. Sha
sank at l O'Clock this afternoon.
The Oregon belonged to the Cunard
Line, and was one Of the largest, most
magnificent and fleetest vessels afoat.
Her remarkably quick runs betweenl
Queenstown and New York are still fresh
in the public mind.
THE FULDA's REPORT.
The German steamship Fulda, Captain
Ringk, from Bremen, which arrived this
afternoon, reports that she stopped OF
| Fire island March IA at 1915 O'Clock in
order to take up the passengers and crew
| OF the Oregon, and anchored at the bar OF
Sandy Hook on account Of low water at
6:25 O'Clock the same day. Ire saved Of
the Oregon are 1875 first cabin, sc second
cabin and $50 steerage passengers a2d
205 crew.
THE COLLISION.
The steamer Oregon eollided with an
unknown, deep laden, three-masted
| schooner on March IA at 4:20 o'clock
in the morning when between Fire Island
! light and Shennock, the schooner striking
the steamer on the port side Immediately
| under the dining saloon, leaving a large
hole in her side under the water. Capt.
| Collier, OF the Oregon, was below, the
| chief officer being in charge on the BRIDGE
| One of the passengers stated that the hole
| was so large that one could drive horse
and wagon through 1t, and also that when
the vessels collided 1t sounded like the
report Of an ordinary cannon.
LOWERING THE BOATS.
The boats were after some difficulty
manned and lowered into the water. The
ladies first got in the boats and were
transferred to pilot boat No. IL and thd
schooner Fannie A. Gorham. Capt. MahO-
ny, from Jacksonville for Boston. From
8 TO IL O'CLOCK in the morning the work Of
transferring the passengers was proceed
ed with. All were transferred in safety.
not a single life being lost. At 1874
O'Clock they were all transferred again 70
the steamer Fulda, which, owing to the
state OF the tide, was obliged TO anchor at
Sandy Hook. Capt. Collier was the last
man TO leave the ship.
The Oregon was expected to arrive at
her pier on the North river at noon to-day.
AS she coasted along the Long Island
shore Yesterday morning the first faint
suggestion Of dawn was appearing in thu
east.
CALM SEA.
The morning was clear and the sea and
wind calm. Suddenly a schooner was
seen coming up from the southwest and
holding her course as II TO run across tina
OregOn's bow. Then the collision
came, the unknown schooner striking the
huge steamer on the port side, aud crash
ing through her iron plates. The shock
Of the collision Immediately awOke the
sleeping passengers and that portion OF
the crew who were having their watch
below. The passengers at first were
thrown into great confusion. but the
calmness Of the officers and the fact that
day was just beginning TO break over the
tranquil sea treasured them.
AID AT HAND.
AT the time the collision took place
pilot boat No. IL was about TO put pilot
on board, and the schooner Annie A. Cor.
ham. OF Boston, was passing near the
pilot boat, and the passing schooner wit
Messing the accident Immediately bore
down to the scene and lay by ready to
offer assistance. An examination OF the
Oregon showed that she had two holes
in her port sides below the water
line as II the schooner had rebounded
from the first blow and then struck the
steamer a second time. All efforts 10 stop
the leaks we're unavailing and the great
| steamer began 10 settle in the water. The
boats mad been lowered when the acct.
dent first occurred. 10 was evident the
Oregon would keep afioat for some hours
but that it would be impossible TO bring
her into port.
TRANSFERRING THE PASSENGERS.
The work Of ferrying its passengers 10,
the waiting schooner and pilot boat Waa
begun at once. Soon afterward the North
German Ll0yds steamship Fulda, bound
from Hamburg for New York, was sighted
and as soon as she was near enough she
was signalled 10 stop and take the Ore
| CONS passengers on board. As soon a.
the report OF the accident reached
this city feet OF tugs was
Immediately sent down by the Cunard
Company's agent to meet the Fulda. The
tugbOat Fletcher, which went down after
the mail arrived al the Cunard pier 40
| ll:4O o'clock tonight. W. q. Tway.
United States Inspector, who had charge
OF the mail, said he only succeeded In re-
covering go Of more than 600 bags which
were on board when the collision 90.
Cured.
ALL THE BAGGAGE LOST.
None OF the baggage. he said, was
saved. The emIRrants bemoaned their
fate ia losing their effects, for 20 some OF
them the goods which went down on the
| Oregon were all they owned.
To the Oregon belonged the credit Oftbe
| fastest trip ever made from New York n
| Queenstown. She sailed December IL,
1884, and arrived Dec. %. Her actual
time was days, 8 hours and Al minutes.
Goschen's Financial Policy.
LONDON, March 14.-Mr. Goschen has
suggested government commission 70
inquire into the position OF silver, the