Morning journal and courier., 1890-08-04
PERIL OF A STEAMER.

ROCKS struck by the Steamer SUN.
shine In a Heavy Fog-Much Ex-
element and Confusion on Board
Prompt Action of the Captain-Ex-
pertence of Two of the Passengers.
GREENPoRT, L. l., Aug 3.-The steamer
Sunshine struck rock off Orient Point, L.
l., Saturday evening at 7:45. The accident
occurred in heavy fog which hung over
Long Island sound like huge blanket.
Nothing could be seen over fifty feet away
The boat filed rapidly and the captain took
the only method of preserving the lives of
his passengers by Bleaching the steamer.
After striking the rock the boat was put
ahead at full speed and started for the
Long Island shore. In few minutes,
which seemed like ages to the passengers,
the steamer again struck and this time fill
ed with water. Five minutes afterward
engine room. If this had happened few
minutes earlier the steamer would have
sunk in the deep channel known as Plum
Gut and all on board would have been lost
AS it was the captain by his prompt action
saved the lives of all on board.
Owing to the excitement much difficulty
was experienced in launching the life
boats. This morning two wrecking tugs
from New London were at work on the
steamer and divers were busily engaged in
| ascertaining the amount of damage. 7.
A. Scott, the veteran wrecker, thinks he
can raise the vessel in u day or two and
take her to Greenport, where she will be
repaired. The captain and crew were very
reticent and would give no details of the
accident.
Marshall o. Wells of Hartford, Conn,
who was on the steamer, gives his expert
ence as follows: 81 was standing on the
lower deck near the paddle box talking to
an acquaintance, when suddenly ire
mendous crash came and l was nearly
knocked off my feet. The upper
come down again. The next instant
people came rushing out of the
staterooms and cabins in the widest alarm
Women tainted and men yelled and ran
about the deck, not knowing where to go
OF what to do. Some frantically snatched
| for life preservers and began hastily to
| put them on. Order was soon restored,
however, by Captain Bates and his efficient
officers, who assured us that there was no
immediate danger Ten minutes later the
vessel ran ashore. The engines stopped
and the kissing of escaping steam drowned
all other sounds. The women and chill
dren We're carefully placed in the life
boats and taken to the shore, wheIe their
anxious husbands and fathers soon Joined
them"
Another gentleman, whose name could
not be obtained owing to the con-
fusion, said: ''My wife and 1 were in
our stateroom when the accident happened.
| My wife is an invalid and was in her berth
Suddenly there was a terrific crash and one
side of the boat was lifted high up, then
she settled down again My wife was ele-
waited at an angle of forty-five degrees, with
her feet towards the ceiling. Our door
was thrown open and a man shouted, The
steamer is sinking Fortunately my wife
was not injured and we made our way to
the upper deck, where the mate assured us
that we We're all right"
Those on board differ in placing the
blame. Some say the captain ran too near
Plum Island in order to hear the fog bell
there. Others say the lighthouse board is
too blame. The fog bell now on Plum
Island is small one and cannot be heard
a quarter of mile away. A new bell was
landed by the government steamer several
weeks ago, but il has not yet been placed
in position.
ELECTRICITY,S FIRST VICTIM.