The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-12-06
CRIMINAL CARELESSNESS.
Tramp Steamer Ran Down a Ports
mouth Vessel.
SHE SANK INSTANTLY AND
THREE MEN WERE DROWNED.

The Captain of the Steamer was at the
Wheel but Thought He Could Pass the
Schooner safely-One of the Drowned
Men Leaves Widow and Children at
Portsmouth.
q New London, December 5.-The Brit
ish tramp steamer Dorian, Captain
Henry. Bsrmpohl, New York to Halifax.
MS, light, ran into and instantly sunk
the schooner Clara E. Simpson of Ports
mouth, N. H., Captain John G. Hontvert,
at II O'Clock last night, off Eaton's Neck,
Long Island Sound. The Simpson was
from Somes's Sound, Maine, for New
York, with paving stones consigned to
John Moran, at Harlem, and had been
out but a few days. Yesterday she came
through from Dutch Island Harbor, and
proceeded up the sound as far as Eat
toms Neck, where the wind died ont and
she anchored. inshore to await an oppor-
tunity to proceed. After sundown the
wind increased, and early in the eve
ming Captain 9ontvett made sail, leav-
ing shortly before IL in clear weather,
that. enabledshim to see the light..at Old
field. ION. shore and across the sound. The
Simpson went sout-by Eaton's Neck,
wheH4le big steamer showed up, Cap
tain Hontvett seeing her lights plainly
as she came down the sound toward
him, at a.speed of about IL knots. The
Simpson proceeded to point two or
three miles north-north from Eat
on's Neck, when the steamer hit her for
ward of the mizzeDmast and sent her to
the bottom as though the bottom had
dropped out of her. Captain Hontvett
saw that a collision was inevitable, and
yelled tot those of the crew near enough
to hear to take to the fore rigging. This
course he and two sailors took and their
lives were saved. The mate, steward snd
one sailor had not time to obey the
command, and went down with the ves-
sci. The Dorian crashed into the sohoou-
er nearly. .amidships, on the starboard
side. striking her glancing blow that
the mizzenmast upoE the deck and into
the water. The Captain says the steam
er's short jibhoom struck the mizzen
of the schooner, thus preventing TIE
steamer from hitting the schooner with
full focre, and preventing tbe steamer
from going down too, as it would have
been like striking a reck. Captain
Hontvett ran across the deck to tha
rigging, and had only got to the shear
pole when the deck of the vesse; was
under water. He climb bed up the rigging
as did two Of the sailors to the foretop-
mast, where they clung to the hanks;
the vessel settling in the water all tire
time, until finally the man were afIoat.
A terrific sea was runRing, and tliA
water was exceedingly reugh, AM. tie
men could n0tshclo OF and fDa!iv let
go, clinging to drift stuff to keep aficAt.
Captain Hontvett's brother Enns, OF
Portsmouth. Steward Williams of East
ohp pA mo n IN ayF rt
to get the boat from the davirs, but re-
fore they could do it went down with
the vessel, or were struck by the falling
nizzenmast. The mate leaves widow
and seven children.
AS soon as poassible after the vessel
put cut boat to pick up the crew OF
the Simpson, and waited about the
scene of the collision for nearly faur
hours before they started east to this
port. Captain Hontvett was first picked
up. He had been carrisd va mile from
where the vessel went down. His head
and ear were badly cut.
Captain Biarmpohl was at the wheel
when the collision occurred. The pilot
had beeG. below, and just came up be-
fore II e vessels came together. The cap
tain said he saw the lights on the
schooner, ard Supposed he could cross
her bow all right, but be was too near
veft decl ares the stssmer was but one
point on his weather bow when she
sheered to cross. If she had been keptsson
her course the collision would have been
averted. The men suffered great deal
from the intense cold, and after being
chilled through in the water stimu!ants
were necessary to revive them. The
Dorian brought them into this port at
8. 80 this afternoon, when Captain Hon.
vett noted protest at the custom house
with the survivors of the crew. and was
sent to the9marine hospital. The Dorf.
an remained but few minutes when
she'proceeded on her way to Halifax.
She received but slight DAMAGE. The
vesse, was 371 tons, and her master is
part owner. She was uninsured. The
Dorian is 667-tons craft, and formerly
belonged to the Anchor line. The Simp-
sons topmast was above the surface of
the water couple of fathoms when the
Dorian LETT her, and her topsails were
floating on the water.