The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-14
NINE DROWNED.
Fishing Schooner Sunk by
a Steamer.
Collision Happened Off High
land Light Last Night.
Fourteen of the Fishermen Were
Rescued by the Steamer.
List Of the Members of the Crew Who
Were Drowned.

BosToN, Jan. 1.-THE Gloucester fish
ing schooner Fortuna was sunk in col
liision with the Boston fruit company's
fruit steamer Barnstaple, off Highland
Light, last night. Nine of the Fortuna's
crew were drowned. Fourteen were saved:
The mem bers of the crew who were
drowned are:
William Ackman. Robert Childs, Harrie
McFee, Thomas Stewart, Crawford
Minach, Harvey Emerson, Simon Bub-
reau, John Clark, William Goodwin.
The saved:
John W. Greenlaw, Michael Dumphy,
John Hayward, John Malcolm, Ernest
Crow, Victor Sampson, Robert Hayes,
Arthur Noonan, Winnie Fenner, Michael
Casey, Thomas MCGUIRE. Harding Paul,
Fred Lawrence, James Goodwin.
The first news OF the disaster reached
this city on the arrival o. the Barnstabie
this morning with the IA survivors OF the
Fortuna's crew on.board. From these men
it was learned that the collision occurred
about 730 p. m, wnen the vessels were
about four miles off Highland Light. The
night was extremely dark, It's density be-
ing augmented by heavy, haze and
lumpy sea was running.
The Fortuna was bound for the Georges,
carrying crew of % men, including the
captain, John W. GreenlaM. The schooner
was on the starboard tack, going at
good rate. The barnstable's lights were
seen, but knowing sne had the right of
way the schooner's course wss not alters d
until too late.
The steamer struck her well forward,
cutting deep hole, and tie schooner be-
gan to settle immediately. Before the
boats could be cleared she went down ana
the crew were left struggling in the water
until IL OF them were picked up by the
Batnstable's boats. The Others had gone
down. Captain Paine OF the Barnstabis
was seen this morning by a representa-
tive OF The Associated Press, and in an
interview he said: ''We were about three
or four miles OF Highland Light, SW. by
s., until we struck the schooner right
under her bow. We were proceeding on
our way never dreaming of the impend-
ing calamity, when suddenly we saw the
starboaro light of a vessel directly in
our course.
alt seems as IL the light had been COW
cred by the fore tack and that the wind
at tuat moment had blown II clear, thus
enabling us TO see the great danger we
were in. The wheel was hove hard-a-
port out 1t was too late to avoid the coli
lision. We struck her about four feet aft
of the fore rigging and she sank about
four minutes later. We instantly anchored
our boats aud made every effort to save
the crew. We got Ia of them, one being
Captain Greenlaw, but the others were
drowned"
The rescued men were properly cared for
on board thse Barnstable and Immediately
upon their arrival this morning were sent
to their homes in Gloucester by train.
The sailors who were lost all came from
Gloucester.
The Fortuna is vessel OF about 1l6
tons and was insured in the II Boston Ma
rine Company Captain Greenlaw was
part owner. The other owners reside in
Gloucester. -,
She was only year old, having been
launched in 1891, and was one of the
finest vessels in the Gloucester feet. She
carried an insurance of $500. She was
built 10 replace another schooner, For
tuna, which was lost while within 10
miles o; the place where last nights col
lison occurred. Arthur Noonan, tae cook
OF the fishing vessel, was seriously in
jured at the time of the collision by
breaking tim bers ana il Is fea red that be
is hurt internally. lie was sent TO the
county hospital here. The Fortuna sailed
from Boston at 10 O'Clock yesterday
morning. The Barnstable was coming
from Port Antonio, Jamaics. The steamer
was unipiured except through having the