New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-16
NARROW ESCAPE OF A SOUND STEAMER.
THREE ACCIDENTS TO THE NoNAwANTUC IN ONE
PASsAGE-HER SHAFT BROKEN WHEN
NEAR HER PIER.

The passengers who crossed Long Island Sound be-
tween Port Jefferson and Bridgeport Friday morn
ing In the steamer Nonawantuc have been
graduating themselves ever since that they had no
more than three accidents on the passage over
The steamer was stopped twice the trip
across to attend to some arrangement OF her ma
chinery and just the boat gained Bridgeport
Harbor her shaft broke. Had the last acct lent
occurred In the middle OF the Sound the steamer
must inevitably have been blown ashore for there
was a heavy gale at the time. The Nonawantuc. In
the winter months. makes three round trips week
between Port jefferson and Bridgeport; namely,
on Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays The
Sound between these two points Is almost at Its
widest and II Is here that the winds have the fullest
sweep and the waves are highest. Several times
this winter the Nonawantuc has been compelled to
put back to Port Jefferson steamboat pier. on ac
count Of the heavy waves that were whipped up by
strong northeasters.
On Friday stiff Northwestern was blowing. and
some doubt was expressed to the ACCESSIBILITY OF
crossing the water that day. Captain Tooker,
however, finally determined to make the venture,
and left the pier schedule timeS:3o a. IN. When
the steamer passed out of breakwater she caught
the full force Of the winds and waves. and In order
to relieve his vessel Of the strain much as pos
sble Captain Tooker devated considerably from his
usual course. and headed straight into the teeth OF
the wind. AS the weather was unusually TEN
pestuous. there were only twelve passengers in all
two three of them being women. Nhen the
he soand he Suddenly Stopped and
passengers anxiousy inquired wnft tnG ere
was danger. and In few minutes the engines
During the time the vessel stopped however, she
was completely at the mercy Of the waves, and
drifted around helpiessly. The steamer had not
| been under way, however. more than rev rev
the boat was knocked about by the great waves;
The repetition Of this disagreeabe experience caused
greater alarm than before among the passengers ,,
and although most Of them had crossed the Sound
ttp,ao In fha
Of weathsr they were now thoroughly ,se
sengers that there was no danger despite the IA
that the little steamer was tossing ABOUT on thS
the engineer soon started up again ana the stna h
Harbor nothing seemed to interrupt the passage
| But just as she was reaching her pier the, ma
| boat soon came to a standstill. This time 1t was
| found that the shaft had broken What a narrow
the boat had had Is by iAs
waters Of Bridgeport Harbor. Had the last acct
| dent occurred In rndsound the consequence would
As 1t was. the vessel was unable TO make her re-
R s TO- remain m nsG ali
Sound 70 Port Jefferson in the little oyster steamer
The Nonswantue has been running between Port
pS a exprsss or the service ana has
orally been considered staunch boat, She has
Captain Tooker. on the Sound. while her pilot
James Park. is veteran In the service 49,.
putting on a larger and better boat than the Mona
| wantuc This talk has been started by the diff
Guilty the little Nonawantuc has had had recently n
occasions this winter. be.n compelled to postpone
the trip i has long been fel, by neii I, peopt
| enough for this service, and a larger and better
steamer win be welcomed and better patronized.