The Portland daily press., 1899-05-22
The Big Ship May Be
Floated.
No Explanation As To Cause
Given.

palIuOuuuD md1 49, 4ho aiAoiiNn AhbC
steamer Paris, Captain Watkins, from
Southampton and Cherbourg for New
York, struck on an outlying ridge of the
Manaoles early this morning at q point
half mile from where the wrecked At
lantic Transport Mohegan lies. The Paris.
which sailed from Southampton yester-
day, called at Cherbourg and picked up 80
passengers. She left Cherboug at o'clock
last evening. Soon after this morning
at high tide and in q dense fog she ran
ashore. From the first there was no dam
ger. Life boats and tugs were soon liter
ally swarming around the vessel to render
assistance. A majority of the passengers,
who numbered $50, were brought to Fal
mouth where they obtained lodgings for
the night.
Capt. Watkins reported that his ship
was lying comfortably in smooth water
and that there was no occasion for any
alarmist reports. He reported the passen-
gers and crew all we'll.
The first intimation of the vessels
striking the rocks was slight grating
sound, which was followed by second
and more pronounced shock. The look
out shouted that I there. was something
looming ahead, hut before there was time
to reverse the engine the ship had gone on
the rocks, 200 yards from the shore.
Assistance was summoned by means OF
rockets and the coast guards, promptly
telephoned to the life saving station for
boats. A majority of the passengers were
not aware that an accident had happened
until they were called up by the stewards.
On reaching the deck they found the
ships boat imperfect readiness for their
reception. The sea was perfectly calm,
and the only discomfort that the passeu-
gers experienced was caused by the slight
rain that was falling Mt the time. Ow-
ing to the calmness Of the sea the boats
could be managed with. entire safety.
Perfect order prevailed aboard the vessel.
Capt. Watkins stood on the bridge giving
! orders, and his perfect self.possession and
calmnesa of demeanor had a reassuring
effect uponIthe passengers. In accordance
with the instruction of the captain the
women and fohildren were the first to be
taken Off the ship Such perfect order
was maintained that a passenger de-
scribed theIscene as simply slow process
sion of women. andlchildren walking in
single file to the boats. At day ybreak the
position of the vessel could be better dis
cerned. The brilliant st. Anthony light
at the entrance.of Falmouth harbor could
be distinguished plainly through the mis-
| ty rain and the still standing masts of the
Ill fated Mohegan could be seen nearby.
| 1t Is said that Falmouth pilot boat
showed a warning signal to the Paris
telling the captain that he would put the
vessel on top of the Mohegan If he did not
alter his course. The warning, however
camo too late and the Paris struck on a
ridge to the westward of Manaoles.
1t was suggested that as this was only
the SEQ ond trip from Cherbourg the
officers of the Paris were not familiar
with the course.
Mr.. Thomas Allen of London. a passen-
ger on the Paris, who was on his way to
New York to appear as witness in the
Edison Phonograph frauds case, said:
~ was IL bed when the accident hap
pened. 1 heard a grating sound, and
then several hard thumps on the rocks
shook the ship. The vessel then seemed to
stop dead. A few minutes later heard
some one calling, All hands on deck.
aroused my chum who was still asleep
and we went on deck. We were told to
secure our life belts and We returned~be
low to get them. We were not allowed to
return to the deck at that time. All we rs
kept waiting below. At the first sum-
mons few of the passengers appeared
in their night clothes. but as soon as they
discovered that there was no danger. they
returned to their rooms and made them
selves ready to leave the ship. The pas.
sepgers all behaved in the best possible