The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-05-26
Ashore Near Where the Awful
Mohegan Wreck Occurred.
PASSENGERS GOTTEN OFF SAFELY.
Captain Watkins and Crew Preserved
Wonderful Discipline-How the Vessel
Got Out of Her Course Mystery.
Pittsburg Man Passenger.


The Paris, which sailed from South.
ampton, called at Cherbourg and picked
up so passengers. She left Cherbourg
and at high tide, and in dense fog,
she ran ashore. From the first there
was no danger. Iifeboats and tugs
were soon literally swarming around
the vessel to render assistance. A ma
jority of the passengers, who numbered
$50, were brought to Falmouth, where
they obtained lodgings for the night.
Captain Watkins reported that his
ship was lying comfortably in smooth
water, and that there was no occasion
for any alarmist reports. He reported
the passengers and crew all we'll
The first intimation of the vessel
striking the rocks was a slight grating
sound which was followed by second
and more pronounced shock. The look.
out shouted that there was something
looming ahead, but before there was
time to reverse the engines the ship hac
gone on the rocks, 200 yards from the
shore. Assistance was summoned by
means of rockets and the coast guards
promptly telephoned to the hfesaving
station for boats.
A majority of the passengers were
not aware that an accident had hap
pened until they were called up by the
stewards. On reaching the deck they
found the ships boats i'll perfect readi.
ness for their reception. The sea was
perfectly calm, and the only discomfort
that the passengers experienced was
caused by the slight rain that was fall.
ing at the time. Owing to the calmness
of the sea the boats could be managed
with entire safety.
Perfect order prevailed aboard the
vessel. Captain Watkins stood on the
bridge giving orders, and his perfect
sef-possession and calmness of de.
meanor had a reassuring effect upon the
passengers. In accordance with the in.
structlon Of the captain, the women and
children were the first to be taken of
the ship. Such perfect order was main
tanned that a passenger described the
scene as simply slow procession OF
women and children walking in single
file to the boats.
The accident occurred after O'Clock
in the morning.
About daybreak the position of the
vessel could be better discerned. The
brilliant Saint Anthony light at the en-
trance to Falmouth harbor could be dis
tinguished plainly through the misty
rain, and the still standing masts of the
ill-fated Mohegan could be seen nearby.
1t was said that Falmouth pilotboat
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 the course of the ship.
The warning, however, came too late
and the Paris struck ON ridge to the
westward Of the Manacles.
1t was suggested that as this was
only their second trip from Cherbourg
the officers of the Paris We're not ia.
miliar with the course.
1t was believed that the steamer had
large rent i'll her bottom in the for
ward part of the ship.
The passengers were lavish in their
praise OF the admirable behavior of the
officers and crew, and declare that it
was due to their self f-possession that no
accident occurred to anyone. Perfect
throughout.
1t was stated that those in charge of
the Paris were so perfectly confident
that they were pursuing the proper
course that the vessel was steaming IS
or 10 knots an hour when they struck.
1t was reported there would be little
danger to the steamer if the long calm
continued, but should the wind veer to
the east or southeast the CONSEQUENCES
might be serious.
The admiralty sent several fast gov
ernment vessels from Davenport to as
sist the Paris.
Among the vessels sent to the assist
ance OF the stranded steamer is gun
boat, and Admiral Sir Edmund Robert
Fremontle, commander-in in chief at Ply
mouth, ordered a number of torpedo
boat destroyers to hold themselves in
readiness to proceed to the scene of the
wreck at moments notice.
The New York Of the American line
will take the place of the Paris, sailing
from here a week from Wednesday.
She is arranged the same as the Paris,
so those who have engaged passage on
the Paris will occupy on the New York
the same staterooms that they secured
on the sunken vessel.
H. w. Southworth, one of the pas.
sengers, an Englishman, said in part:
"Many came on deck in their night
clothing One man wore his drawers
and his wife's fur cape, but his appear
ance caused so much smiling that his
wife sent him down to dress, which he
did In the music room to the equal
amusement OF all concerned. There
were no signs of a panic. The sound
ings made showed nine fathoms of
water forward and IA aft, but the ship
rested on a fiat rock, while the rocks
rising on each side held her almost
erect"
"The officers log determines the posi-
ton Of the Paris; and the position of
the wreck of the Mohegan shows that
the Paris was even more out of her
course than the Mohegan, she having
passed between the Mohegan and the
shore and then, when the mistake was
discovered, having changed her course
in the hope Of clearing the rocks, thus
miraculously escaping the Manacles."
Captain q. w. McCallum Of Pitts
burg said
II heard tremendous crash, and as
a steamboat man, knew we were on
the bottom and that if she slipped from
| the rock we would be in queer street.
Hurriedly putting on my clothing,
went upstairs, where met the steward,
who was shouting 'all hands on deck.
| AS / reached the deck could just make
4 mt tho ,nacto ~ rho Moha0an OAfioara