The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-23

Manacles. She was headed southwest
which IS the direction TO which her course
was altered when she first struck.
The crew were busily engaged In re-
moving the passengers baggage TO Tugs
The weather was line and the sea cam.
Steam was UP on the liner ana an her
tunnels were smoking.
CAUSE UNKNOWN.
No explanation was obtainable for the
ship being so far off her couse, out IL -
likely that a heavy fog that prevaileu
caused Captain Watkins to lose his pear
ings
Tho man who was acting as LOOKOUT
forward says that he saw the loom OF
land through the vapor and shouted
Land aheadr The engines were imfile-
diately reversed, and they were goins
full speed astern when the ship struck
Captain Watkins refused 10 he inter-
viewed or to suggest the cause OF the uis-
aster. He merely said that he believed IL
was possible TO tow the steamer OF.
This statement surprised Independent
observers. who believed that the faris
was badly holed. and that II she shiiten
from her position she would SINK 'ihiie
diately
There are twenty fathoms OF water on
either side OF the ledge on when 'he
steamer rests. An effort TO float her WaS
made a high water. with her own steam
and the help Of tugs an attempt was
made 10 get her off. Just at THIS uine
fog closed I'm and hid the steamer from
tho watchers on shore. but when later
the weather became clear again II was
seen that the attempt was fruitess.
The tugs were standing OF ana the
Paris. stiIl upright had apparently ho'
moved an inch. Water was being con
tinuously pumped out OF her II was
said that II the weather kept fine another
attempt would probably be made AT dawn
UNFAMILIAR COURSE.
n is suggested that the error in navlga-
ton was due TO the unaccustomed can al
Cherbourg and that the officers MADE
mistake in their calculations.
The question is also raised. were the
sailing directions obeyed, namely IN
thick weather % come no nearer tne
Lizard than 2 depth OF forty-hve iathohs Z
This precaution keeps vessels at least six
miles distant.
There is a disposition 10 believe that
the accident was due 10 causes similar 70
those that led 20 the loss Of the None
gan.
Stories told by the passengers OF the
Paris show that the sea was rOugm from
the Needles 10 Cherbourg After leaving
the latter port az o'clock SATURDAY
night the sea went down. and the FariS
was headed for the Lizard. The weather
was then misty and a driZzling rain was
falling but there was no fog. Some time
after midnight the engines were slowed 10
half speed.
soon afterward the passengers were
awakened by grinding sound. The en-
gines were stopped and then reversed
When the shock was felt the ships clocks
recorded l:2 A. NJ. The vessel sh'oN
and swayed as the engines We're reversed
An instant later the Paris struck again
and remained fast.
The passengers hurried on deck. many
Of them attired only in their nightclotnes'
There was some excitement and alarm
among some OF the passengers, but t"e
officers convinced them that land was
close and that the ship was fast ana IL
was impossible for her 10 sink. panic
was thus averted and the passengers were
speedily Gained. The stewards imme-
diateiy started making tea and cofree.
over which the passengers discussed the
situation.
The crew obeyed Captain Watkins or
ders with calmness. the passengers say
and absolute discipline was maintained
Rockets were fred and the first response
came from the Falmouth coastguards.
Cantain watkins went ashore in the gig
and sent a message TO Falmouth for tugs.
NEAR THE MOHEGAN.
When daylight broke the passengers.
who were crowded on the saloon deck.
were thrilled to see the Mohegan's masts
few hundred yards away. It seemed
as though the Paris must have passed
unite close to the wreck OF the Michigan
before striking.
II was marvellous that she@escaped the
fatal Manacles. Is II was ugly rocks
on either side Of her. The passengers
shuddered as they realized what would
| have happened il she had struck one OF
them.
Mrs. Bachelor. a sister Of Senator Vest
who was a passenger said in an inter
view that she had been for eighteen
months I'm the city Of Paris. and was on
| her way TO Washington. She was awak-
ened By a crash, and thought that the
| shaft had broken She was comfortable
and did not leave her berth. 4 steward
soon called her however. and she dressed
| and went on deck She found the Of
hcers comforting and reassuring the pas
sengers. The weather was misty.
When # was light enough TO see dis
| tinctly. the land appeared near enough 10
wade to it, Most Of the ladies' We're
| lightly clad but nothing could induce
| them b. return 20 their cabins. Their
| clothing was therefore brought 20 them
and the deck saloon was turned INTO
| dressing room.
Some Of the passengers told Mrs. Batch
| elor that Captain Watkins left the bridge
| just before the accident 10 get water
proof coat as II was raining. The third
officer. who was I'm charge OF the ship.
called through the tube 20 the Captain 5
! room:
| Captain. there IS something ahead
Captain Watkins Immediately rushed
| on deck and arrived on the bridge as me
ship grounded. The passenger who told
| this 10 her added that he overheard the
| Captain say he could not account for the
position OF the ship.
Mr. White. OF Kentishtown. who was
bound for Chicago. says there was a
| drilling rain when the Paris struck.
Some Of the passengers rushed on deck IN
| their night-clothes. but there was no dis
| order TO this he attributes the fact tnat
there was no loss Of life. lie adds mat
the ship remained as steady after striking
as though she was in her dock.
According n one account the steamer
was making eighteen knots when she
first struck.
OBITUARY.