Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-05-25
'GTY0F PARIS ONTAE ROCKS
American Liner Goes Ashore Near
Wreck OF the MOhegan,
ALL PASSENGERS ARE RESCUED

FALMOUTH, May 22, The American
line steamer Paris, Captain Watkins,
from Southampton and cherburg for
New York, struck on an outlying ridge
OF the Mnnacles carly Sunday morning
at a point half mile from where the
wrecked Atlantic transport liner Mo-
hegan lies, and five miles from Fal-
mouth. The Paris, which sailed from
Southampton Saturday called at
Cherburg and picked up hfty passen-
gers. She left Cherburg at 0 o'clock
Saturday evening. Soon after !
o clock Sunday morning at high tide
and in dense fog, she ran ashore
From the first there was no danger
Lifeboats and tugs were soon liter
ally swarming around the vessel to
rem der assistance, A majority OF the
passengers. who numbered $40, were
brought to Falmouth were they OBJ
tanned 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 animation Of the vessels
striking the rocks was a slight graf
ing sound, which was followed by n
second and more pronounced shock
The lookout shouted that there was
something looming ahead, but before
there WAS time TO reverse the engines
the ship had gone on tho 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 hap
pened until they werc called up by
the stewards. On reaching the deck
they found the ships boats In perfect
readiness for their reception. The
seq was perfectly calm, and the only
discomfort that the passengers expo
rienced was caused by the slight rain
that was falling at the time Owing
TO the camness OF tho 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
self-possession and Guinness OF de-
meanor had reassurlng effect upon
the passengers In accordance with
the instruction Of the captain, the
women and children were the first to
be taken off the ship Such perfect
order was maintained that pnssen-
ger described the scene MS simply n
slow procession Of women and chill
dren walking In single file to the
boats
1t is said that Falmouth pilot
showed warning sign to the Paris,
telling the captain that no would put
the vessel on top Of the Mohegan II 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 is suggested that as this is only
their second trip from Cherbourg, the
officers Of the Paris were not familiar
with the course.
Captain Watkins had his gig low
cred and rowed ashore in order tn as
certain his whereabouts and to tele'
graph to Falmouth for tugs to assist
his ship In the meantime, rockets
were sent up and signal guns were
fired
When dawn broke, everyone on
board was relieved to find the shore
on ono side and lifeboats lying near
by on the other. The vessel lay with
her head to the southwest, the revers'
ing of her engines having put her
broadside onto the rocks. Happily,
the sea was smooth and there was no
wind. Otherwise there would prob.
ably have been different tale to tell,
The dangers OF the vicinity were
strilsingly brought home to tho pas
sengers and crew by the masts of the
wrecked steamer Mohegan, which arc
sticking out of the water, and by q
miserable bell buoy, which tolls al
most constantly as though sounding
q death knelL
There Is about sixteen feet Of water
In the three forward compartments,
but the engines are apparently un.
harmed. 1t has been decided to await
special salvage apparatus and the
next tide to-day. The sea is still
smooth and the work OF Tightening
proceeds
Mrs. Batcheler sister Of United
States Senator Vest, OF Missouri who
embarked at Cherbourg, says the
weather was wet and nas.y when they
left port. She retired early and al
about o'clock was awakened by 0
tremendous crash, which at first
seemed to arise from the machinery.
Theu everything became so quiet that
she did not leave her berth. Soor
afterward, however, she was aroused
by steward, who urged the passen
gers to dress and go on deck imme
diately. Putting on few things
Mrs. Batcheler hurried above anC
found hundreds OF half dressed pas
sengers there before her.
Chewing Gum Men Combine