The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-22
MISHIP 70 THE PARIS.
Big atlantic Liner on the Rocks
Near Falmouth, England.
NEAR BY THE WRECKED MoHBaAH

Tho V06S0l SCruCK ON an outer L0080
Of the Treacherons Manacles Reef.
All the Passengers Taken in Safety
to Falmouth.
Falmouth, May 21.-The American
line steamer Paris, Captain Watkins,
from Southampton and Cherbourg for
New York, struck ON an outlying ridge
of the Manacles at q point half mile
from where the wrecked Atlantic
transport liner Mohegan lies and Ave
miles from Falmouth. Soon after
O'Clock In the morning, at high tide,
and in . dense fos, she ran ashore.
From the first there was no danger.
Lifeboats and tugs were soon literally
swarming around the vessel to render
assistance. A majority Of the pas
senSArS, who numbered $50, were
brought to Falmouth, where they OBJ
tanned lodgings for the night. The crew
remains on board.
The first intimation Of the vessel
striking the rocks was slight grating
sound, which was followed by acc
ond and more pronounced shock. The
lookout shouted that there was some
thing looming ahead, but before there
was time to reverse the engines the
ship had gone on the rocks, 200 yards
from the shore. Assistance was sum
monsd by means Of rockets, and the
coast guards promptly tslephoned to
the life saving station for boats.
A majority of the passengers were
not aware that an accident had hap
pened until they we're called up by
the stewards. On reaching the deck
they found the ships boats In perfect
readiness for their reception. The sea
was perfectly calm, and the only dis
comfort that the passengers expert
that was falling 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
self possession and calmness of de-
meanor had reassuring effect upon
the passengers. In accordance with the
instructions Of the captain, the wo-
men and children were the first to be
taken of the ship. Such perfect order
was maintained that passenger de-
scribed the scene as simply slow
procession OF women and children
walking in single file to the boats.
1t is said that Falmouth pilot boat
showed 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 a ridge to the
westward of the Manacles.
1t is believed that the steamer has a
large rent in her bottom in the for
ward part Of the ship. Tugs are stand
ing by her and will assist in an effort
to get her off the rocks.
The soundings made showed nine
fathoms of water. forward and four
rock, while the rocks rising on each
side Of her hold her almost erect.
It is 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 she struck
There will be little danger to the
steamer If the long calm continues,
but should the wind veer to the east
or southeast the consequences might
be serious.
The officers log determines the po-
sition of the Paris, and the position Of
the wreck of the Mohegan shows that
the Paris was even more out of her
course than was the Mohegan, she
having passed between the Mohegan
and the shore, and then, when the mis-
take was discovered, having changed
her course in the hope of clearing the
rocks, thus miraculously escaping the
Manacles.
In connection with the accident to
the Paris it will be of interest to
mariners and travellers to hear that
persistent agitation since the wreck of
the Mohegan has at last induced the
Trinity Brethren to act, and last week
they promised to erect gas lighted,
automatic sound producing buoy on the
Manacles in place of the useless bell
buoy now there.
At the first summons 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 themselves
ready to leave the ship. The passen-
gers all behaved in the best possible
manner. There was no screaming on
the part of the women, and the mos
perfect order was maintained.
Mrs. A. G. Spalding, Of Chicago, said:
II was well forward and felt the shock.
When I aroused my colored maid she
insiStad unOn staVinR in he'd pxclaim-