The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-05-22
CALM SEA SAVED AN
AWFUL CATASTROPHE
All Passengers Taken Off Without
Loss of Life.
Place Where the Big American
Steamship Struck Is Half a Mile
From Where the Mohegan Was
Wrecked-Was Foggy Morning
and the Navigator Lost His Bear
ings-Calmness of Officers and
Crew Prevented a Panic.

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 early this morning at
a point half a mile from where the
wrecked Atlantic transport liner Mo-
hogan lies and five miles from FaI-
mouth.
The Paris. which sailed from South,
amptOn yesterday, called at Cher
bOurg and picked up fifty passengers
She left Cherbourg at o'clock last
| evening. Soon after ! o'clock this
morning, at high tide and in a dense,
| fog, she ran ashore. From the first
there was no danger. Lifeboats and
tenders were soon literally swaIming
around the vessel, rendering assist
ance. A majority of the passengers
who numbered $50. were brought to
Falmouth, where they obtained Iodg-.
| ingS for the night.
Captain Watkins reported that hisi
ship was lying comfortably in smooth
water, and there was no occasion for
any alarmist reports. He reported the
passengers and crew all WELL
Assistance Was Prompt.
The first intimation of the vessels,
striking the rocks was a slight graf
ing sound, which was followed by a
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 the rocks, 20G
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
a NN-a Hn or da,at d
pened until they were 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
enced was caused by the slight rain
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
women and children were the first to be
taken off the ship. Such perfect order
was maintained that a passenger de-
scribed the scene as simply a slow pro-
cession of women and children walk
ing in single file to the boats.
AT daybreak the position of the yes
sci could be better discerned. The bril-
liant st. Anthony light, at the en-
trance of Falmouth harbor. could be
distinguished plainly through the misty
rain, and the still standing masts of
the Inflated Mohegan could be seen
nearby.
Warning Was Too Late.
It is said that Falmouth pilot
Sh q incr oil 70
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 suggested that as this was their
second trip from Cherbourg the officers
of the Paris We're not familiar with the
course.
The crew of the Paris are still aboard
the vessel. 1t is believed that the
steamer has large rent in her bottom
in the forward part of the ship. Tugs
are standing by her and will assist in
an effort to get her off the rocks.
Further details of the disaster show
that when the vessel struck the crew
were summoned on deck. The passen--
gers appearing were met in the COM
panionway with comforting words and
assurances of their safety. Exceptional
COOiHtSS was SuOWh iOll dll SUES, the
stewards distributing coffee and Stimu-
lants to all who desired them.
Captain Watkins had his gig lowered
and rowed ashore. in order to ascertain
his whereabouts and to telegraph to
Falmouth for tugs TO assist his ship.
In the meantime rockets were sent up
and signal guns were fired.
The Sea Was Calm.
When day-dawn broke everyone on
board was relieved to find the shore on
one side and life boats nearby on the
other The vessel lay with her head to
to southwest, the reversing of her en-
gines having put her broadside in the
rocks. Happily the sea was smooth and
there was no wind. Otherwise there
would probably have been different
tale to tell.
The dangers of the vicinity were
strikingIy brought home to the passen-
gers and crew by the masts of the
wrecked steamer Mohegan. which are
sticking out of the water, and by
bell buoy. which tolls almost
constantly, as though sounding death
knell.
When Captain Watkins returned from
his trip ashore he learned that there
was already considerable water in the
hold, and the tugs which arrived stood
by in readiness for any emergency All
the passengers were transferred to the
tug Dragon. but beyond the clothes
they wore they took nothing with them.
They were landed at Falmouth shortly
after o'clock, the local agents of the
American line meeting them and pro-
viding them with every care and quar-
terng them at the various hotels and
the sailors home.
When the Paris struck the tide was
within an hour of the food. and this
proved insufficient to raise her off the
rocks. Hundreds of people visited the
scene during the Gay.
Brave Officers and Crew.
The passengers are lavish in their
praise of the admirable behavior of the
officers and crew. and declare that il
was due TO their self-possession that no
accident occurred to any one. Perfect