The sun., 1899-05-22
PARIS STILL ON THE ROCKS.
PASSENGERS SAFELY LANDED, BUT
THE SHIP MAY BE LOST.

Feet OF water IN HOT MISUNDERSTANDING
ed on the Rocky Lowland Point Inside
the Mnnaclcs-FoR Supposed to Have
Caused the Acoident-Capt. Watkins Has
No Explanation-PassenEers Praise the
Ship Discipllne-There Was No Panic.
Special Gable Dapateh to THE suS.
LONDON, May 21.-The American limo
steamer Paris. which went ashore early this
morning while en- route from Southampton for
New York. is still on the rocks at the time this
despatch is sent. An attempt to float her at
3 O'Clock this afternoon failed There is
eighteen feet OF water in her forehod
Local experts are convinced that the ves-
sa will never be hoated 1t Is generally
thought that her stranding was due To
the mist and that the close approach
TO the shore was rendered possible by
the food tide. There were a heavy ground
swell and a light southwest breeze when she
grounded. She is so close to the shore that it
is almost possible to wade out to her at low
water.
The Paris did not strike the Manacle rocks.
the scene OF tho recent fatal wreck OF the At
lantc transport line steamer Mohegan. but
stranded on Lowland Point. a rocky ledge in
side tho Manaces. Her hull is almost entirely
out OF water.
The Paris left Southampton punctually at
the timc set for her sailing on Saturday. and
her voyage was without incident until about
80 O'Clock this morning. The passengers.
with very few exceptions had retired somo
time before the accident. They were suddenly
aroused BY a loud. scraping sound as il the
vessel was going over a rock.
There was. OF course much alarm among
the passengers at first. but there was no dis
order and nothing that had the slightest sem
bance OF panic. All made their way to the
deck as quickly as possible. but before many
OF them had left their cabins the grating sound
ceased. The Paris had apparently gone over a
ledge and taken bottom almost Immediately
aiterward. for by the time everybody was on
deck the vessel was at standstill.
The place where the Paris stranded is in
sight OF land. and Is SO close to the wreck OF
the Mohegan that the masts Of the lattervessel.
which are still standing. could be seen from
the decks OF the American liner.
A few minutes after the ship struck distress
sgnals were burned and rockets were sent up.
These Immediately attracted attention. and in
short time tugboats and lifeboats were racing
for the scene OF the accident.
At daybreak requistion was sent to the
naval authorities asking them to send assist
ance to the Paris The request was immedi-
ately complied with. and the gunboat Ante
lope. which had her fires banked. ready to
start for Bristol. was the first vessel despatched.
She was followed by the Gunboats Renard.
Destroyer. and Thrasher. The gunboat Wolf
was ordered to get steam up and to hold her
self in readiness to proceed to the scene OF tho
accident should her services be required.
Tugs from Falmouth responded quickly to
the call for their aid. The Porthoustock and
Falmouth lifeboats were also speedily along
side. The Coverack life-saving apparatus was
promptly manned. line was passed and the
tIansference OF the 360 passengers began i'm
mediately.
All were landed In Falmouth without mishap
att o'clock. The hotels and the Sailors Home
were quickly filed. Most Of the women were
housed In the latter place Later they returned
to London.
Tho transferring Of the passengers was the
worst part of the whole affair. The tugs could
not get alongside the steamer. and it proved a
difficult task to get the people. especially the
women and children. into the small boats and
aboard the tugs. They were packed like sar-
dimes on the latter vessels. Many OF the
women had insufficient clothing and suf-
ferod from the cold. Nevertheless there
was little Grumbling. as all were toe
thankful to have escaped with their lives
correspondent who visited the scene this
morning found the Paris lying very close In
shore She was resting upright on an even
Keel on n rocky bottom a few hundred yards
10 the westward Of the Manacles. She was
headed southwest. which is the direction &c
which her course was altered when she first
struck.
The crew were busy engaged in removing
the passengers baggage to tugs The weather
was fine and the sea calm. Steam was up Oh
the liner and all her tunnels were smoking
No explanation was obtonabla for the shir
being 50 far Off her course. but it is likely thai
heavy fog that prevailed caused Capt. Wat,
kins to lose his bearings.
The man who was acting as lookout forwarG
Gays that he saw the loom OF the land through
the vapor and shouted Land ahead" The
engines were Immediately reversed. and they
were going full speed astern when tho shiT
struck.
Capt. Watkins refused to he interviewed ol
to suggest the cause OF the disaster. He
merely said that he believed it was possible tc
tow the steamer off.
This statement surprised Independent oh,
servers. who believed that tho Paris was badly
holed. and that If she shifted from her position
che would sink Immediately.
There are twenty fathoms OF water on eithe
side OF tho ledge on which the steamer rests
An effort to float her was made at high water
With her own steam and the help OF tugs al
attempt was made to get her OF. Just at thi
time a fog closed in and hid the steamer from
the watchers on shore. but when later tn,
weather became clear again it was seen tina
the attempt was fruitless.
The tugs were standing of. and the Paris
still upright. had apparently not moved al
inch. Water was being continuously pumpc,
out o. her. 1t was said tnat II the weathe
kept fine another attempt would probably br
made at dawn.
All the afternoon the crow. none OF whom wa
allowed to land, were busy tightening the YES
sci, A quantity Of her cargo has already beer
taken to Falmouth. While the unloading wa
progressing heavyicase struck ighterman
severely. and perhaps fatally. injurinG him.
The Offices Of tho American line in this cit
were open to-day for the purpose OF giving In
formation and relieving the anxiety OF thos
having friends or relatives aboard the Paris
According TO a statement communicated t
THE sun CORRESPONDENT o-niGht by the Ameri
can line the Paris is on ledge Of rock and no
resting in tho mud IoWland Point il min