The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-04-30

o'clock Saturday night the steamer
Puritan OF the New York, New Haven
and Hartford Railroad company's feet
broke her shaft in Long Island Sound.
between Huntington and Stratford
Heights, and was towed into this port
early yesterday In an entirely disabled
copdition by the steamer Rhode Island
Of the Stonington line.
The passengers were landed without
mishap, and were sent to Boston and
other points en- route by special trains.
The Puritan left New York city at $50
Saturday night with $50 passengers
aboard, 600 first-class and $50 steerage.
BROKE WITH A CRASH.
When Oft Huntington Light the shaft
broke with a ripping sound and the al
most immediate believing OF the heavy
whistle created some little disturbance.
The steamer Rhode Island was near at
hand and. with two freisht boats, came
10 the assistance Of Uhe Puritan. The
Rhode Island passed a hawser TO the
disabled ship and towed her 10 New
London. arriving at 6:l0 Sunday morn
ing.
the surrounding woodwork was torn
away. but further than this the yes-
sci was uninjured.
No undue excitement attended the
accident A slight commotion followed
the crash and several people made
hurried rush Tor the gangways.Further
than this. however, there was nothing
of note.
CAUSE UNDETERMINED.
The cause of the accident is as yet
undetermined. bur II In supposed that
there was a faw in the shaft. The
weather was not rough and the vessel
was not laboring at all. so that the
strain on the shaft could scarcely have
been more than ordinarily severe The
Puritan will be laid up for some time.
as IL will be necessary 40 forge a new
shaft for her. She was flowed to New
port late yesterday afternoon.
PASSENGERS TALK.
Boston, April 30.-Some 500 OF the
passengers who were aboard the steam
er Puritan on her trip from New York
arrived at the South Terminal station
Oh two special trains from New Lon
don. about noon Sunday. The. first Sec
tion arrived at 20 minutes past II. II
consisted of IL cars and came In on
+. track 2S. The second section consisted
OF 10 cars and pulled In on track 16 at
a quarter past one.
There was absolutely no excitement.
and only very few OF the people In the
station knew that the sleepy eyed pass-
engers had been aboard disabled
steamer for the best part Of nine hours
during the previous night. There were
not over 20 people clustered about the
gate at the head OF track 2S when the
first section OF the train steamed in.
The 300 passengers alighted and hur-
ordinary trainload OF passengers is
accustomed to do. The conversation
was on almost any subject but that or
the experiences OF the night before.
A reporter OF the Journal secured
several interviews with passengers
who were aboard the steamer
THE BAND PLAYED ON.
Robert Morgan OF Pelham street,
south end said: The accident oc-
CURED about o'clock Saturday night
when we were some rs miles from New
York city. The saloon was crowded
with people who were listening to the
band, reading or chatting with each
other. Hardly anyone had gone to bed,
as the night was pleasant and the wa
ter smooth. Suddenly. without a mo-
ment's warning, there was a ripping
sound and a shiver which ran over the
whole boat and shook her from stem 70
stern. We all knew that something
had happened. but could not tell just
what at that time.
There was more or less excitement
OF a mild nature. but nothing alarm
ing, for everyone could see that the
ship was still moving, though slowly.
The whistle was blown, and there was
some commotion among the officers.
Many Of the men hurried out OF doors
along the gangways, but could see moth
ing but three steamers close at hand.
One OF these was the Rhode Island OF
the Stonington line. She steamed
close abeam OF us. and after little
parleying threw over a line and took
IFS in tow. The other two boats. which
were freight steamers. offered us as
sistance. but it was found to be un-
necessary by the officers I'm charge, and
so we started up after a little delay.
and arrived at the dock In New London
shortly after 6 o'clock this morning.
We were forced TO wait there some
three hours. and left for Boston on a
special train about o'clock.
when the accident occurred the band
was playing. and the band continued
TO play right along as II nothing had
happened. Perhaps il was the music
that did more than anything else 10
calm the somewhat excited passen-
gers"
HOW AID CAME.
James McWilliam, a carpenter. who
was bound for Manchester. n. H.. was
one of the passengers on the Puritan.
He said in regard to the accident: II
was sitting with friend I'm the cabin,
when all at once there was a tearing
sound and something OF shock. We
jumped up and looked n each other
and then hurried outside to see what
might be the cause of the trouble. The
ship was moving slowly under her own
momentum. and just as we got out
side we saw another boat making for
us In answer TO a call for assistance
from our whistle. I learned afterward
that this steamer was the Rhode ISL
and of an opposition line. She cast us
a hawser and steamed up ahead. All
night she towed us along and when
dawn came we learned that we were
tn put irto the port OF New London.
There was very little excitement
after the accident. and what little
there was seemed TO me to be among
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