Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-04
STEAMER AGROUND
Many Passengers and a Heavy
 Freight Aboard
FOG IN NARRAGANsETT BAY

W Us llle OduSe Ol eAC dAONAeAAo
 the Steamer Chester W. chapin- Several Efforts to Move the Steamer
 Failed-Passengers Were Then
 Transferred and Taken to Providenc
 dence On the Steamer Bay Queen.
 Providence, R. T., April 4.-The steamer Chester w. Chapin of the new line between Providence and New York, went aground in the fog last night between Warwick light and Pa tfence Island in -Narragansett bay. She was bound for New York with large number of passengers and a heavy freight. The place where the Chapin struck is about twelve miles from tnls city. As soon as the accident became known here arrangements were made to take off the passengers and tugs were sent to the stranded vessel. The messengers were removed by the tugs and forwarded on their journey to New York by rail.
 ArrangementS have been made 10 undertake the work of floating the steamer to-day. Tugs were at work on her during the night, but she was still hard aground this forenoon. Con fidence is expressed, however, that she can be fioated.
 The accident happened at about 9:1o D. m., as the steamer feeling her way out from Providence, but it was several hours before the news was re- eeived in this city. At first it was thought that the steamer could re lease herself, as she was proceeding at slow speed. but after several trials with reversed engines it appeared that the efforts were useless and two of the Chapin's officers started in a small boat for Warwick Neck lighthouse on the west shore of the bay below Rocky Point Keeper McCann of the light house assisted the officers to commuHi- cate with the city by means of a tele- phone at Warwick station.
 As soon as possible two of the Prov dence Tow Boat Co.'S tugs Gaspee and Ramsey were dispatched to the island. Agent Anthony also arranged with the officials of the Providence, Fall River and Newport line to send q boat to the scene, and the Bay Queen was sent from Newport to take off the passen- gers and to render any other service possible
 The tugs took positions on either's side of the Chapin and for several hours Lute SUI dAnCQ aAuu puIlcu ul1 lilG SlEdnu- ed craft in an effort to move her. All efforts were fruitiess. When it was seen that the steamer would be de- layed for some time, the passengers, who had suffered no discomfort and who had shown no evidence of dis turhance by their experience, were in- forTred that they would be taken off. They were transferred to the Bay Queen and were brought to fiifs city. A special train was made up as speed iIy as possible and the interrupted travellers started for New York by rail early to-day.
 Arrangements have been made for a large fleet of tugs to work on the steamer to-day. The officials of the steamer line think that the vessel Is not seriously damaged and that she will be f1Oated during the day.
 The coming of daylight disclosed the exact position of the steamer. She lies off the easterly end of Patience Island and while at first it was thought she was in favorable position for being fioated, subsequent examina- ton showed that her hull had been penetrated by rocks as she settled with the falling tide.
 This fact made it evident that there would be considerable difficulty in floating the craft and the tow boat officials declared that most of the cargo would have to come out and that poSsi- bly it would require several days preparation before the steamer could be released from her position.
 Captain Appley of the Chapin says that on rounding Conimicut he stood for Warwick, the required number of minutes and then stopped the engines, the light not having been seen. Soon aF laa erfr afLr nla two hundred feet from land and the shore is lined with rocks.
 New Haven, April 4.-Passengers from the wrecked steamer Chester w. Chapin passed through New Haven at S:30 this morning on their way to New York. They were generally exhaust ed by the exciting incidents of the night, but expressed warm praise for the manner in which the officers of the boat looked out for them after the ac- cident.
 One of the passengers said that prac. tically all except the employees of the boat were asleep when the steamer grounded. but That there was no panic, and the, officers and crew acted nobly. The steamer Bay Queen from Newport reached the scene at 2:30 this morning and the passengers were transferred to her, and at , o'clock left Providence by special train for New York. None of the passengers or crew were injured.
 New York. April At the office of Captain Nickerson, the superintendent of the marine service for the New York. New Haven and Hartford Rail road Go, it was stated that they had as yet received no particulars of the stranding of the steamer. It was add ed that the passengers had been land ed at Providence and were being for warded to New York by special train, which should reach here by about 10:3O this morning.
 The Chester w. Chapin is the latest addition to the New Haven line and Is very fine boat of large dimensions. She is a steel twin-screw steamer built in 1899 at Sparrow's Point. Md. She is 2.S6S tons gross and is 312 feet long, 64 feet beam and 16.9 feet deep.