Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-10
Steamer Priscilla Run Down by
Steamer Powhattan.
Narrow Escapefr from Sinking in Sound
lone Deckhand Killed..
Finally lowed to Port by Puritan
Powhattan Badly Damaged.

|
a dead man in her hold, the Fall River
Line steamer Priscilla was dragged %
her berth here, today, by the steamer
puritan of the same line. The Pris-
CHA had been in collision with the
| Merchants and Miners TRANSPORTS
ton Cos. steamer Powhattan, in Mar
ragansett bay, off Point Judith, and for
SIX hours had waited for help to come.
Al last, the Puritan had heard sig
nails of distress and had gone to the
| assistance of her sister ship
The Priscilla was bound for New
York She had left here trife late,
and put out into a dense fog. After
an hours run, when the ship was be-
tween BrentOn's Reef lightship and
Point judith. she was struck on the
port bow by the sharp bow of another
steamship with practically no warn
ing. The vessels separated and the
Priscilla showed signs that she was
badly damaged. BY jettisoning part
OF the cargo, the vessel was lightenei
until her pumps kept her afioat.
The passengers though badly fright
ened We're not panicstricken and af-
ter the first excitement busted them
selves by getting together their be-
longings, so that when they reached
the landing they We're able to disem-
bark quietly and without loss of
property.
The officers of the Priscilla state
that the Powhattan had not been reg
ularly sounding her whistles and that
when she did at late moment. she
gave the wrong signal and then the
crash came
The Powhattan's men stated that the
Priscilla came, suddenly out of a bank
of fog and that the ships came to-
gether after an exchange Of signals
before anything could be done to avert
q COLLISION
Newport, r. L., July .9.-The steamer
Priscilla of the Fall River Line lay
within hearing distance of this city,
vigorously blowing for assistance all
night with what would probably have
proved. had the night been calm
one, a mortal wound in her side She
was a trifle late in leaving her dock
here and put out into a dense fog on
her journey to New York.
After about an hours run, the time
being about II o'clock and the ship
between Brenton's reef lightship and
Point Judith. rather nearer the latter,
she was struck on the port bow by the
sharp bow of a steamship with practi-
Cally no warning. 1t is claimed by Of
hcers aboard the Priscilla that the
steamship mad not been regularly
sounding her whistles and that when
she did at a late moment she gave the
wrong signal and then the crash came. |
1t was the steamship Powhattan of
the Merchants and Miners Line, 4
bound, that had struck the |
blow. She struck fairly and nearly !
cut half the sound steamers bow, |
carving her way through for fully 20 |
feet amidship forward where the blow
came. |
The ribbon guard held intact. cutting |
into the POWhattan's bow and hull for |
a like distance The blow was struck |
forward of the steamer house. to the |
Mushroom on the main deck and tie |
sleeping quarters ana steering engine |
compartments below. The great steel |
plates of the bow were torn away Wei |
below the water line ard the forward |
bulkhead was wrecked, thus placing |
two compartments out of condition
and rapidly sending the steamer down |
out and the rudder was useless.
In the sleeping quarters of the crew
there was only one man, John Muniz. |
a Portuguese deckhand, who was in his |
berth. and on the port side of the com
partnent His body was so jammed
in by the wreckage that it was decided |
from the first that it would take hours
OF work to clear it. Death had been
4.11 fhn1lOh
how badly the body was crushed or |
cut could not be learned from any
point here. Wednesday morning. Ten
minutes later would have found the
berths in this department all occupied
and the loss of life would have been
terrible.
Most of the passengers were In pea
and many were asleep when the crash
came. 1T did not seem to be bad
lar" said one of the passengers, ana
many were not awakened by the COLL
sion The officers on duty at once turn
ed their attention to the safety OF the
ship. while the stewards department
gave its attention to awakening the
passengers. The inflow of water very
soon extinguished the electric ngnts, |
the DYNAMO room being in the vicinity
of the damage and thus the passengers
we're turned out of their rooms in
condition that cid not calm
tboir nerves. while the passing out OF
life preservers by candle light intensi-
fed the feeling. OF course every one !
was badly frightened. but an actual
manic. ii is stated, did not occur. The
terrible part was the suspense of the
hours to daylight when the Puritan
can,e along and took her in tow. The
officers were still busy with their ship,
the whistle was blowing signals of dis
tress and the passengers knew little
Of what had occurred and nothing OF
the probabilities.
1T was terrible" an old sailor man
said, who admitted that he was just
trifIe scared himself.
1t was the sister ship of the Priscilla,
the Puritan. which came to the rescue.
AS she came along the sound she heard
the signals of distress and, heading for
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