Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-12-25
RUBBED ON ROCKS.
Steamer Corning's Passengers
in a Great TumuIt.
Ship Strikes Near South NorwaIk,
Conn.,, but All Are Saved.
More Fright Than Danger and All
Hands Rejoice.


thick fog, early Thursday morning, the
steamer Erastus Corning of the Starin
Line from New Haven for New York,
with 20 passengers and a heavy cargo
of freight struck on the rocks of Cops
island just outside Norwalk harbor. A
hole two feet square was stove lin the
steamer about amidships and within
five minutes she settled squarely on the
bottom in about Is feet of water.
The shock of the collision and the
cries of the crew aroused the passen-
gers, who rushed on deck in a panic.
Most Of the people were thiny clad.
One woman, Miss III. Scipiro jumped
overheard, but was rescued by Fred
Delaney, a member of the crew who
leaped in after her. Both the woman
and her resCuGr We're pulled aboard the
steamer unframed.
While the officers and members of the
crew We're trying to calm the passen-
gers, assuring them that there was no
danger Of the vessel sinking, six of the
passengers cleared away a small boat
and left the steamer. According to one
of the officers, the departure Of the
small boat was not noticed in the con-
Iuoioii. NstS Saliti tllelI olC vi tlIc
men passengers said he was accustomed
to rowing boat and that he induced
the others of his party to accompany
him. At 10 o'clock, Thursday forenoon,
this small boat had not been heard
from and much anxiety was felt as to
its safety.
On board this boat We're H. Bind, J.
McCaush, Miss Shapiro, Mrs. e. Will
son, Mrs. c. Shepard and Mrs. A.
Fisher
Unless some passing steamer or
other vessel picked up the party, it was
feared that they had met With disaster.
Aside from the missing small boat
party, all tne passengers and crew
reached here safely on board a tug
shortly before 10 o'clock. Accompanied
by the Durser, e. +. Mathews of New
Haven, the passengers soon after left
by train for New York. Some of them
had no outer wraps and all were with
out baggage, the vessel having filed
with water 50 quickly that they had
barely time TO seize clothing and rusa
to the deck. There We're two women
among the passengers besides those
who left in the small boat.
The Erastus Corning left New Hav-
on at 1o.15, Wednesday night. She en-
countered thick weather in the Sound
and was proceeding slowly under the
direction of the pilot, w. w. Dabol.
who WAS then on watch when at 2.lo
O'Clock, she suddenly went on the rocks.
1t was not until nearly daylight that
her commander, Capt. y. H. Thompson
and the other officers were able to tell
exactly where they were located. They
were surprised to find the vessel lying
on Cops island, about a mile off her
usual course.
Meantime a launch with some of the
crew had left the steamer as soon as 1t
was found there was no danger of sink
ing and had come to this city for as
sistanCe. The services of the tug Addie
V. were secured to go to the assistance
of the stranded steamer and the owners
in New York We're notified. The TUG
got all the passengers and crew off the
steamer without accident.
The full list of passengers on board
the Corning as given by the purser, y.
e. Mathews, is as follows:
V. NJ. Clark, G. Fenton, J. MacCor-
mack. II. Bird, P. Schipiro. j. Schipiro.
Frank Fasulo, Mrs. G. Schepard, j. w.
Swift, f. Rcysback, Mr.. Walker, J.
McCaush, i. I<lann, Mr. and Mrs. A.
Fisher Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Wilson,
Mr. and Mrs Antonio Credel Mrs, +.
Schcville. Mrs. II. Schipiro and Mrs.
ano The addresses of the passengers
are not given on the purser's list.