The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-17
STEAMER GOES ON The ROCKS
PASSENGERS AND CREW or THE
8. r.. SPRING IN PERIL.
Sound Freighter Drifts. Helpless. with
Fires Out Rudder Gone and boats
Sn,ashcd-T~O Members OF the Gre"
Swim Ashore and Save the Others.

Swim Ashore and Save the others.
New ROCHELLE, Sept. l8.-The violent
southeast gale that came up deniy TINS
morning did several hundred thousand
dollars worth Of damage to boats oil all
descriptions which were blown ashore in
New Rochelle, Larchmont and Green
witch.
One large steamer, the S. +. SPRING
which plies between New Rochelle, Rye
Beach and Stamford. was caught on Green
witch and was driven on the rocks on the
big country mansion of +. &. Benedict
at Belle Haven. The captain. his crew OF
seven men and eleven passengers were
saved, but the steamer, which was side
wheeler zoo feet over all. was pounded 10
pieces on the rocks. The passengers and
crew had thrilling experience and their
escape from drowning was MIRACULOUS
The Spring left Stamford for Northport.
l.. l., at about II o'clock this morning.
carrying load of freight and eleven pas
sengars, Of whom two were women with
babies About noon the gale became very
heavy and the captain tried to put back to
Stamford harbor. He soon found that he
could not turn, and huge waves, which
were piing over the decks, put out the
fires.
The pilot was still trying to turn about
when sudden gust Of wind tore on the
roof OF the upper deck, leaving only the
pilot house. The strain was so great that
it tore of the rudder. and when the steiner
settled down again in the trough OF the sea
she was perfectly helpless and her fires were
out
Realizing that they were completely at
the mercy Of the storm the sailors, as last
resort to keep of the rocks made de-
ternined effort to get an anchor down to
hold the steamers head to the wind. They
put an anchor down. but had no sooner done
so when the chain snapped. The steamer
was fast being driven toward Shelving
Rock, and Capt Mcdonald determined to
get the passengers of IL possible before she
was dashed to pieces. He ran among them
and shouted:
sect on the life preservers quickly and
calmly. We are going to send you safely
ashore on the life RATS
A scene Of wild confusion followed. The
crew launched the largest life raft. and the
passengers. with the preservers on, got
ready to get on it, when the raft suddenly
struck the hull of the boat and was pounded
to pieces. A second life raft put over by
the crew was also destroyed.
This lett only one small BOAT OF any
description on the steamer and 1t was 80
small that Capt Mcdonald was afraid to put
it over He tried to put up distress signals,
but the wind snapped off the flagstaff
The steamer drifted along shore an hour
until she hit the rocks of the point at +. L.
Benedict and stove in her bow.
As soon as she touched. colored cook
named Cornelius Brown dropped fifteen
feet to the rocks. The water was over
his head, and he was tossed until he was
bruised and bleeding. but he kept on swim
ming and was finally safely tossed on the
beach. The pilot. George Monk, followed
the cook and also reached shallow water
considerably bruised. Capt. Mcdonald
then wrapped the two babies In blankets,
tied them with ropes and threw them to
the pilot and cook, who waded ashore
with them and laid them on the beach.
The mothers were next taken on, and
when they were sent ashore, the men and
crew made their escape.
A few minutes after every one was safely
of, the Spring went to pieces. A woman
named Mrs. Wood. who lives In big house
near the Benedict place, sent her coach
man and gardeners and took the passengers
and crew to her home. where she supplied
them with dry clothing and afterward
sent the passengers to the Cos Cob railroad
station. The crew were still at the Wood
mansion to might and part OF them were
sleeping at the stables Of f. c. Benedict.
The passengers of the Spring were mostly
residents Of Stamford and Northport.
The s. E. Spring was built at East Deering,
Me. and was $50 tons gross. She was
loaded with lumber,