New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-25
CORNING HITS A REEF.
ALL ON BOARD S4VED.
Passengers, Half Clad. 4drift Hours
IN Small Boat.

South Norwalk, Conn. Dec. 24-In a thick fog
early this morning the steamer Erastus Corning
of the Starin Line. from New-Faven for New
York with twenty-five passengers and a heavy
cargo Of freight, struck on the rocks of Copp's
Island, just outside Norwalk Harbor hole
two feet square was stove in the starboard side
OF the steamer bout amidships and within five
minutes she settled squarely on the bottom in
about fifteen feet Of water.
The shock OF the collision and the cries Of the
crew aroused the passengers who rushed on
deck in a panic. Most of them were thinIy clad
Miss H. Schipiro jumped overheard, but was
rescued by Fred Delaney. one OF the crew.
They were taken aboard the steamer unharmed.
While the officers and crew were trying to
calm the passengers. assuring them that there
was no danger of the vessel sinking, six pas
sengers took a small boat and left the steamer.
According to one of the officers in the confusion
the departure of the small boat was not OBJ
served. 1t was said that one of the men pas
sengers said that he was accustomed TO rowing
and that he induced others to join him. on
board this boat were H Bird. J. NIcCaush Miss
Schipiro Mrs E. Wilson. Mrs c. Shepard and
Mrs. A. Fisher
All the other passengers and the crew reached
here safely on board tug shortly before 10
o'clock. Accompanied by the purser. E E.
Mathews, Of New-Haven. the passengers soon
afterward took train for New-York-
PASSENGER LIST.
The full list of passengers on board the Corn
ing as given by Purser E. E. Matthews is as
follows: V. NJ. Clark. ]. Fenton. ]. MacCor-
mack. H. Bird. p schipiro. ]. schipiro Frank
FasuIo. Mrs. c. Shepard. J. W Swift. Z. Reis-
back, Mr.. Walker. J. McCaush. B. Klenn Mr.
and Mrs. A. Fisher. Mr.. and Mrs. Edward VIII
son, Mr.. and Mrs. Antonio Credel, Mrs. B. SEQ
Vile. Miss H. schipiro and Mrs. Kane. The
addresses of the passengers are not given on
the pursers list.
The small boat, which had disappeared after
leaving the Corning. landed at Greens Farms, in
the town of Westport, some miles TO the east
ward OF this harbor. Owing to the darkness
the passengers who manned the oars were un-
able to, find this port, although keeping in the
general direction of land. The four women were
in their night robes, and Miss Schpiro suffered
from exposure, as her nightdress was frozen.
The six passengers went to Mr.. Mitchelrs house
and were cared for. They were provided with
clothing. and were taken to the railroad station
and started for New-Haven.
The Erastus Corning left New-Haven at 1O:15
o'clock last night She encountered thick weather
in the Sound. and was proceeding slowly un-
der the direction Of the pilot. ". w DaboIl, who
was then watch. when at 2:1O o'clock she
suddenly went on the rocks. 1t was not until
nearly daylight that Captain A H. Thompson
and the other officers were able to tell exactly
where they were located. They were surprised
TO find the vessel lying on Copp's Island about a
mile off her usual course. Meantime launch
with some OF the crew had LETT the steamer as
soon as Il was found there danger OF
sinking and had come to this city for assist
ance The services OF the tug Addie V. were Sc
cured The tug got the passengers and crew of
the steamer without accident