The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-20
Six Lives Lost and Many In
juredin Collision Between
Fall River Boats Plymouth
and Taunton - Victims
Drowned in Their Berths.


Harbor Under Her Own
Steam.
NEW LONDON. Com. March 20.-Ons
Of the most appalling accidents in the
history Of the passenger service on Long
Island Sound occurred soon after mid
right this morning in dense fog. While;
the passengers OF the Fail River Lines
steamer Plymouth were sleeping peace-i
fully in their berths there came a teri
riic crash and several lives we're crush-s
cd out in a twinkIing
The steamer Taunton. one OF ths
freight boats OF the FAN River Line.
had crashed into the Plymouth. The
noon carrying upward of 500 passengers
IN instant All ~as confusion. }Ths.
sbrieks OF the dying and injured drowned
the shouts OF officers. while the cries
Of the panic-st ricken added 10 the
tumult
Almost hfty feet Of the upper works
of the Plymouth were carried away
in the crash. but she was able to proceed
70 New London under her own steam
The Dead and Injured.
The following Il a revised list Of dead.
as far as known:
JOHN MCCARTHY. watchu,su. head cut OF.
Snow COLEMAN, pantryman; drowned
u LIS DAWSON. colorcd waiter: Drowned
JOHN WILLIAMS. colored waiter. Drowned
JOHN BRISTOL. colored waiter. drowned
JONATHAN W. THOMPSON, passenger.
Wilkesbsrrc. Pa; skull crushed
II was believed that there we're Others
dead in the flooded compartments Of ths
steamer and a diver went aboard the
Plymouth shortly after O'Clock 10 IN
vestigate.
The dead named are all ashore.
revised list OF the injured foliows-
Patrick DAILY, a coal trimmer. New
York. arm torn on. Michael Kudpn.
Boston. right loot cut and body bsdly
bruised; - SamrelsoH. injured about
he head and body: unknown man. with
severe scalp wounds: unknown woman.
badly cut and bruised; Italian. badly
cut about the head
Plymouth Cut Almost in Two.
The collision occurred about twenty
minutes sail east OF Gull E-Ss1d. in the
Race. The Taunton was bound for New
York
The Plymouth was bound from New
York 10 Fall River. The Taunton struck
the Plymouth just aft OF the pilot house.
and went half through her. cutting
through n four decks.
The Plymouth reached this harbor at
3 O'Clock this morning. The tugs which
were sent out for the Taunton came
back with her at o'clock.
For time Immediately after the
crash II was feared the Plymouth would
go down.
Boats Made Ready.
The officers. who remained cool. mus
tered the crews at their stations and
prepared for the launching OF the boats
and the life barges. while q special
squad under orders OF one OF the mates.
was told of to investigate the extent OF
the injury 20 the steamer The pumps
were tried and il was found that the Ply
mouth was not making water enough 10
Indicate danger OF sinking. The eng nes
were started once more. and the steamer
was headed for New London
IN the meantime it was found that six
we're dead or fatally injured, while
nearly dozen more We're in a pre-
carious condition
Tugs Sent TO Aid the Taunton.
The Plymouth steamed into New Lon
don sending up signals Of distress and
whistiing for aid Tugs we're sent 20
the assistance of the Taunton. which
was seriously damaged. and she was
-owed in a few hours later. only the
Of the vessels. it is said today. saved
them from going TO the bottom.
The hole in the Plymouth is from sew
enty 10 sew ,nty-fve feet in width. The
Taunton lost four feet Of her bow. and Is
badly damaged The Plymouth. where
she was struck. presents a CHASTITY pic
ture. with a great gaping hole in her
side in which a mass Of bedding. broken
-imbers. ane other debris can be seen
Thousands OF persons began to gather at
daylight to view the damaged boats
Sleeping Berths Flooded.
The Plymouth. as soon as she was
struck. began to make water IN the COM
partments and the berths which were
opened were at once filled
On board the Plymouth were Capt r.
W. Lowe and Lieut.. William c. Hartlee.
with seventy marines OF the United
States Marine Corps
They were on the side which the col
ision opened. in the second cabin Cap
tain Lowe this morning reported that
none OF his men was killed and none in
ured. all having heen accounted for.
No One Hurt on the Taunton.
No one aboard the Taunton was In
ured. bat her entire bow in chopped OF
cleanly for two feet deep from the upper
deck 10 below the water line. Captain
Rihher. who is in charge OF the Taun-