The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-21
Collision I'm N Fog Mt Night Between
er fall River Line.
AT LEAST SIX LIVES LOST
OTHER PERSONS UNACCOUNTED FOR
AND POSSIBLY DROWNED.
Unknown Number Injured-Starboard
Side of the Plymouth Raked and
Staterooms Cut Away.

Long Island sound early to-day the big
passenger steamer Plymouth. of the Fall
River line, bound for Fall River from New
York, and the freight steamer City Of
of the same line, came into COL
lision in the fog just east of Plum island.
the bow of the freight steamer raking the
starboard side OF the Plymouth and caus-
ing the death Of six persons on the Plym-
outh and serious injury to a number of
others. The dead are:
JOHN : MCCARTHY, Waterman, Fall
River.
Unidentified passenger.
JOHN COLEMAN, negro pantryman.
JULIUS DAWSON, negro messman.
JOHN III. WILLIAMS, negro baker.
JOHN BRISCOE, negro pantryman.
The complete list of injured is impossible
to obtain for the reason that many who
were slightly hurt were attended to i'm
mediately upon the arrival of the Plymouth
this morning, and then proceeded on their
way. Three of the injured are in hospi-
tai. They are: j. E. Creger, a travelling
Of Philadelphia. who is suffering
with sprained back; David Samuelson,
negro. of New Bedford, leg wrenched, and
Patrick Daley, a freight trimmer, whose
right arm was crushed from his body Mike
Kilduff, of Boston, and ]. M. Thompson.
of Allegheny. Pa, are the only other per-
sons whose names are known by the Off
GERS.
RESPONSIBILITY NOT FIXED.
The responsibility for the accident has not
been determined and will be the subject of
an investigation. 1t is said by the officers
of the two vessels that both were going
at a fair speed considering the fog, and
that there was not time after the warning
whistles which followed the lookout's dis
covery of the danger to avert a collision.
The steamers apparently were under good
Roadway when they met, the bow of the
City of Taunton, which was proceeding to-
ward the west, bound from Fall River to
New York, penetrating ten feet into the
hull of the east-bound passenger boat. AS
the vessels pulled apart the bow of the
freighter raked the upper works of the
Plymouth, tearing out the second cabin and
ripping out staterOoms like cardboard.
Seven cabins in all were swept from the
starboard bow of the big passenger boat
Investigation by the steamboat officials re-
suited in statement regarding the occu-
pants of these wrecked rooms, showing
that all were accounted for except those in
No. 2O1, occupied by some person or persons
who have not been identified. 1t Is not
positively known whether the occupants of
this room escaped or met death by being
swept into the waters of the Race. State
room No. 203 was occupied by a man who
signed himself upon the passenger register
as Nosten, but whose name Is believed to be
Marsten. He was killed.
AS soon as the disabled Plymouth came
into port shortly after o'clock this morn
ing ambulances were summoned to bear
the injured to the hospital, the passengers
rnA for mt q al trai
be made up to convey them and their eff
fects to Boston and the work of searching
for bodies of victims, members of the ships
company, who were in the flooded forward
compartment was begun. The name of the
dead passenger as ii appeared on the pur-
ser's list was &c. III. Nosten," though the
signature is a little obscure and may be G..
H Marsten or Masten. The body lies at an
undertaking shop awaiting word from rela-
tives or friends. All the mans other cloth
ing as we'll as his personal effects, were
swept away in the crash. His residence Is
unknown.
ITALIANS MISSING.
A rumor was current in this city this
afternoon that several italian workmen,
who were steerage passengers on the
Plymouth were missing. These men were
in the deck cabin on the starboard side and
the Taunton's bow crashed through that
compartment like a knife through paper.
1t was in this cabin that Waterman Nc
Carthy was killed. Officials of the COM
pany tonight said that as far as they
knew all the steerage passengers had been
accounted for, although they admitted that
it was possible that one two might have
been swept overheard. The number of
passengers was larger than usual at this
season, about $50, and that more people
did not lose their lives is considered mar
velous
A detachment Of United States marines.
under the command of Captain Low, who
were passengers on the Plymouth, had a
peculiar experience. Awakened from a
sound sleep, the soldiers rushed from the
lower cabin where they were quartered
without outer clothing or shoes. They were
largely Instrumental jim averting a panic
among the other passengers, and while en-
gagged in this laudable work their clothing
and effects were lost. The soldiers made
outer coverings of blankets and even cut
the blankets into strips and wound them
around their feet to replace their shoes
In this condition the marines boarded a
special train for Boston.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Captain Davis, of the Plymouth, gave a
brief version of the accident He said he
was in the pilot house and was particularly
alert because Of the dense fog. "As the
vessels neared each other" he said, az
quickly rang the full speed astern and
heard the bell of the City of Taunton give
the same signal. The accident occurred
Just east of Plum island. The City OF
Taunton was heard to sound the distress
signal as she backed off and pulled away
from our vessel We could not see the
other vessel because the fog was so dense
but from the fact of her distress signal.
we assumed that she had received seriou.
injuries. Our forward bulkhead saved us
but i thought the only and safest course
was TO make for the nearest port"
Many stories of narrow escapes from
death or serious injury were told by pas
sengers on the Plymouth. NJ. II. lack ant
wife, of Taunton, occupied the stateroon
adjoining that of the passenger who wa.
killed. Both were severely bruised. Mr.
lack praised the conduct of the steam
er's officers, who. he said, displayed grea
GOODNESS and energy.
The Fall River freight line steamer Cit,
of Taunton, the craft that collded witt
the Plymouth, was proceeding accordin,
TO her officers at somewhat reduced speed
Her whistle was frequently sounded.
was not until the Plymouth's huge side
doomed up in the mist that her close prox
unity was even dreamed Of The City o
Tauntons bow crushed in. but tn
and there was no danger of sinking. Con
tinually sounding whistles of distress tn
Taunton slowly made her way into thi
harbor. The tug Harriet went TO the Taun
tons assistance and aided the cripple,
steamer in making her wharf.
Later.-The man Marsten has been partl,
identified as George II. Marsten, of Pater
son. n. J.
Italians Leaped Into the Sea.
ROSTON March specfaI frat,