New-York tribune., 1903-03-21

.on. n =. wss fatally cruGAea In the broksA
beams Three other psssenseEs, occnpylns
eta&erooms IN this sidE were aa96 tSsurea-
Room s0g, the one fafthest AFT Of the stas
beard staterooms is known a. the Oflon a1t,
chamber" The occupants of this room, 10
eetAer with \ vvouar cecupying the saJesnmE
ber8h. Rere imprisoned SO great wss ene torce
Of the blow dealt by the Taunton teat tn9
woman Ia the next etateFuoW vss huT.eo "t0
the bridal chamber" and the three "ere fe0
cue6 by two porters armed WITH axes
NO PANIC AMONG PASSENGERS
Following the frst crash ef tha collision cams
the fearful grind Of the TauatonHs sew aSeN"s.
the Plymouth the shrteks OF the r1usso 80
fnprisoued and the distress signals OF the two
,htrs a.. fhav hacAss away after their dread
r,,I impact. A snousent later the passeneefs ~
4be Plymouth a&akened by the tumEN or Sns
shock that hurled many from tneH OerN'l~'
poured forth into the saloon But there wa
no panic for moment.
AFTER the collision the Plymouth setted a. tne
water poured into hsr shattered sides rut '"e
watertisht compartments held the FS4e~1
riehted. and the admirable coolness OF tne
shjp.s officers, together with the ren1arkaee
couzposure of men and women. alike, SVeFteo
further ho.reF. Life preSeFverS were dfsenpu'eo
and g few OF the more apprehenstve PUT enein
on hut II soon became apparent that there W1s
no danger of sinking, and the two vessels Slowly
and with df.icuIty steamed into NeW-Lohooi'
Harbor The Norwich Line steamer Maine
passed the Plymouth crawling into NeW-Leneoa
Barbor- and informed the authorities AZ new
London Of the accident
At the pier ambulances hastily removed the
injured and dead. The passengers were pro-
vided with emergency tickets and sent forward
49, aAnHT
removed wsa Patrick Dslsy. freight trimmer
whose r4sht arm had been feaEfully crushed In
the wreck He was sent to the Memorial HOS
rjtsI. and the other wounded followed Soon'
The nrrt definite account Of the accident came
from CAPTAIN BiSbeF. Of the City Of fauntan
ct was perhaps four minutes before the col
Ysion" saAd he, 'that hrst heard the SOUND OF
the Plymouth'a whistle. We had Stacked to
shout no speed was standing by the pilot
house when suddenly / caught the Aash OF the
Plymouth's light, and signalied my engineer
Warning whistles were sounded from ootn
.bfps and then IN about twenty seconds we
struck the Plymouth
III. engineer Of the Taunton reports that he
STONED his engine thirty seconds before the
chips struck.
CAPTAIN Elisha Davis cf the Plymouth was
less willing to discuss the accident. AFTER he
had brought his ship to deck he was asked Tor a
statement.
There IT all is; you can see It for yourself" ,"
said he pointing to the battered stareoard Eide
OF the Plymouth.
Later the captain said further: "The Plym-
outh was proceeding at about fourteen knots
was in the pilot house and particularly on the
alert because Of the thick fog, AS soon as the
Taunton's lights appeared 1 rang for full speed
Estsrn and hasr the bell CT the Taunton FOR
the same signal I heard the Taunton sound
her distress signal as she pulled or
SPLENDID WORK OF MARINES.
From the oncers OF the company who came
from S.w-York no further explanation Of the
accident could be secured. Captain J. ". Miller,
superintendent of tie line. declared that there
would be private court martial held by the
company to ascertain the cause Of the accident
He also said that the United states officials OF
this steamboat district would hold an inVestiEG-
ten. He estimated the damage 70 the Plymouth
at about $4,000 and to tie Taunton st $4,000
Despite the seriousness Of the accident be-
yond the almost miraculous escape OF the
marines and Italians who crowded the steeraee
cabin, which was completely wrecked. there
seem to have been few thrilling experiences
among the passengerE. Only a half dozen state
rooms were injured and only one passenger
was killed. Passengers and crew siiks ex-
pressed their surprise at the smallnsss OF the
casualty list, Had the Taunton struck the
Plymouth sridships there can be little doubt
that frightful loss Of life would have re-
suited Az It was, the wGtsrttght euIkheaas
confined the water to the GiAgle injured COM
partnent and the Plymouth was able to pro-
ceed under her own steam to this port.
The detachment Of United States Marines. un-
der the command OF Captain Low, had q pecu-
liar experience. Awakened from q sound sleep,
the soldiers rushed from ths lower cabin. where
they were quartersd. without outer clothing or
shoes. They were largely instrumental IN avert
ing panic aEong the other passengers. and
while engaged in this Iaudable work their cloth
ing and effects were lost. The men made outer
coverings OF blankets and even cut the blankets
into Gtripa and wound them around their feet
TO replace their shOea In this condition the
marines boarded special train for Boston.
A rurnor was current in this city this after
noon that sevsrsi Italian workHnen who were
ing. OficiaIG Of the company who were asked
regarding the matter tonight said that so far
as they knew all the steerage passengers had
been accounted for. although they admitted that
* was possible that one or two might have been
swept overheard.
1t is expected that the gangs Of men who are
rapidly clearing away the wFeckage from the
Plymouth will complete the work. IN time TO let
thst ship proceed to Hoboken Tomorrow, where
abe viii be repaired. She VIII probably go under
her own steam. but q tug Will be sent with her.
Captain Miller estimates that It will take
month to reht her. The Taunton will 60 TO
Nosnk tomorrow. where she will receive new
bow.