The Penn's Grove record., 1904-01-01
THE N WRECKED
Sound saaner Quickly sinks After
Striking Reef.
Thrilling Experiences 81 Party in a Life,
boat THAT Reach 5heee After
RSurs ~ suffering.

South Norwalk Conn--Whiie two Of
three miles out or her course, the Eras.
tus Corning OF the Starin tine, from
New haven to New York. strle; a
Jagged reef known as Cops Rocks.
just outside Norwalk Har6of, and sank
Ia fifteen Test Of water. There were
twenty passengers on board and twelve
members Of the crew. All III these
we've sayea. but noc until six of the
passengers, four Of them women in
scanty attire, had spent & nigbs OF ter
Eor on the Sound d leaEy boat.
The steamer lies I'll the midst ri {ha
group of jagged rocks coast tu.ine
Nopps Reef, with q hole sight feet
sIneFa on her sta board side inst be-
asSth her pil0taouse. and a sharp roeE,
Eslea penetrated her ancient hui, pro-
erudi'lg INTO her hold. which is filed
HeW yts beat could get 50 Iar ON Of
Avr EaI 81 . highs when WAS con-
esFHiiYas9 e8asr ana VIII the guiding
hS@ears SO Thaia view both ahead and
aSta~a bss aot haen explained The
steamer ff35 5tast left behind her She
A.a&H HN = ~2AfskC ~4jt AEEAs DUR VI VIA
isa8ing lights af me Sound. Scsrcaly
q nltjs ahead fgeli The point where she
stglrk&s Zoe Norwal6 tight on Sulifl's
Island With fell tale fash OF red and
WHITE 70 yarn the mariner Of danger.
All the passengers and nloss Of The
crew. except ~. " Dseeil. the pilot.
SFno mad the wateA, Frederick sterers.
s deck hand, who a..s oa lookout and
the engineer ane . seaman, were i'll
then berths asleep.
suddenly there was 4 tremendous
crash and a grinding saaa from the
oottem Of the ~steansss. MD the next
moment she began e settle. Several
0f the passengers wers tir0wu from
their 5erths by the feece Of the eolli.
sion. Others who werg awakened by
the shock and by the etjes OF the crew
who were seat balsf to rouse and
warn the sleepers Jumped out of their
beeths, only to iiaa themselves waist
deep IN the fast lnCeraing water.
Their was no time . dress, and the
passengers made a @ila r sh for fha
deck Here IN the 6askaeas they heard
Tie grating sound 81 she rocks against
ne hull OF the shin ard fgt her reeiing
and continuing to settle and a wild
panic ensued.
Three lifeboats were lowered. Al
we're leaky. and one u tbs3m filed 01n
plctely with water shortly after it had
been launched. ana is rffs and enc
other the occupants aad narrow es.
eapes from beng drowned.
One Of the l~ifeboats had broken The
painter with which 1t was secured to
me Corning. and drifta5 away In the
darkness. In it were sE passengers.
four az them women. All were bare
foot, and two Of the women o notn.
Inc but their nightgavns.
Ihe occupants cc this tiny Graf.
which, like the other boats. IVES 50
seaky lhat it was neceasarF To keep
5ailing the water out Rli Tie time 10
prevent il from sinking snent a thrill
ing night before they we're rescued
shortly before dayhreaN The following
morning. Borne BY the strong tide and
The southN esterly wind the boat drift
ed eastward until 1T struck on 4 sand
reef 4 mile and a haif w7est OF Frost
Point seven miles from The scene OF
TIE wreck Here il vas discovered by
William Matthias 2 farmer. who was
driving along the shore road.
When the passengers were brought
ashore they were beaunbed with cold,
and what little clothing they had on
their bodies vas frozen stiff. They
were utterly unable to walk, and were
driven in a carriage TO Mr.. Mitchelrs
lodge on the ScoysInith estate. where
fhey were thayvsd out. fed and given
ciohiig enoegn to enable them 10 pro-
ceed TO their homes.
Tue Other passengers who had re-
NAMED on the wreck were taken off
by the Adaie ~, q tiny Norwalg tug,
which made several trips to Che wreck.
The Erastus Corning Il Of 200 tons
burden and about 1T feet iong. She
was one OF the Oldest boats on the
gsDnH