Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-08

w tlu lIC ACAC CdlAs sVNAS VI the tug Patience came news of one Of the most remarkable marine disasters in the history of Vineyard Sound ship ping. The Joy line steamer Aransas, bound from Boston for New York, was struck by the coal laden barge Glendower, in tow from Philadelphia for Boston, and sunk less than fifteen minutes later, but out of 37 passen- gers and crew of 9 on the steamer, most of whom were asleep at the time of the collision, only one life was lost. Miss Mamie Kelley, 27 years old, residence unknown, was missing when the roll of passengers was called.
 The scene of the collision was about . mile and half southeast of Pollock Rip shoals lightship. Although the accident happened at 1s3O o'clock yes terday morning and at point only $ miles distant from this port, the sur vivors did not arrive here until early today. the thick fog which prevailed necessitating slow navigation.
 Although no official report has yet been made, it is known that the disas- ter was due ts the fog.
 The Aransas, Captain Rood in com mand, left Boston at 5:05 o'clock Sat uriay afternoon and was well across the bay before she ran into the fog. The steamer rounded Cape Cod and proceeded slowly down the cape shore. It was about midnight on Saturday when the steamer began to thread her way cautiously across the perilous Nantucket shoals She kept close to her course in spite of the fog which hid the lights of the lightships behind a dense mantle of opaque mist.
 At l 80 o'clock Sunday morning when about mile and half from the Pollock Rip shoals lightship, the tug Patience, with a tow of three Reading railroad barges, loomed up through the fog. The tug cleared the Aransas. but the barge GlendOwer struck the steamer amidships on the efarboard side opposite the engines. tearing open great hole through which the sea poured like cataract The Glendower was uninjured by the collision.
 The engine room and fire room of the Aransas were quickly flooded and some of the firemen barely escaped being caught by the torrents of water that rushed through the great hole in the steamers side It was seen at once that the steamer was sinking and orders to lower the boats were given.
 Most of the passengers and crew were in their berths at the time of the collision, but all were awakened by the crash. They dressed hastily and rushed upon deck Although there was great excitement there was no panic. Captain Rood and Mate Crocker preserved excellent discipline among the crew. quickly calmed the fears of the passengers and main tained order.
 While some of the passengers were being transferred to the steamers boat the Patience hove alongside the rapidly sinking Aransas and took of those who had not already taken tO the boats. Those who had taken to the boats were then transferred to the tug or to the barges in tow.
 Among the passengers were five women and one child. All were saved with the exception of Miss Kelley. The women were taken care of first and Mate Crocke- remembers dis tinctly that he assisted Miss Kelley to the ladder leading to the lifeboats. Whether she became terrified. lost her balance and fell overheard. or wheth- CT she returned 10 her stateroom to get some forgotten article and was e carried down with the steamer will never be known. but when the roll of passengers and crew was called at this port Miss Kelley was the only one who failed to respond.
 Few of the passengers saved any thing except their clothing and small hand baggage. So rapidly did the steamer fill with water that she sans less than fifteen minutes after the col lision.
 As soon as the Aransas had disap- peared beneath the waves, the tug Patience with the survivors on board nut about and headed for this port. On account of the dense fog the tug proceeiei at a snairs pace and 1t was not until after midnight that she ar rived here. The women passengers were taken to a hotel. while the men were given food and lodging at the Seamen's Bethel.
 The passengers and crew left Vine yard Haven at 6.i5 o'clock this morn ing on the steamer Martha's Vineyard for Woods Hole. where they were due to arrive at o'clock. Some of the pas~engers belonged in Providence and others in Boston and New York
 Captain Rood's version of the col Hsion Is as follows:
 The collision occurred at 13 o'clock Sunday morning. just after the Aransas had passed the Pollock Rip shoals lightship and about cns and a half miles southeast by soutf from the Iightship. The Aransas was efeaming at slow rate of speed and was picking her way through the fos when a red light was sighted of the starhoarf bow. which proved to bs the one displayed by the barge Glen dover. When the light was first seer the vessels were too close to avoid ar accident and almost immediately they were togefhe-. The bow of ths Glendover crashed into the steamer. sfzrfsari side. just between the boil CT and engine Water rushed into ths engine and firproonls and the fremet were obEgef to make dash for ths deck to save themselves
 One of the four Iifeiozts wa. snls<hed In the collision Iezving onIy fb< time of the collision z genera aIsrn wss riven and the pas<enrrr, were hastily csile1 Many f them hoxever. hsd hesrf the crash and ru>hed ca deck only partially dres~ei Th<rs vas considerable excftenenf but Dsshins Ike . panic at any time