The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-08-22
SINKING STEAMER SAVED
New shoreham, With Hole In Her
Hull, Makes Run to Hsr Dccl'
Engineer and FIremen stick to Their
Posts ON Block Island
Boat.

New York City.-The new Block ISL
and passenger steamer, the New Shore
ham, struck submerged wreck during
fog in the Block Island harbor. and
after thrilling run Of mile and a
half sank at her dock just as the last
passenger got to shore.
With 125 passengers in terror. En-
gineer Quinlan stuck to his post with
the water slowly filing the engine
room
When the boat reached the dock,
Engineer Quinlan was standing waist
deep in water. The gangplank was
thrown out and the 125 passengers
went ashore safely The last man had
scarcely stepped from the plank when
the steamer careened and sunk. Quin-
Ian being forced to climb ladder to
save himself from drowning.
The passengers were panic-stricken.
Members Of the crew endeavOred to
assure them that their only chance Of
safety was in keeping quiet. Captain
Lawrence Dodd. in the meantime, had
turned the boat toward New Harbor,
giving the signal to the engineer to put
on all possible power.
The steamer was the only one to
reach the island that day. The sea
was unusually heavy, the weather was
bad and fog hung over the entire
Block Island Sound
The New Shoreham, however,
steamed on its usual schedule time.
but the heavy sea and the fog were re-
sponsible for her going astray after
the inland waters were reached and
she went against the old mud scow
that was sunk in the Sound recently
The impact was followed by panic
on board The passengers rushed to
the guard rails. Demands were made
for the lowering of boats to take them
ashore, which only a mile and a half
away could not be seen through the
fog
Members of the crew were sent
throughout the decks to reassure the
passengers that they would be landed
There was a hole in the hull of the
boat through which the water was
pouring. All the pumps were in use,
but the water was constantly rising.
Engineer Quinlan ordered more coal
when he, with his firemen, was stand
ing knee deep in water.
The passengers above in the mean
time had come to believe that their
scare was a needless one. The boat
went on through the fog, seemingly
as if nothing had happened. Not one
of the scores of passengers knew that
below in the hot holds of the engine
room men were standing In water,
which was rising inch by inch. to
shovel coal into the furnaces
No signal was given from above to
cause alarm.
The boat made its mile and a half
and drew up to the pier.
The passengers were urged to go
ashore hastily Just as the announce
ment was made to the captain that all
were ashore the boat careened and
went down.
The men below all got out safely.
They were heroes of the situation. En-
gineer Quinlan was in the water to his
shoulders before he left his post. The
fremen had been no less courageous.
With the careening of the boat the
water swept over the fire in the boil
ers, causing a steam that almost suf-
located the men below. They climbed
the ladders to the main deck, where
they were met by Captain Dodd
"Bully boys" he said. "You did
great work. How can I compliment
you? / was rushing down to find you.
was afraid that some Of you had per-
ished."
Five men who were down in the hold
with the water rising up to their arm
pits obeyed the captains signals, and
remained at their posts regardless OF
the dangers that they knew existed.
The captain also knew it, for they had
signalled him back.
The passenges scarcely realized it
until they saw the vessel tip to one
side and sink.
The New Shoreham was built in Bos-
ton, Mass, in 1901, and is owned by
the town of Block Island. 1t has been
plying between Providence and Block
Island. A dispute, which has virtually
become an issue in local political af-
fairs. was raised over the payment due
for the vessel.
A wrecking craft from New London
was sent to aid in saving the steamer.
The waves at the time were beating
her against the rocks.