The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-08
JOY LINER ARKANSAS
SUNK IN COLLISION.
Continued from page oneD

deck Although thcre Was eIedl tsNlAe.
ment there was no panic; CAPT Roou snu
\ Mate Crocker. preserved excellent discl-
/ pline among the crew, quickly callned the
/ fears OF the passengers ana maintained
order.
! Whle some OF the passengers were be-
/ ing transferred TO the steamers boats,
! the Patience hove alongside the rapidly
| sinking Aransas and took off those VINO
| had not already takenS 10 the boats.
Those who had taken 10 the boats were
/ then transferred 10 the tug or 10 the
barges in tow.
-FOUR WOMEN AND CHILD SAVED
Among the passengers were five women
and one child. All were saved with the
exception OF Miss Kelly. The women
were taken care OF first and Mate
Crocker remembers distinctly that he as
sisted Miss Kelley 10 the ladder lead
ing 10 the lifeboats.
Whether she became terrified, lost her
balance and fell overheard. or whether
she returned TO her stateroom 10 get
some forgotten article and was carried
down with the steamer will never be
known. but when the roll OF passengers
and crew was called upon arriving at
this port Miss Kelley was the only one
who failed 10 respond,
Few of the passengers saved anything
except their clothing and small hand bag
gage.
SANh IN 10 MIN I IsS.
So rapidly did the steamer MI with
water that she sank less than 10 minutes
after the collision As soon as the Aran-
sas had disappeared beneath the waves,
the tug Patience with the survivors on
board, put about ana headed for this
port on account Of dense fog and the
perilous nature Of the Nantucket Shoals.
the tug proceeded AT q snails pace and
II was not until after midnight that
she arrived here.
The women passengers were taken to
hotel, while The men were given food and
lodging at the Seamen's Bethel
The passengers and crew left Vineyard
Haven "a 6:i5 o'clock this morning on the
steamer Marthas Vineyard for Woods
Hole. whore they were due To arrive al
S o'clock Some Of the passengers be-
longed in Providence. and others in Bos-
ton and New York
Captain Rood's version or the collision
is as follows:
The passengers and crew numbered e6
The collision occurred at i:30 o'clock
sunday morning. Just after the Aransas
had passed the Pollock Rip Shoals light
shin and about one and a half miles
southeast by south of the ightship.
The Aransas was steamlrg at slow
rate Of speed and was picking her way
Through the fog, when a red light was
sighted of the starboard bow. which
proved to be one displayed by the barge
Glendower. When the light was first seen
the vessels were too close 10 avoid an ac-
cident-- and almost Immediately they were
together
Tho bow of the Glendower. crashed into
the steamers starboard side Just be-
tween the boiler and engine Water rush
ed into the engine and fire rooms and the
firemen were obliged 10 make a dash for
the deck To savc themselves
one OF the four lifeboats was smashed
In the collision. leaving only three for the
passengers and crew. At the time OF the
collision a general alarm was given and
the passengers were hastily called Many
Of them however. had heard the crash
and rushed on deck partially dressed.
EXCITEMENT BUT NO PANIC.
There was considerable excitement but
nothing like panic az any time. The
crew was perfectly drilled and when the
alarm whistle sounded every man went To
his station knowing just what To do
Three boats were lowered Immediately
and without mishap. Fortunately the sea
was smooth so that all the boats could be
loaded to their utmost caparttv-- First
Mate Crocker remained on the steamer
and superintended the loading of the
boats. Each person had on n life preserver
and the three boats took all but nine OF
the crew and passengers.
Before the boats deposited their loads
on the tug and barges the Aransas went
20 the bottom. All the women. except
one, as IL afterwards developed had left
the ship In the first boat. OF the nine
men on board when the vessel sank Mate
Crocker succeeded In getting FIVE 10 the
foremasthead which protruded out of the
water With the assistance OF the life
belts. all held on to the masthead until
they were rescued by boats
lp mate and tbrpo ofbprE vara ab1
to keep atoat. and were also rescued by
q boat II lid not develop until later that
a young woman was lost II is supposed
she fell overheard unnoticed. when the
women were being lowered into the first
boat.
PASSENGERS LOSSES.
Captain Rood says the passengers lost
all their baggage and most Of their valu-
ahies Some Of the passengers stated to-
day that they left behind all the money
70 - with tf1rT17- Srar.y all
lost part Of their clothing and quite a
number had little wearing apparel when