COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 291, 16 September 1880, Page 2

COLLISION BETWEEN STEAMERS.

FEARFUL SCENES. From the files of New York papers to hand, we gather particulars of the .shocking accident of the 11th June, when two steamships of the Stonington Line were in collision. One of them, the Narragansett. left New York, carrying between 600 and 700 passengers. Alter supper on Friday evening, the 11th, the passengers crowded on to the decks, ami when darkness set in, a concert was given in the main saloon By 11 u’clock most of the people had turned in, when opposite Cornfield Liglit. a huge black monster was seen bearing straight down upon the Narmgan-s.-tt, and in another minute there was a fearful crash. The lights went out, and the air was filled with the frightened screams of men and women. In another moment volumes of scalding steam pogre i through the cabin, and the place resounded with maddened cries. For a brief season no one but those on deck knew what happened, but they saw the Stonington, of the same line, and on her \vj*y to New York, locked fast to the Narragansett, and the cry ran from stem to stem that there had been a collision. The Stonington backed as soon as possible, having lost her bow sprit and 3ft of ber stem otherwise unhurt and all her passengers safe. On the Narragansett, however, every amd was in danger, tor not only was she sinking, but she was on fire also. Terror-stricken persons plunged overboard, some without taking a fife-preserver with them. The fight woodwork, which had been well painted and oiled, was burning like tin ier and tlie vessel was rapidly sinking. The terror-stricken beings on board could be seen, some rushing about wildly, others leaning against the railings and hesitating whe’her to spring overboard or not. The bottom of the Narrangansett sank until it reached a shoal, which prevented it from going do am entirely. A life-raft was launched, on which a number of women and children were placed, The fire had now control of the whole vessel, and the raft was pushed off, with some thirty-five persons on board. The water was nearly up to their hips, but the women were perfectly calm, and oehaved admiralty. One of them held a sleeping infant in her arms. Some time afterwards a boat from the steamship City of New liork took the raft in tow and brought it to that steamer. Some of the scenes when they got on hoard were heartrending. A man entirely, beside himself was crying out that he had lost the key of the state-rooora in which he had locked his sister and her children before retiring in the evening. A woman was lifted up the side of the steamer. She asked if her little daughter had been saved, Tb.s child had been stolen from her some time before by her husband, from whom she had been separated. She had spent a great deal of time and w’as taking her home. In the struggle, however, mother and child became separated. Someone tofil her that her child had been lost. She gave a low, despairing cry, and fed back dead. B,ut the child had been saved, and when brought to her devoted mother, the latter was dead It is estimated that some sixty persons are missing, It may be that when the vessel is raised the loss of life will be found to be double this number. It is estimated that the loss of the vessel and damage done to passengers will amount to half a million dollars at least. The gravest allegations are made by the possengers against the company with regard to the fitting of the vessel, the character of the crew, many of whom had never been in a boat before, the indifference displayed by the company’s agepts towards the sufferers.