sinks, Fog, off Saybrook, CT –27-30

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–27-30 Blanchard estimate. As one can see from the sources noted below there is a very large range of estimated fatalities. While we are inclined to accept as authoritative the US Life-Saving report of 27 lives lost, we use Morrison’s estimate of 30 for the high end of our estimated range based on his statement that while 27 passengers died, 3 crewmembers also died.

— <100 Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “Disaster on the Sound,” June 12, 1880, p. 1.^[1]

–20-80 The Thompsonville Press (weekly), CT. “terrible Disast4r.” 6-18-1880, p. 3, col. 1.

–35-75 Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “Terrible Disaster,” June 14, 1880, p. 1, col. 6.^[2]

–55-70 Snow. Great Storms and Shipwrecks of New England. 1943, p. 208. Go to Snow below

–50-70 Finlay. “Disaster on the Sound: The Collision of the Steamboats…Narragansett.” 6-12-2023.

–50-70 Mitchell. “The Night Disaster Struck in Long Island Sound.” Stonington Borough, CT. 8-1-2021.

— >50 Ryder, F. Van Loon. “Travel was a Gamble – II.” Greene County News, April 2, 1964.

— <50 Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “The L.I. Sound Calamity,” June 15, 1880, p. 4, c. 1.

–30-50 Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, IA. “Death on the Deep,” June 17, 1880, p. 1, col. 1.

— 48 Paterson Daily Press, NJ. “Steamboat Disasters.” Aug 29, 1883, p. 2.

— 30 Morrison. History of American Steam Navigation. 1908, p. 301.

–27 Passengers

— 3 Crew

— 30 Clancy. Wreckhunter.com. Shipwrecks of New England.

— 27 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 68.

— 27 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 687.

— 27 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 102.

— 27 US Life-Saving Service. Annual Report…1880. 1880, p. 232.

— 16 bodies recovered as of June 18. Boston Post. “The Sound Disaster.” 6-19-1880, p. 2.

— 15 bodies recovered as of June 15. NYT. “Work on the Lost Vessel.…” 6-16-1880, p. 2.

Narrative Information

Clancy: Sidewheel Passenger Steamer Narragansett collides with Steamer Stonington in fog in Long Island Sound off Saybrook, CT, catches fire. (Clancy, Shipwrecks of New England)

Finlay: “….Because the ship did not keep an accurate passenger list, the number of deaths resulting from the collision was never accurately determined. It is likely that between 50 and 70 people lost their lives that night.” (Finlay, Nancy. “Disaster on the Sound: The Collision of the Steamboats Stonington and Narragansett.” 6-12-2023.)

Morrison. Two ships collide: “…the night of June 11th, 1880…the “Stonington” and the “Narragansett,” sister ships of the line [Providence and Stonington S.S. Co.]. The “Stonington” was on her trip from Stonington to New York, and when about three miles southwest from Cornfield lightship, and during a dense fog, run into the “Narragansett,” that was going in the opposite direction, the latter taking fire and sinking in a short time. Twenty-seven of the passengers and three of the crew are known to have been lost, and it was generally believed that as many more were lost, as the passenger list on the ill-fated vessel was in a highly damaged condition, when found. The licenses of both captains were revoked by the U. S. Steamboat Inspectors after an investigation. It should be remembered that these accidents, or by whatever name they may be called, occurred during the period of the sharp rivalry with the Fall River line. The “Narragansett” was subsequently raised and repaired, and placed in commission on the line.” (Morrison 1908, 301.)

Paterson Daily Press, 1983: “The Sound steamer Narragansett was sunk by collision with the steamer Stonington, of the same line, at the mouth of the Connecticut River, on June 11, when forty-eight lives were lost.” (Paterson Daily Press, NJ. “Steamboat Disasters.” 8-29-1883, p. 2.)

Ryder: “While on the Stonington-New York run during a dense fog, the vessels [Narragansett & Stonington] collided near Cornfield Light the night of June 11, 1880. The Narragansett took fire and sank, and more than 50 lives are believed to have been lost.” (Ryder 1964)

Simonds: “1880, June 11, New York, Narragansett collides near Cornfield Point Shoal, Long Island Sound, 27 lost.” (Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 102.)

Snow. Great Storms and Shipwrecks of New England. 1943, pp. 206-208: “….No accurate list of the Narragansett’s dead was ever made, but the writer believes, after comparing various estimates and accounts, that from fifty-five to seventy met their death as a result of the collision….”

United States Life-Saving Service: “Collisions. Date of Disaster. 1880. June 11. Narragansett. American steamer. 1,634 [tons]. New York City [bound from]. Stonington, Conn. [bound to]. General merchandise [cargo]. 27 [lives lost]. Near Cornfield Point Shoal, Long Island Sound.” (United States Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of…1880. 1880, p. 232.)

Newspapers

June 12: “Providence, June 12.—A passenger of the Narragansett estimates the number of the lost at fifty. The clerk of the Narragansett places them at thirty.” (Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye (IA). “Death on the Deep,” June 17, 1880, p. 1, col. 1.)

June 12 The Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY: “New York, June 12, 11:30 a.m.—The steamer Narragansett, which left New York last evening for Stonington, and her companion the Stonington for New York, collided off the Connecticut river in a dense fog at about 11:15 last night.

“The former sank in four fathoms of water. The passengers of both vessels were transferred to the steamer City of New York, which arrived in this city at 10:15 this morning….

“New York, June 12, 1:55 p.m.–….The steamer Narragansett of the Stonington line heavily laden with passengers was run into and sunk by her sister boat, the Stonington….

“The Stonington crushed into the side of the Narragansett breaking her boiler and upsetting her furnace. To add to the horrors of the situation the Narragansett took fire and in a few moments was a mass of flames.

“The scenes as witnessed from the decks of the Stonington was appalling. The cries and shrieks of the passengers could be heard as they rushed to upper decks and leaped from the deck into the sea – and the water around was black with a shrieking, drowning mass of people. At one time upwards of 200 persons, men, women and children were struggling in the water.

“The Stonington immediately launched her boats which hurried to the rescue. The steamer Norwich also came up and joined in the work of saving the imperiled passengers. Upwards of 200 are known to have been rescued. It is estimated that there were over 300 passengers on the Narragansett, of whom it is now supposed nearly 100 perished….” (Port Jervis Evening Gazette (NY). “Disaster on the Sound,” June 12, 1880, p. 1.)

June 14: Fitchburg Sentinel (MA). “Terrible Disaster,” June 14, 1880, p. 1, col. 6:

“The Narragansett left her North river pier, at the foot of Jay street, New York, with over 300 passengers on board, at 5 o’clock, Friday afternoon. The Stonington, also with a full passenger list, did not leave Stonington until four or five hours later. The two steamers were making the best of their way through the thick fog off Cornfield Point Light, bound in opposite direction, with whistles sounding, when suddenly the lookout on the Stonington saw the light of a large steamer ahead. The pilot rang the bell to stop his boat, but he was too late. While the vessel was slackening headway, out from the darkness forged her sister boat, the Narragansett, coming at nearly full speed. A moment of suspense, and the huge floating bulk, filled with its cargo of sleeping humanity, crashed side on to the Stonington, the bow of the latter striking the Narragansett on the starboard side, forward of the wheel, and penetrating half the width of the latter’s deck. Staterooms were swept away like egg shells. Tranquil sleepers were hurled from their berths with terrible force. Lights were put out, and the saloons of both boats were filled with horror stricken men and women. Recoiling from the blow, the Stonington fell back twenty feet or more, and then was discovered a great gaping hole in her bow, where the timber and planking had been torn away to below the water line, and for a distance of some fifteen feet on a horizontal line. The vessel took in considerable water, but a hasty examination showed that there was no danger to be apprehended.

“The Narragansett fared much worse. Her whole side was crushed in like an egg shell, and the water poured in, in floods, and, to make the situation more terrible, flames broke out amidships and spread rapidly. The passengers, most of whom had already retired for the night, startled by the shock of the collision, rushed on deck in their night clothes, and grasping life preservers, threw themselves into the water. Efforts were made to launch life boats both from the Narragansett and the Stonington, but they were found to be nearly worthless, as the plugs intended to stop the holes provided for rain water escapes had been mislaid and could not be found. Even such of the boats as were in readiness for use had no oars or rowlocks, and the crews were unfit to handle them if they had been all right. The lack of discipline among the officers and crews of both vessels was deplorable. Fortunately the Sound steamer City of New York, of the Norwich line, bound for New York, came up, and promptly lowered boats, and did noble work in saving the lives of the unfortunate passengers struggling in the water. The Massachusetts, of the Providence line, also came up later, and did good service. It is impossible as yet to fix the responsibility of the disaster, or to state accurately the number of the lost. A list of 213 persons who are known to be saved has already been made out.

“The Narragansett burned nearly to the water’s edge and sank in about half an hour after the collision. The City of New York took about 150 of the survivors back to New York, while the Stonington returned to Stonington with the remainder….

“A Stonington, Conn., dispatch says: ‘Concerning the way the collision came about, there seems to be reason for believing the Narragansett was off her course at the time. It is said the general practice with steamboat men on the Sound is when they are coming from New York, or ‘up Sound,’ to keep the Long Island shore, and when bound for New York, of ‘down Sound’ to stay by the Connecticut shore. It this be the custom, then it is obvious that either the Narragansett, coming from New York, or the Stonington, going to New York, was off her track. The former sustained the force of the collision on her starboard side forward, and, in order that this might happen, it appears as if she must have crossed the bow of the Stonington in a diagonal direction, bound for the wrong side of the Sound. Her present resting place certainly tends to show this, the spot where she lies not being much if any, out of the Stonington’s course, and a considerable distance out of that of the Narragansett….” (Fitchburg Sentinel (MA). “Terrible Disaster,” June 14, 1880, p. 1, col. 6.)

June 15: “The New York papers are filled with reports of the terrible disaster on Long Island Sound last Friday night. Later reports show that the number of lives lost will probably not exceed 50….As soon as the collision occurred all was wild excitement, and the passengers charge the officers of the Narragansett with cowardice….

“New York, June 14. – Every person who escaped and came to pier 33, in this city, denounced the conduct of the officers of the Narragansett in unmeasured terms. The purser was the only officer reported to have retained nerve….”(Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “The L.I. Sound Calamity,” June 15, 1880, p. 4, c. 1.)

June 16, New York Times: “No new particulars regarding the disaster to the Narragansett have been received at the office of the company in this city, and it is still a matter of uncertainty how many passengers sailed in the steamer or how many were lost. President Babcock received a dispatch from the agent in Stonington yesterday, stating that up to this time 15 bodies have been recovered, and of these 13 have been identified and given over to their friends. It is possible that when the wreckers get fairly to work in the cabin of the sunken steamer more bodies will be found, but Capt. Babcock is still confident that the total number of the lost will not exceed 20….” (New York Times. “Work on the Lost Vessel. Recovering the Bodies and Freight…” 6-16-1880, p. 2.)

June 16, Boston Post: “New York, June 16, – President Babcock denies that there was any lack of equipment or inefficiency of officers on either the Narragansett or Stonington steamer. The company is unable to make out a list of the lost as yet that can be regarded as absolutely correct, as the passenger list was not recovered….There were no new discoveries of bodies from the wreck of the Narragansett. The work of taking cargo from the wreck is completed, and steam4r Relief of the wrecking company is on the way to this city with the salvage. Capt. Scott, the diver, has personally inspected every berth on the lower deck of the Narragansett, and says there are no more bodies on the vessel, unless it may be bodies of infants crowded into unexpected places. All other persons missing have probably been carried through the race….” (Boston Post. “The Sound Disaster.” 6-17-1880, p. 2.)

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Boston Post. “The Sound Disaster.” 6-17-1880, p. 2. Accessed 9-5-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-post-jun-17-1880-p-2/

Boston Post. “The Sound Disaster. Sixteen Bodies Taken From the Wreck of the Narragansett.” 6-19-1880, p. 2. Accessed 9-5-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-post-jun-19-1880-p-2/

Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye (IA). “Death on the Deep,” June 17, 1880, p. 1, col. 1. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-weekly-hawk-eye-jun-17-1880-p-1/

Clancy, Dave. Shipwrecks of New England, City of Columbus. Accessed 11-15-2008: http://www.wreckhunter.net/

Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “Disaster on the Sound,” 6-12-1880, p. 1, col. 1. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=18757969

Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY. “The L.I. Sound Calamity,” June 15, 1880, p. 4, c. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=18758077

Finlay, Nancy. “Disaster on the Sound: The Collision of the Steamboats Stonington and Narragansett.” 6-12-2023. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: https://connecticuthistory.org/disaster-on-the-sound-the-collision-of-the-steamboats-stonington-and-narragansett/

Fitchburg Sentinel, MA. “Terrible Disaster.” 6-14-1880, p. 1, col. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=23225291

Mitchell, Chelsea. “The Night Disaster Struck in Long Island Sound.” Stonington Borough, CT. 8-1-2021. Accessed 9-4-2024 at:

https://www.stoningtonboroughct.com/blog/0821/the-night-disaster-struck-in-long-island-sound

Morrison, John Harrison. History of American Steam Navigation. New York: W. F. Sametz & Co., Inc., 1908, 653 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5tDAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

New York Times. “Work on the Lost Vessel. Recovering the Bodies and Freight…” 6-16-1880, p. 2. Accessed 9-5-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-times-jun-16-1880-p-2/

Paterson Daily Press, NJ. “Steamboat Disasters.” 8-29-1883, p. 2. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hUZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Gj4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6970,4060085&dq=steamboat+princess+1859&hl=en

Ryder, F. Van Loon. “Travel was a Gamble – II.” Greene County News, April 2, 1964. transcribed by Sylvia Hasenkoph into “Old Timers – Boats of the Hudson River, 1964, at: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nygreen2/old_timers_sloops_of_the_hudson_1964.htm

Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. Google digital preview accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JuiSjvd5owAC

Snow, Edward Rowe. Great Storms and Shipwrecks of New England. Boston: Yankee Publishing Company, 1943.

The Thompsonville Press (weekly), CT. “terrible Disast4r.” 6-18-1880, p. 3, col. 1. Accessed 9-5-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/thompsonville-press-jun-18-1880-p-3/

United States Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1880. Wash.: GPO, 1880. Accessed 9-4-2024 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=HIEDAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Not used as high fatality estimate – early newspaper report.

[2] Not used as high fatality estimate – appears to be out-of-line with later U.S. gov and published estimates.