Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1899 — STEAMER PARIS ON THE ROCKS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

STEAMER PARIS ON THE ROCKS.

Aaerlcaa Liner Goes on (be Manacles Of tbe Cornwall Const. The American line steamer Paris, formerly the United States auxiliary cruiser Yale, which went ashore while en route from Southampton for New York, stranded on Lowland point, inside the Maiiacie rocks, near the scene of the recent fatal wreck of tbe Atlantic transport line steamer Mohegan. The Paris left Southampton punctually at tbe time set for her sailing Saturday

and her voyage was without incident until 2 o’clock Sunday morning. The passengers were suddenly aroused by a loud and peculiar sound, which denoted to those who had knowledge of maritime affairs that the vessel was scraping on a rock.

There was much alarm among the passengers at first, but there was no disorder, and nothing that had the slightest semblance of a panic. AU made their way on deck aa quickly as possible, but before many of them had left their cabins the grating sound ceased. The Paris,had, apparently, gone over a ledge, and taken bottom almost immediately afterward, for by the time everybody was on deck the vessel was at a standstill. The place where the Paris stranded is in sight of tend, and is so close to the wreck of the Mohegan that the masts of the latter vessel, which are still standing, can be seen from the decks of the American liner. A few minutes after the ship struck distress signals were burned and rockets were sent up. These immediately attracted attention, and in a short time tugboats were racing for the scene of the accident. The lifeboat from Falmouth and lifeboats frOm other places were not long in reaching the stranded ship, but there was nothing for them to do bnt stand by. The passengers were quickly transferred to two tugs and taken to Falmouth, where all were safely landed. No explanation was given for the ship being so far off her course, but it is most likely that a heavy fog that was prevailing caused Captain Watkins to lose his bearings. Captain Watkins says, however, that he is unable to account for the unfortunate affair. The man who was acting as lookout forward says that he saw the loom of the land through the vapor and shouted, “Land ahead.” The engines were immediately reversed, and they were going foil speed astern when the ship strnck. The Paris carried 360 passengers and 115 bags of mail. The Manacles are among the most dangerous rocks in the English channel. They lie near the Lizard light, about twentyfive miles east of Land’s End. It was on the Manacles that the Atlantic transport liner Mohegan struck on the night of Oct. 14 last year, when two-thirds ot those on board perished. Only fifty-two

persons of the passengers and crew escaped. The Mohegan struck the rocks on a clear night in fair weather, and how she got oat of her course far enough to throw her on the rocks has never been satisfactorily cleared up. The rocks themselves are connected by ledges. They lie about three-quarters of n mile from the shore, at Manacle point, and nil bat one are covered at high water. Pen win, the outermost rock, ia marked by ot TrMtGT cowertH tl. rock.

CAPT. WATKINS.

SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT.