1866 — Apr 18, boats collide, steamer City of Norwich burns/sinks, L.I. Sound off Huntington NY –11-13

–11-13 Blanchard estimated death-toll range.*

— 13 Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA. “Raising a Wrecked Steamer.” 8-28-1866, p. 4, col. 7.
— 13 Newburyport Daily Herald, MA. “Raising a Sunken Steamer.” 8-24-1866, p. 2, col. 1.
— 12 Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats (U.S.). Report of… 1866, p. 282.
— 11 Baltimore Daily Commercial. “Terrible Casualty. Collision on [L.I.] Sound.” 4-20-1866, p1.
— 11 Morrison. History of American Steam Navigation. 1908, p. 334.
— 11 Titusville Herald, PA. “The Disaster…Sound. Burning…‘City of Norwich’” 4-27-1866, 1
–~10 New York Times. “General News” 4-19-1866, p. 4.
— 10 NYT. “Perils of Navigation. The Steamer City of Norwich Burned on the Sound.” 4-19-1866, p8.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll range: We choose to use a death toll range of 11-13 in that we are unsure of the accuracy of the reporting at the time, and not being convinced that the number of lives lost was exactly eleven or twelve or thirteen, employ the use of a range.

The best description we have seen of an identification of fatalities (from the Baltimore Daily Commercial of April 20, citing the New York Tribune) is of eleven fatalities. This number can be found in many other newspapers of the time, which we do not cite.

We do not think it appropriate, however, to ignore the report of the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats which reports twelve deaths. Nor do we think it appropriate to ignore the two newspaper reports noted herein that thirteen bodies had been recovered.

In that we have not found obituary reporting which might remove uncertainty, we use 11-13.

Narrative Information

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats (U.S.): “April, 1866, the steamboat City of Norwich, while on her regular trip from Norwich for New York, when off Huntington, Long Island, came in collision with the schooner S. Van Vleit, bound to Fair Haven, Connecticut, with a cargo of oysters. The schooner struck the steamer just forward of her part water wheel, staving in nearly ten feet of her side, causing the steamer to fill very fast. The water rushed in with much violence, and soon reached the boilers and furnaces. Here the water entered the lower furnaces and forced the fire and flames from the lower to the upper, forcing open the upper doors, bursting into the fire-room in a body as large as the doors would admit, setting fire to the boat instantaneously. This caused consternation among the passengers, some jumping overboard and others running wildly about the decks. It was most fortunate at this time that one of the Providence boats came up, lowered her boats, and rescued all the passengers that were saved. The fact noticeable in this case was that the fire spread so rapidly that every boat was enveloped in flames except one; and it is said it would have been better for all if she had been also. No sooner had they got her into the water than great numbers rushed into and at once overturned her. It is thought that more lives were lost in this way than from any other cause. Twelve persons are known to have lost their lives within one hour from the time of the collision. Both steam-boat and schoone4r were sunk, the former partially burnt above her main deck; the latter lost bowsprit, bow stove in, and foremast gone. By this accident, the amount of property lost is estimated at about $300,000.” (Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats (U.S.). Report of… 1866, p. 282.)

Morrison: “On April 18th, 1866, the “City of Norwich” was run into by schooner “General S. Van Vliet” when off Huntington harbor [Long Island Sound], took fire and sunk, by which eleven lives were lost. She was afterwards raised and repaired and placed on the route. In 1894, she was sold and broken up.” (Morrison 1908, 334.)

Newspaper

April 19, New York Times: “The steamer City of Norwich, of the New London and New-York line, collided with the schooner Gen. S. Van Vliet,. Off Huntington, at 3.30 o’clock yesterday morning. The schooner struck the steamer amidships, cutting her through. The water rising in her lifted her fires, so that they communicated with the woodwork and entirely destroyed her. The steamer had about fifty persons on board, about forty of whom were saved by boats from the steamer Electra, from Providence, and brought to this City [NYC]. The remainder are supposed to be lost. The schooner was abandoned in a sinking condition, and her Captain and crew taken on board the Electra. The Electra lay by the scene of the disaster nearly two hours, and until all was done that could be done to save the lives of those on board.” (New York Times. “General News.” 4-19-1866, p. 4.)

April 19: “From the New York Herald, April 19. About half-past ten p.m., on Tuesday last the steamer City of Norwich left New London for this port, with a crew of nineteen men and twelve passengers — including all hands on board about forty souls. The weather was fine at the time of starting, but toward morning a slight haze began to obscure objects on the Sound, necessitating great carefulness on the part of the pilot to keep clear of vessels bound in the opposite direction to that which the City of Norwich was pursuing.

“The vessel arrived at Huntington about 3:45 a.m., and shortly afterward collided with the schooner Gen. Van Vliet. The schooner struck the steamer amidships, cutting her through. The water rising in her lifted her fires, so that they communicated with, the woodwork and entirely destroyed her. This disaster resulted in the loss of eleven precious lives, the remainder being brought to this city.

“Mr. H. L. Tracey, the first pilot, who was in the wheelhouse at the time of the accident, with the wheelman, John Carpenter, states that, at about half past three o’clock on Wednesday morning, while the steamer was pursuing her regular course, just opposite Huntington, L.I. [Long Island], he perceived, about one thousand feet from his port side, the shade of a dim light on the sale [sail?] of a schooner coming toward the City of Norwich. He immediately hove the wheel to port, and slowed speed, stopped, and then backed the boat. But the sailing vessel continued straight ahead, and with terrible force struck the City of Norwich in her forward gangway, on the port side, tearing away her guards and staving in her sides, sinking herself shortly afterward. He immediately blew three whistles as a signal of distress to any vessels that might be in sight or hearing distance, and endeavored to turn the head of the vessel toward Huntington beach, distant about two miles and a half, confiding in the strength of the forward water-tight bulkhead to keep the boat afloat until she could be run ashore. She careened, however, to port, and could not be managed. By this time passengers and crew were all aroused, and came from their berths half-clad and trembling with fear.

“In the meantime the waters continued to rush into the aperture made by the sailing vessel, and in about ten minutes from the time of the collision reached the lower furnaces, causing the burning coals to be thrown on the decks and timber work of the steamer. In the twinkling of an eye the engine room was one mass of flames. With wonderful rapidity they spread to the upper decks, and enveloped the entire fore part of the vessel.

“At this moment the confusion and consternation among the passengers and crew utterly defy description. Capt. Sturgis and his officers seized hold of whatever life preservers they could catch from the flames and distributed them among the persons on deck. The crew had become unmanageable, and the Captain’s orders for the safety of the passengers were not heeded. Huddled together at the stern of the vessel, each one intent on saving himself regardless of what might befall his neighbor, the fear-stricken crew stood regarding the slow but sure approach of the roaring flame to the only part of the vessel that yet remained intact. Some preferring to risk life at the mercy of the waves, did not wait till forced into the water by the fiery element, but plunged into the surging billows and seized hold of whatever straw seemed to hold out a hope of safety. The screeches of the two or three women on board rent the air with terrible shrillness, and the men stamped and cried, and prayed and cursed, while others, utterly overcome by fear, sank down on the stern sheets, or slid over the guard listless and half dead, before dying.

“In the meantime, by the exertions of the more collected portions of the crew and passengers, the only lifeboat that could be had hold of was lowered, and scarcely had she touched the water before the flames came roaring round the ‘fantail’ of the steamer, forcing those who yet remained on board to jump off, or let go their grasp from the timbers near the stern and rudder.

“The frightened men and women in the water, some with life-preservers and others floating on boxes and boards, now made for the life-boat, and in an instant she was sunk to the level of the water by the number of those who endeavored to crawl over her sides. The captain and pilot did all in their power to keep the crew in subjection, and as they struggled and fought to get into the boat, begged them to hang by the sides, and not get into her, and all would be saved. But words were unavailing. The men tore at each other like madmen, and struggled to raise themselves into the already filled boat. At last, struck by a heavy wave, the boat swamped and everybody was thrown into the water. All efforts to right her proved fruitless, and during those awful few moments more than one went down to rise no more.

“The scene that was now presented by the burning vessel and her surroundings was terrible in the extreme. The flames from the City of Norwich lit up the Sound for miles round, revealing a most appalling sight. For over a quarter of a mile on every side, the waters were covered with burning boxes and bales of all descriptions, amid which the struggling drowning ones, the swimmers, and those with life-preservers, were endeavoring to sustain themselves.

The Rescue.

“At the moment that the flames first shot up through the decks of the Norwich the propeller Electra, from Providence to this port, was about a mile or a mile and a half astern of the doomed vessel. As the whistle sounds of distress reached her, and the flames broke out on the City of Norwich, Capt. Nye turned the bow of his vessel toward the scene of the disaster, while the men were put to work cutting loose the two life-boats on the decks. Being up to within an eighth of a mile of the burning vessel, the Electra was stopped, as it was feared the floating mass of burning boxes and cases would set fire to the latter should she continue to advance. Two boats were manned and lowered and sent out to the rescue of the men and women struggling in the water. A third boat was also got in readiness and shoved off by volunteers from among the passengers. These three boats picked up every person that could be found in the water, and returned to the Electra in safety; and for three hours afterward a boat was kept moving around the place of the accident, in hope of picking up some helpless unfortunate….

“Among the passengers on board the City of Norwich was the wife of Mr. Samuel C. Osgood, of Norwich, and her son, a lad of about twelve years of age…[the latter of which is reported as among the lost]….

“The ‘City of Norwich’ was a side-wheel steamer of 875 tons burden. She was built in New York in 1862; was constructed of oak, copper, and iron-fastened, and had vertical beam engines…She was 208 feet long by 36 feet beam, and 12 feet 6 inches depth of hold. She was provided with guards fore and aft, with deck saloon, and was built by the Sound Navigation Company, and registered an A 1/8 steamer.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “The Disaster on the Sound. Burning of the ‘City of Norwich’—Loss of Eleven Lives.” 4-27-1866, p. 1.)

April 20: “{From the New York Tribune.} About 3:45 A.M. yesterday, the schooner General Stewart Van Vliet came into collision with the steamer City of Norwich, off Huntington, on Long Island Sound. The schooner struck the steamer head-on, forward of the bulwarks, on the port side, staving in a large hole through which the water easily entered. As it rose, it lifted her fires and caused them to communicate with the wood-work. After the City of Norwich commenced burning she began to sink very rapidly…In a few minutes the weight forward pressed her stern out of the water, and she immediately went down head first. About ten persons were on board at the time of the collision. Seven of these possessed themselves of life-preservers and jumped overboard. They were all rescued by the steamer Electra, from Providence…The other three passengers, including one boy, could not be found in the water, and are among the missing. Eight of the crew, which numbered thirty-five, are also missing.

Names of the Lost.

“The following are the names of the passengers and crew who were not among the saved by the steamer Electra: [We break paragraph into separate lines.]

John Sullivan, New London;
Michael Hogan, New York;
John Fleming, New York;
Daniel Driscoll, Norwich;
John Katon, New York;
William Quinlan, New York;
Patrick Donovan, New York;
James Crocker, passenger, a son of the chief engineer;
a colored boy (porter), name unknown;
a son [about 12] of S. C. Osgood, Esq., passenger, of Norwich;
a passenger (name unknown), going to England.

“….When the schooner struck the City of Norwich there was a light fog, with an easterly wind blowing. No light was seen on the schooner, and it is believed that she had none at the time….”
(Baltimore Daily Commercial, MD. “Terrible Casualty. Collision on Long Island Sound – Eleven Persons Reported Missing.” 4-20-1866, p. 1, col. 5.)

June 8: “A Connecticut paper says some of the wreckers [salvagers] on the City of Norwich, which was burned off Norwalk a few weeks since, get from $300 to $500 worth of goods per day. Six bodies have recently been recovered, but were sunk again, as this was not the kind of booty the harpies sought.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Miscellaneous News Items.” 6-8-1866, p. 23.)

Aug 21: “New York, Aug. 20. ….The steamer City of Norwich, which was sunk by collision a short distance from here, on the Sound, several months ago, has been raised and brought to this city [NYC] by the New York wrecking Company. One dead body [a man] was found under the side of the vessel. The latter [the vessel] is almost uninjured by her long stay under water. She is worth $150,000.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “From New York.” 8-21-1866, p. 4, col. 5.)

Aug 28: “Some time ago the steamer City of Norwich, a large and fine vessel belonging to one of the lines of steamers that ply upon Long Island Sound, was sunk by collision with a schooner. Being of great value, having cost over $150,000, her owners determined, if possible, to recover her, and entrusted the task to a New York wrecking firm. The first operation was to find where she lay, which was done by a process called ‘sweeping,’ which is performed by connecting two vessels with a long chain in such a way that when they sail the chain drags on the bottom. This was continued for two days, when finally the steamer was found lying upside down in water 102 feet deep. A submarine diver was then sent down, and after the exercise of considerable patience chains were fastened around the hull, and she was raised by the use of pontoon boats, six of which, buoying 140 tons each, were required to float her. The dead body of a man was found under the steamer, one of thirteen persons whose lives were lost by the collision. The other bodies had all previously been recovered. The hull of the steamer was in good preservation and her machinery has sustained little damage. The wreck, which looks quite dilapidated, has been towed to New York for repairs.” (Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA. “Raising a Wrecked Steamer.” 8-28-1866, 4.)

Sources

Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA. “Raising a Wrecked Steamer.” 8-28-1866, p. 4, col. 7. Accessed 10-5-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/adams-sentinel-aug-28-1866-p-4/

Baltimore Daily Commercial, MD. “Terrible Casualty. Collision on Long Island Sound – Eleven Persons Reported Missing.” 4-20-1866, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 10-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-daily-commercial-apr-20-1866-p-1/

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats (U.S.). Report of Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. 10-24-1866, Report of Second Supervising District (New York), p. 282. In: Annual Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of The Finance for the Year 1866. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1866. p. 276. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/annual-report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-194/report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-year-1866-5510/report-board-supervising-inspectors-steamboats-238234

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Miscellaneous News Items.” 6-8-1866, p. 23. Accessed 10-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-jun-08-1866-p-23/

Morrison, John Harrison. History of American Steam Navigation. New York: W. F. Sametz & Co., Inc., 1908, 653 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed 10-4-2020 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=Q5tDAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

New York Times. “General News [sinking of steamer City of Norwich].” 4-19-1866, p. 4. Accessed 11-22-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=7737152

New York Times. “Perils of Navigation. The Steamer City of Norwich Burned on the Sound. Ten Lives Supposed to be Lost.” 4-19-1866, p. 8, col. 1. Accessed 10-4-2020 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1866/04/19/79804230.html?pageNumber=8

Newburyport Daily Herald, MA. “Raising a Sunken Steamer.” 8-24-1866, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 10-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newburyport-daily-herald-aug-24-1866-p-2/

Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH. “The Catastrophe on the Sound.” 5-4-1866, p. 1. Accessed 10-5-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-philadelphia-ohio-democrat-may-04-1866-p-1/

Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “From New York.” 8-21-1866, p. 4, col. 5. Accessed 10-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-aug-21-1866-p-4/

Titusville Herald, PA. “The Disaster on the Sound. Burning of the ‘City of Norwich’—Loss of Eleven Lives.” 4-27-1866, p. 1. http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=2823621