Wreck With The Plymouth
Just after midnight of March 21, 1903, the City of Taunton collided with the Plymouth. Both these ships steamed for the Fall River Line. The fog was so thick that the crews reported “it was difficult for the commanding officers and pilots on duty to distinguish object more than 100 feet (30 m) away.” Capt. Bibber of the City of Plymouth stated, “When I found he was coming on at us I ordered the engines stopped and backed up full speed. Just at that time I saw his green light about two points on the port bow.” The Taunton was damaged, and the crew filled the cracks with blankets. They were towed into New London by the Nashua. The Plymouth did not fare as well. When struck by the Taunton, the port side of the steel ship was ripped open, drowning four sailors. It caused an opening about 75-foot (23 m) long. It was said that “the opening ... was big enough to take in a good-sized summer cottage.” In total, five crew and one passenger died on the Plymouth. US Marines that were passengers on the Plymouth were able to maintain calm and assist to the wounded. After the wreck both ships made it to port.
Read more about this topic: City Of Taunton (ship)
Famous quotes containing the word wreck:
“The old man had heard that there was a wreck and knew most of the particulars, but he said that he had not been up there since it happened. It was the wrecked weed that concerned him most ... and those bodies were to him but other weeds which the tide cast up, but which were of no use to him.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)