City of Taunton (ship)
Encyclopedia
The City of Taunton was built in 1892 in Chelsea, Massachusetts
. She was a sidepaddle steamship that sailed for the Fall River Line
.
. "On Sunday evenings, passengers left Boston for New York from the Old Colony Railroad
Depot. They boarded the steamers in Fall River
and traveled to Newport
, then continued on the overnight trip back to New York."
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 feet (22.9 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.
to Bridgeport
whistling for aid.” The captain believed that the ship would sink prior to reaching the port, but they made it to dock. Firemen in Bridgeport met the ship at the dock and were able to pump the water out of the ship. There were no passengers aboard the ship during his incident.
. This and the switch from luxury liners to cheaper transportation as well as the closing of the cloth mills in Massachusetts
caused the downfall of these great liners. In the 1930s the City of Taunton was grounded in Somerset, Massachusetts
, and left to waste.
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
. She was a sidepaddle steamship that sailed for the Fall River Line
Fall River Line
The Fall River Line was a combination steamboat and railroad connection between New York City and Boston that operated between 1847 and 1937. It consisted of a railroad journey between Boston and Fall River, Massachusetts, where passengers would then board steamboats for the journey through...
.
The Ship
The City of Taunton was one of the magnificent sidepaddle steamships of the Fall River Line. These were often referred to as floating palaces because of the grandeur. "The Fall River Line steamships' gilded interiors appealed not only to the wealthy clientele who rode the ships, but to middle-class passengers as well. The ships gave people of other classes the actual experience of spending a night within the architectural splendor of wealth." With passengers and cargo she was part of the connection between Boston and New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. "On Sunday evenings, passengers left Boston for New York from the Old Colony Railroad
Old Colony Railroad
The Old Colony Railroad was a major railroad system, mainly covering southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island. It operated from 1845 to 1893. Old Colony trains ran from Boston to points such as Plymouth, Fall River, New Bedford, Newport, Providence, Fitchburg, Lowell and Cape Cod...
Depot. They boarded the steamers in Fall River
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
and traveled to Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, then continued on the overnight trip back to New York."
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 (30.5 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 LondonNew London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
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 feet (22.9 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
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
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.
The broken intake
On October 2, 1910, the City of Taunton experienced a break in one of its intake pipes. In the Globe it was stated that the ship “Tore across the soundLong Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
to Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
whistling for aid.” The captain believed that the ship would sink prior to reaching the port, but they made it to dock. Firemen in Bridgeport met the ship at the dock and were able to pump the water out of the ship. There were no passengers aboard the ship during his incident.
Final wreck location
In the 1930s the steamship companies had a lot of problems with the Seamen's UnionTrade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. This and the switch from luxury liners to cheaper transportation as well as the closing of the cloth mills in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
caused the downfall of these great liners. In the 1930s the City of Taunton was grounded in Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset, Massachusetts
Somerset is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 18,234 at the 2000 census. It is the birthplace and hometown of Clifford Milburn Holland , the chief engineer and namesake of the Holland Tunnel in New York City....
, and left to waste.