Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1857-09-03


would remain short time on the spot try
ing experiments in the deep water of that
part of the route, $1,000 fathoms, with
view to future usefulness, and then return
together to Plymouth The experience
thus far obtained is considered of great val
ue in the future operations of the company,
who entertain no doubt of the ultimate sue
cess of the undertaking. The company are
now considering whether to make another
effort after the equinoctial gales or wait till
next summer The impression prevails in
Liverpool that the trial will be renewed in
October
STEAMER ST. NICHoLAs-CoAisiom IN the
Bay.-Quite disastrous collision occurred
on Wednesday evening the 25th ult., in the
bay, between the schooner Lightning in tow
of the steamer Belvidere, Capt. W. w.
Keene, and the steamer St. Nicholas, Capt.
Guy, of which the Baltimore american gives
the following particulars:
The latter boat left here on Wednesday af-
ternoon shortly after o'clock, for trip to
Annapolis, having on board a party of excur-
sionists to nearly two hundred in number,
more than one-half of whom were ladies'. The
boat reached Annapolis in due time, and af-
ter remaining there until the close of day,
started on the return trip A few minutes
of eight o'clock whilst the boat was abreast
of Capt. Weedon's country seat, which is
about eight miles from Annapolis, she met
the Belvidere with the schooner in tow,
proceeding down the bay. Mr.. N. Mitch
ell, the pilot of the St. Nicholas, had left
the wheel-house for the purpose of waiting
upon some ladies to the main saloon where
supper was being prepared, and upon run
ming upon the hurricane deck saw the Bel
videre which was considerable distance
from the schooner. There was dense vol
ume of black smoke issuing at the time from
the smoke stack of the Belvidere, which
concealed the schooner from his view.
Knowing, however, that she could not be
far of, he gave the necessary order to. tho
nu1n wneer, ana at the same time,
signaled the engineer to back the boat, which
was done at once. It was too late, however,
to avoid collision. She struck her bow
most violently upon the stanford quarter of
the schooner, carrying away one yawl boat of
the latter, and almost tearing off her own
bow. The steamer at the same time was
going along quite moderately, whilst large
portion of the company was on the upper
deck enjoying themselves by dancing. The
violent conclusion, as may be supposed,
threw the whole company into the highest
state of alarm, indeed many were thrown
down by the motion, whilst others prepar-
ed to leap overheard, fearing some dreadful
disaster at hand. In the meantime, Capt.
Guy, who was on the forward deck at the
time, quickly ascertained the nature Of the
damage, and after quieting the fears of the
passengers, assuring them at once that there
was no danger, assumed the command of
the boat, turned her bow to the shore of
Sandy Point, about three miles distant, and
in less than twenty minutes had run her
bows upon the beach. The hull of the boat
soon filled with water and at the last &C
counts she was lying in perfect safety, in 81
feet water. Soon as the collision took place
and offered to remain by her as long as
Capt. Guy desired, but his kind offer was
declined as being unnecessary.
AS for the pilot, who candidly assumes
all the responsibility, he is really deserving
the sympathy of the community. During
the whole season he has acted as the pilot of
the boat, which has made so many excur-
sions, and never met with mishap until
the day in question, when he was to have
I left the boat. The amount of damage sus-
tanned by the boat cannot be estimated un-
Al h. Id IL
place until she is removed to this port,
which it is proposed to do Immediately by
means of ghters. This accident is to be
deeply regretted, as the boat was to be
placed on the line between this port and
York river as freight and passenger boat.
She is owned by company, one of whom
is Captain Guy. The present situation Of
: the boat is an unusually safe one, unless a
powerful southeastern gale should ensue.-
She was chartered for several excursions
during the remainder of the week.
This accident will not be repaired, We
+ presume, in time to allow the St. Nicholas
to make her advertised trip to Chapel Poin
tomorrow evening.
Since the above was in type we learn thai
, the steamer has been raised and was taker
to Baltimore on Tuesday last. It will re-
quire but few days to put her in running
order again, her damage having been much
slighter than was at first apprehended.
A disease is said to be making fatal work
among the cattle about Utica, n Y, sup,
7 posed to be identical with the one known a:
the cattle plague in Europe.