The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-08
THE HAMPTON ROADS DISASTER.

ARRIVAL or THE STEAMER ISAAC BELL AT rnn
PoRT-oAPTAN LAwRENoEs STORY OF THE
DrsAsrER-TE BLAME PLACED ON THE PILOT
OF THE LUNBKRMAS
The steamer Isaac Bell OF tha Old Dominion
Steamship LiHe which collioed WIN ana sunk tue
tuGboat Lumberman, carrying an excursion party,
while or Sc wallis Point, Hampton Roads, on Mon
day evening, arrived here early yesterday m orn-
ing. Captain Lawrence. Ber commander, being
called upon py a reporter, gave the following
statement OF the sad occurrence:-
STATEMENT oP CAPTAIN LAWRENCE.
The nirDt was dark, but there was no obscurity
by fog or otherwise, anu 1t was perfectly good
night for navigation. He na0 been out about
three-quarters OF an hour wneu a light Was seen
on the stsrDoard bow. The Isaac Bell was tnen
nearly on sewalps Point and the snore was her
right ABOUT mile distant. The Lumberman was
between the snore and a line describing the course
or the Bell and was gong In tine direction OF Nor
the time, together with the quar- ermaster, who
was At the wheel, and tae nrst officer, and both
the captain and the MAZE were observing the
movements Of the tugDoat with glasses.
An the Isaac Bell neared the Zimmerman she
blew two signals indicating tnat her quot mad
made up his mind anu wished TO keep on his
course, and that the Lumoerman should pass to
the starocard OF the Isaac Bell. The tug replied
ner course in order TO allow the Zimmerman to
pass to port OF the large steamer, as sac lnoica-
were
GOING AT GOOD SPEED.
blew TWO snort and sharp si2nale, conveying 10
the pilot OF the Isaac Bell tue Intimatlon that the
first chosen by the Isaac Bell There was no
room now for the larger vessel 70 make the
change bat the helm was put hard-a pOrt The
engines were slowed ana backed Immediately
AND every effort was made By The Officers OF the
unavola able. But q few moments elapsed before
the Isaac Bell struck the Zimmerman. The pas
sengers on the tug0oat were Al grouped forward
near the pilot house, ana the Zimmerman WAS
struck not far from ner bow and almost Immed1-
ately rolled over 1t was
A CHANGING BLOW
that capsized her, Tor not marx was made upon
tine bow OF the Isaac Bell, The passengers on the
little prOpeller seres med with terror as the
two vessels came together, and In an instant
all on board were struggling In the water.
Two boats we're lowered from the Isaac Bell as
soon "a possible, ana four OF the passengers the
LumberDan were picked up. One man was Iould
In the wheel OF the Isaac Bell. into which he mad
climbed after clineing to IL for some tlme Most
OF the passengers noated by on the starDoard side
OF the Isaac Bel, ana those saved were Iound
under her stern. The steamer laid by Tor an hour
An the hope OF recovering more OF the unlortun-
Ates, when, after an examination OF ner hull
which showed no marks OF the collision she re-
;9umeo ner voyage. The rescued passengers were
put OF soon after and sent back 70 Norfolk.
Captain Lawrence says that the Isaac Bell con-
formed to every requirement oil the law, ana that
the disaster was not the result OF careessness or
lessness on the part OF she pilot OF the Lumber
man. The pilot OF the tug was apparently either
usages OF pilots.
TIE STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN BROWN, OF THE
LUMBERMAN-THE EFFORTS MADE TO RESCUE
THE PASSENGERS INCIDENTS OF
THE DISASTER
NORFOLK Va, July I, 1875.
Captain W. E. Brown, OF the tug Lamberman,
which sunk In O collision with the steamship
Isaac Bell, in Hampton Roads. on the night OF The
9th inst, at mis- boarding house in this city, with
his wife. Both suffering from the effects OF
the terrible catastrophe OF that night A herald
reporter calico upon him to-day and obtained the
following statement in reference to the COLI
aion:-
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN BROWN
Between ten and eleven O'Clock, when we were
about abreast OF the Vue de Leau Hotel, being in
the pilot house Win my vile, sighted the steam
SHIP Isaac Bell coming down some 800 or 400 yards
distant; Immediately blew one whistle for The
Bell TO pass to the right, which was not answered,
ana both boats kept on their way; they had gotten
within 100 or 200 feet OF eacn otner wnen tne
Bell blew two Whistles, whicn / answered |
viii one and in moment more she struck
altercaSn, on the port side, apparently going
over her. l sunk with the tug and rose at the
Mneelhonse OF the Bell. the wneeis being at that
by clinglng TO piece OF the pilot house until
picked up by one of the boats OF the Bel. which
were lowered Immediately, Ny vile was picked
up IN q nearly crowned condition a few minutes
afterward by the same BOAT. When picked up I
could see nothing OF the tug, but could near those
b, SCREAMING FOR HELP.
WIN my WDe L was taken on DOaTu bbc Sue amer
N. p. Banks which came up shortly after Messrs-
q. w. Baker and Jesse Frederici were picked up
by the boats OF the Bell and also placed on tne
Banks, by which vessel they were brought to Nor
folk. The naval tug SNOW Drop, which was first
on The spot after tue occurrence picked up Messrs
w. ". Green, J. W. Wright and q. ID. jenkins and
took them 10 the Navy Yard, where they renamed
until yesterday morning. The BELL Banks and
Snow Drop remained on the spot as long as there
was possible chance 10 save any OF the others.
aud 1t was with sorro 6ful hearts that the crews
OF the several vessels abandoned the hopeless
search ana left for their respective destinations.
uToRTs TO RECOVER THE BODIES OF THE LOST
AN INVESTIGATION TO BE HAD ro-DAY-sENT1-
MENT OF THE PEOPLE.
NORFOLK, Va, Jnly 7, 1875.
No more bodies OF the tug Lumberman disaster
lery Blues again visited the scene to-day and fred
many rounds, hoping to raise the bodies OF the
unfortunates still missing. They were accom-
panied BY comnittees OF the Knights OF
Pr thias and Odd Fellows, wno have earn
estly sought to recover the bodies OF tue men,
beers or their orders. several OF whom were
emOng the victims. braid OF lady'S h2r, sup
posed 10 be that OF Miss Borum, was br ought 10
The surface, bus further efforts proved unayaiing
10 secure the remains.
AN INVESTIGATION
OF the anair will be mad at the Custom House
here tomorrow before captain John Z. Edgar, IN
Bpector OF steamboats, for this district.
The body OF tue lady found Yesterday near Fort
ress Monroe mas been ldentned as thAt OF Mrs.
FTedereci. The burial to-day OF Mrs. Fredereci
and Joseph Wilson was attended by large num-
Der OF relatives and sympathising friends.
A MONUMENT TO WASHINGTON IRv-