New-York tribune., 1876-08-28
SERIOUS ACCIDENT TO A STEAMSHIP.


THE COLON OF THE PACIFIC NAIL STEAMSHIP COM
PASY BREAKS A SHAFT IN MID-OCEAY-THE AS
sIsTAHT ENGINEER AND AN oIIER KILLED-TIE
VESSEL TowED BACK TO THIS CITY.
The steamer Colon, belonging 10 the Paclhe
a steamship Company returned TO this port on Sati-
day. having met with serious accident on her tu dAy
out while ON her way to Aspnwall The Colon sa!ied
from NewYork Aug II, with 60 cabin ana 80 sicef-
age passengers besides 1l27 tons Of assorted cargo sAe
was commanded by Capt. s. p Griffin Cihci Insihe'f
Brooks having charge OF the machinery few minutes
past IL o'clock on Sunday Aug 20 when the vessel lad
reached latitude 2So IL ard longitude 74", being 731
miles from New-YOrk, all board were started by
sudden heavy shock which Jared the steamer roa stem
TO stern. The officers and passengers were Assembled al
the time the main saloon. where Capt Griffin was con
ducng the usual religious services Of the day The first
shock quickly followed by auuiher of character wilch
led the worslppers to believe that an explosion nad
taken place. created great alarm The captains presence
of mind however, prevented rush to the upper ccc-
Meeting the chief ell gineer his way 10 tie engine
rooin Capt. Griffin learned that the crani-shift had
broken through flaw in the forging. Tlis threw up
the four G lu,nBs which the cylinders rested TIC
sudden shock threw the engines forward ipp ng the
steam pipe from the thr0ttlechamber. thus allowing tt
immense volume Of steam 10 escape aud spread M
through the engine and forward through the coal
bunkeis. On the irou ganGway around the cylinder
on Iie platform below that os John b. Bunt Z, tEt
third assistant engineer. The men had died from 'he
jNhalaOn OF tue steam Vincent Brooks, ihe c!Hci ca
gneer had iast lett thr engine room, whe TIE
of the oilers bad gone from the room TO preiarc 10
the reef. Tho cOalpaSs,rs were lew ~ hlih',I
f-om ike cause and those duty qu ck = made
th,m way to the deck through the cpai h"le-.
AZ Tie tnie OF the ds8stcr hcre liuc sea, and omy
slIcht lead wind. Early hi Tie afternoon Tie fehcb
brig Ennis Of Bordeaux was spoken, ana LGr captain
send word tia be ready 10 render &hy AsiHce e"
Lis power. Al m. tie sidsc Of 'n0tuer Steamer "h,
disrverea and as the Gl Of distress had been AO- d.
81 9 bore down upon the Colon 1t prov tn pe the
Il nd oi tH Atlas me- capt " samson on @ ~ -
aod an arrangement for towing tue Colon bifh 20 >"
York was soon made. The t@o ycsseit fctesd e"h.1
Hook ON Ftiiag night, aud Saturday 10 CU'"i vas
towcd 10 lir No 42 North Eiycr Ibe passengers ihu
cargo viii c transferred 81 tHc steamship CiVsceh' Jtl
OF Inc sapc Inc wicn WI sail Tor Aslauwai tomorrow
Ilc Colon was built in 1872 by J0hn kO@e. ~ son, ~
Chester Penn, but smart wIch was bfOLth as wei
her otuer .OlglugS, made III Gl SOW, t"tu, ~
Elder Co. She Is an iron bri-risSod vessel q" l li5
g COO tons burden ana made her nrt trip III ddj 1873,
sinee which tine hus mace 81 "doiii"ha! IIi's.
Bunting tie nssstuut engineer, and James i"ii L'
oiicr ioth lived IN Brooklyn. Tue 0lneT raY, wc,
AID tIe Ia! tcr vie C..iia. "A Suhscr'iVD ol fl
for benefit Of the families OF those men Was taken up
on tae Return trip. -