The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1878-06-05
4 TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Collision ofTwo German Iron Ciads
in the Channel.
HUNDREDS OF LIVES LOST.


clads, the Preussen, Grosser kurfursl
. and Koenig Wilhelm, passed Dover
! at S:45 this morning, bound for Ply
mouth, when it expected to sail for
Gibraltar. When the squadron was
of Ludgate, about five miles from
| shore, one of the iron-clads was OBJ.
served to be gradually keeling over
, on her baam ends, and men were
seen crowding on the bulwarks. In
, about five minutes the vessel went
down on her side, Der boilers blowing
; up as she sank.
, Boats from the other iron-clads
were launched, q number of Folke-
stone fishing smacks zeal by hurried
to the spot, and it is hoped that many
lives were saved. The Folkestone
life boat was launched, but arrived
too late to do any service. Several
steamers have gone to the scene of
the disaster from Dover.
It is believed that the koenig Viii
helm, which ran into the Grosser
Kurfurst, is very badly damaged.
DIFFERENT REPORTS.
A despatch received by the Ger
man Embassy says it is feared that
$50 persons persisted on the Grosser
Kurfurst.
A telegram to the Admiralty says:
"Aaout 800 perished and 200 have
- a,oJ - Tt;, cou,oo f.op. Tho
Coast Guard at Folkestone
A despatch from Dover says it is
reported that the Grosser kurfurst
carried a crew of GOO men, of whom
between 800 and 400 are supposed to
be drowned.
Mr.. w. IL Smith, First Lord Of
the Admiralty, stated in the House
of Commons this afternoon that ac-
eordiug to the reports received by the
Lords of the Admiralty, from $50 to
200 of the crew of the Grosser Kur-
furst have been saved and 800 per-
ished.
The Grosser Kurfurs. was the flag
ship Of the squadron.
The Admiral commanding the
squadron WAS among the saved.
On frat hearing of the disaster the
Admiralty ordered aid from Ports
mouth and Folkestone.
The Crown Prince Frederick Viii
liam and Count Munster, the Ger
man Ambassador, have gone to Folke-
stone.
According TO a report Of the disas-
Ter received by the Admiralty, the
! collision occurred seven miles south
east of Folkestore. The latest des-
patch from Dover says the forward
part Of the iron-clad Koenig William
is under water.
HOW TIE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
The Southeastern Railroad Com
pany's steamer, just returned from
the scene Of the disaster, reports that
the Koenig Wilhelm was able to pro-
coed down the Channel. probably for
Portsmouth. The Preussen remains
on the spot. Nothing is to be seen
OF Iae UFOsSeT hutlurSl-
The captain of o fishing boat makes
the following statement:
Ny boat, with other fishing vessels,
was returning to Folkestone, when
we noticed three iron-clads coming
down g bark was fetching eff shore.
The Grosser kurfurst ported her
helm TO clear the bark; the Koenig
Wilhelm pulled hard aport and struck
the Grosser kurfurst forward of her
mizzenmast. The Kurfurst went
over on her broadside and sank in
five minutes she went down in ff-
teen fathoms. All hands jumped
overheard. Our boats reached the
spot directly afterwards and rescued
twenty-seven men, including three
officers. The other boats rescued q
number of the crew, ell OF whom
were transferred to the Koenig VII
helm. Captain Batoch, of the Gross
er Kurfurst, went down with his
ship. The boilers did not explode,
but the escaping steam scalded many
persons 10 the water. The Koenig
Wilhelm had her bows slowed, but
the leak was stopped With hammocks.
The collision was caused by the Koe-
mig Wilhelm porting her helm too
suddenly.
Mr.. Smith, the First Lord Of the
Admiralty, in his statement il the
House Of Commons to-day, confirms
the report that the collision occurred
while the Grosser Kurfurst was en-
deavoring to avoid a merchantmen
lie said q dock was preparing at
Portsmouth for the reception Of the
Koenig Wilhelm. She is now pro-
ceeding tbither.
Two of the men who were rescued
have died from exhaustion on board
the pfeussen. Eye witnesses Of the
disaster say the Preussen did not
lower any boats ard nobody was Wis
ible in the water half an hour after
the Grosser Kurfurst foundered. The
Koenig Wilhelm, which is the flag
ship, carrying Rear Admiral Batsch,
and the Preussen, are expected at
Portsmouth at one O'Clock this morn
ing.
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGuRY THREE
RESCUED.
LoNDQS, May 81 The latest
Lloyds' telegram gives the total Of
saved at % officers and 100 men,
LONDON, jane According to a
telegram despatched by Rear Admi-
raj Batsch from Folkestone, 1873 men
were saved Most Of the estimates
give the Grosser Kurfurst's crew at
about 500. A report resting upon .
the authority Of the Sandgate coast
guard says 255 were saved. The
guard, however, state that they :
are Informed the Grosser Kurfust :
crew was nearer that number than
500. 1t is reported that twenty-five :
Of the rescaed have since died. :
FURTHER DETAILS. 7,
LoSDex, June l-Eye-witnesses {
state that the Grosser kuriurst had
starbo arded her helm, intending to {
lie bows of a merchantmen, ,
and the Koenig Wilhelm ported, ap ,
.parenily t. pass the stern of The same ,
vessel, and The Grosser Kurfurst hav- .
IL H. .