The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-01
The German Iron-Ciad KOenig Wilhelm
Sinks the GrOSSer KurluerSt.
STATEMENTS OF EYE-WlTNEssES.
Help Early at Hand, but Less Than Tive
Hundred Sailors Saved.
DESCRIPTION OF THE SHIP.


[BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, May 81, 1873
dreadful disaster occurred this forenoon In the
German man-ofwar Grosser Kuriurst and
the loss OF nearly four hundred lives
The German iron-clads KONG Wilhelm.
Rear Admiral Batsch, the Preussen and
the Grosser Kurfurst, Captain Batoch, sailed from
wilhelmshaven on Wednesday, as announced by
cable TO the HERALD on that day. These ships
were the pioneers OF the German fleet intended for
the Eastern Mediterranean, and were to nave
touched a. Portsmouth, en- route to Gibraltar,
where they were to wait final orders.
OFF DOVER
About nine O'Clock these vessels were sighted
from Dover ellis steaming slowly down the Eng
lIsh Channel. They were all magnificent speci.
mems OF naval architecture. The stately majesty
Of the nagship,s KONG Wilhelm, q broad.
side frlgate, pierced for twenty-six heavy
guns contrasted with the Grosser Kur.
iurst and tic Preussen, both low-lying double
turret full rugged ships The latter were fine
samples OF the modern iron-clad, after the pattern
OF Ii. b. M. ship Monarch. They were watched
from the Admiralty pier at Dover until they had
passed almost out of sight, The vessels came
within i've miles Of the shore.
WHERE DID IT HAPPENf
Although there are many very circumstantial
accounts at hand regarding the disaster am
unable to fix exactly Its location. According to
the reports received by the Admiralty the collision
occurred seven miles southwest OF Fokestone.
Many other accounts fix the locality three miles
or shore from sandgate Castle. WHICH lies two
miles southwest Of Folkestona
THE COLLISION
At about half.past ten O'Clock bark, which was
sailing up the channel on an ofr-shore tack, made
1t necessary for the Grosser Kurfrst to starboard
her helm In order to keep out Of the vessels
way, The rule Of the road at sea COM
mands that all steamers shall yield the
right OF way to sailing craft. Owing to mistake
in the order, or some inattention on the part Of
the nagship, the Konig wilhelm almost the next
moment went crashing into the Kurfrrst striking
her just back Of the foremast
The Grosser Kurfnnt turned over on her side
and sank almost immediately. Eyewitnesses d
the disaster say that the Preussen did not loves
any boats. and that nobody was visible In the
water half an hour after the Grosser Kurfursl
foundered. However this may be the disaster was
seen from the shore and from the Boulogne man
packet and many boats nastened to render aid.
Other reports assert (wnat Is most natural and
credibe) that boats were lowered both from thu
Konig wilhelm and tho Preussen and made ever
effort within the power Of man 10 save the
mon struggling in the water Boats wers
sent out from the Folkestone Life Saving
Station, but arrived too late to be OF SERVICE
and several steamers ran down from Dover
The most detailed account Of the disaster was fur
nished by tho captain OF one OF the nshing boats
that hurried to the scene OF tho accident His
statement IL as follows
sKIPPERs EXPLANATION.
My boat. With other fishing vessels, was return
ing to Folkestono when we noticed three
iron-clsds coming down. bark was fetching
on shore. The Crosscr Kurfurst starboarded her
helm to clear the bark The KONG wilhelm
went hard aport and struck the Grosser Kurfurst
forward OF her inizzenmast The Kuriurst went
over on her broadside and sank In i've minutes.
She went down in fifteen fathoms All hands
jumped overheard.
SAVING THE CREW.
Our boats reached the spot directly afterwnrd
and rescued twenty-seven men. including three
officers. The other boats rescued many Of the
crew, all OF whom we're transferred to the Kong
Wilhelm. Captain Batoch, OF the Gros-
ser Kurfurst went down with his ship.
The boilers did not explode, but the
escaping steam must have scalded many persons
In the water The KONG Wilhelm had her bows
stove, but the leak was stopped with hammocks.
The collision undoubtedly caused by the K0.
mig wilhelm porting her helm too suddenly.
now 1T OCCURRED.
Eye witnesses state that the Grosser Kurfurst
had starboarded her helm, intending to cross
the bows Of merchantmen, and the K9nig
Wilhelm ported, apparently to pass the stern
OF the same vessel The Grosser Kurfurst having
somewhat lost speed In turning, they thus met.
The Admiral states that the Grosser Kurfnrst sank
quicker than the officers OF the other vessel
deemed possible.
THE DAMAGE UNDERWATER.
IL appears that tho Crosser KurIursts ofncen
also moderated the damage, a. they commenced
an attempt to turn the vessels head shoreward
Some spars fell at the time OF the collision
probably preventing the launch Of the boats, ON
Of which was filled with men hanging from thu
davits when the vessel sank.
EYE WITNESS FROM NEW YORK.
An interesting statement is made by DR.. Rup
pcner, Of New York, who reached Paris tonight
and was interviewed by the HERALDs Pari
correspondent. DE- Ruppaner witnessed the 40
cident between the two iron clads as he wa
crossing the Channel on board the mail stcams
| Albert erdwara. hound from rotestone TO Bou