Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-06-05
APPALLING DISASTER.
Collision of Two German IrOnc lad ) ] II
Tho British Channel.

Collision of Two German IrOnclads In
Tho British Channel.
DoNDoN, May 31.-rhe iron-clad
Grosser Kurfurst came in collision
with the iron-clad Kocnig Wilhelm in
the British Channel, at 9:45 this
morning, three miles off Folhestone,
near Dover, Eng. The Grosser Kur-
furst sank almost Immediately, and her
boilers exploded as she went down
The weather was bright and the sea
calm at the time of the disaster. -u...
1t is reported from Dover that only
eighteen persons out Of complement
of 460 officers and men on board the
Grosser Kurfurst were saved. Boats
went from shore and were sent from
other vessels Of the German fleet to
the assistance Of the drowning people
and it is hoped that more lives were
saved. r # g.....
DOVER, May S1-The German
squadron, consisting of three iron -clads
the Prussen, Grosser Kurfurst and
koenig Wilhelm, passed Dover, at
$40 this morning, bound for Plymouth
whence it expected to sail for Gibral-
tar. When the squadron was off Lud-
gate: about five miles from the shore
one of the iron-clads was observed to
be gradually keeling over on her
beam ends, and men were seen crowd
ing on the bulwarks. In about five
minutes the vessel went down on her
side, her boilers blowing up as she
sank. Boats from other iron-cIads
were launched, and number of
Folkestone fishing smacks, near by
hurried to the scene. 1t is hoped
many lives were saved The Folke-
stone life-boat was launched, but ar
rived too late to be of service. Several
steamers have gone to the scene of the
disaster from Dover. 1t is believed
the Koenig Wilhelm, which ran into
the Grosser Kurfurst, is very badly
damaged.
New York. May 31.-London dis
patches state the German Embassy is
informed that $50 persons were drown
ed by the sinking of the iron clad
Grosser kurfurst. The German Am
bassador, with the Grown Prince, has
gone by special train to the scene of
the disaster. "s.
1t seems the vessels were under full
headway when the Koenig Wilhelm
ran into the Grosser Kurfurst. The
shock was terrific, the latter vessel
filing and sinking within five minutes
after the collision. To add to the
horrors Of the situation the boilers of
the vessel exploded, scattering death
and destruction in every direction.
LONDON, May 3l.-A telegram to
the Admiralty says of the sinking of
the Grosser Kurfurst: About 800
perished and 200 have been saved"
This comes from the coast guard at
Folkestone.
A dispatch from Dover says: 1T
is reported that the Grosser Kurturst
carried crew of 5000 men, of whom
between 800 and 400 are supposed to
be drowned"
A telegram to Lloyd's from Folke-
stone repeats the report first telegraph
ed that only eighteen men were res
cued, but it's correctness is doubted.
All previous reports say the Iife-boats
were lowered from the other iron -clads
Immediately, and large number of
small crafts from Dover ard Folke-
stone fastened to the locality.
TIE LATEST.
LONDON, May 3l.-According to
report Of the disaster received by the
Admiralty, the collision occurred seven
miles southeast of Folkestine. The
latest dispatch from Dover says: "The
forward part of ironclad Koen1g Will
helm is under water"
W. II. Smith, first Lord of Admir-.
ality, stated in the Hous of Commons
this afternoon that, according to the
reports received by the Lords of the
admiralty, from 180 to 200 of the
crew of the Grosser Kurfurst had been
saved, and 800 perished.
The Grosser Kurfurst was the flag
ship of the squadron. The Admiral
commanding the squadron was among
the saved.
Colonel Redfeld Proctor, Republi.
can nominee for Governor in Vermont,
is Al years old, graduate of Dart
mouth College, spent the early part of
his adult life in farming, then studied
and practiced law, entered the Union
service in 1861 as private soldier,
was detailed to duty in the Quarter
masters department, but preterring
active service was appointed Major of
the Fifth and subsequently Colonel Of
the Fifteenth Vermont Regiment.
Since the war he has practiced law,
served in both branches of the Legis.
ture, and two years ago was elected