The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-06-01
ENGLAND.
A TERRIBLE DISASTER.
Collision Of German ErOnClads-One Yes
sci Sunk-Over Four Hundred Lives Lost

ReR @mnk-DVeF -FOUR hundred Lives AOab.
LONDON, May 9f.-There is intense excitement
here over reports OF q terrible disaster in the
English Channel The German irOnclads,
which recently left wilhelm harbor, were to-
day sighted off FOlkestOne, where two of the
vessels came in violent collision. One Of thom.
believed to be the Kalzer Wilhelm, was almost
instantly sunk and the other irOncad was
badly damaged and In @ sinking condition.
Life-bOats were Immediately lowered and
every effort made to rescue those in the water.
The boats belonging to the Southeastern Rail-
way were at once sent out to assist in the work
of saving life. Many lives are reported lost,
The German ambassador In this city. with the
Crown Prince, have gone by special train to the
scene Of the disaster.
LATER.
LONDON, May 31.-A dispstch from Dover con-
firms the worst fears regarding the collision of
German frOnclads in the English Channel,
which resulted in most fearful loss of life.
The cOlliding vessels we're the Kaiser Wilhelm
and the Grosser Kurfurst. The weather at the
time of the disaster was fair and calm, and
| what led to the disaster Is q mystery,
| Both vessels were under full headWay when
| the Kaiser Wilhelm ran into the GrOsser Kur-
f9rst. ht. The shock was terrific, the latter vessel
| utes after the collision. TO add to the horrors
of the. situation. the, boilers Of the vessel ex-
| ploded, scattering death and destruction in
every direction From all reports received it is
| believed that nearly 400 persons have lost their
| lives by the disaster,
| The Kaiser Wilhelm was the largest iron-elad
| frtgaIe OF the. German navy, She was built at
| the Thames Iron Works, Blackwell, and was
| launched ten years ago. She ls OF 5g39 tons
8oo0-hoIse power, and carries twenty three
guns; these are rifed ninety-six FOUNDERS
made Of KrupD's hammered steel. Her armor
was eight incfsbs thick amidship. She also car.
| The Grosser Kurfurst was turret ship, buili
| at the German dock yard in 1873. She bad two
ttrreis. with armor eleven inches thick. She
had four twenty.si ceDtimetTe guns In the
| turrets, and two twenty-one eentimetre guns
! placed fore and aft
| '"f'Ss seene of the terrible disaster was of
! khn
port aud Calais I62 squadron had passed the
| South ForeIands and DoE9E. on the EngIlsh
coast, and was ateaming almost GRe SOUTH on haio
| There is q line of very fast steamGFs DelopR
ing to the Southeastern Railway Compd2y ply
| ing between FolkestOne and Boulugne, s6n
| one Of these, with all the rOWbOats and sailing
| the disaster, but they did not arrive in time to
be OF any use. the Grosser. Kurforst had sunk
| immediately after the collision. carrying down
with her nearly all on board.
| STILL LATER-45O LIVES LOST.
LONDON, May 31.-A dispatch received at the
| German embassy from Dover states that 45t
persons were drowned By the collision of Ger.
| man irOn-clads in the channel.
| As she sunk her boilers exploded and some
F.! OF the crew, who were on the deck. were blown
| into the air. The Kaiser Wilhelm struck the
| GrOsser kurturst full steam on. 1t s said tn al
orders had been given to change the line O
sailing and that the Grosser Kurfursf bid mo-
answer her helm quickly enough to gegherse
across her bows and tho collision occurred In
an instant,
Another statement is that the force Of the cur
rent which at this spot is very great, deranged
the calculations OF the commanders Of both
| vessels. The frigate was badly injured, but he1
| forward bulkhead was staunch. and sheSapateC
| without difficulty.
The GrOsser Kurfurst sunk in fifteen fathomt
Of water. The Kaiser Wilhelm is badly dam
| aged. and her fore COMPARTMENTS is full Of water
| She viii be tOwed to Portsmouth It is stated
tbs, collision occurred through the pilot Of the
Wilhelm, putting his helm aport to clear 6
hDrf iF,Fr fl1S
| furst.
In the House of Commons this afternoon
stated that over 100 persons had been saved and
300 lost in the collision in the channel thil
morning. The government dock at Portmoutf
ig being, prepared to receive the disabled
| Kaiser Wilhelm.