Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-01


Drowned--Detailso of the Terrible Catas-
trophe.
LONDON, May 31.-The ''Grosser Kurfurst
came in collision with the iron-ciad ''Knnig
Wilhelm at 9:45 this morning, three miles
off Folkestone. The Kurfurst sank almost
Immediately and her boilers exploded she
went down. The weather was bright and the
sea calm at the time of the disaster. It is re-
ported from Dover that only eighteen persons
of the complement of 400 officers and men on
board the Grosser Kurfurst were saved. Boats
went from shore and were sent from other yes
sells of the German feet to the assistance of
the drowning people, and it is hoped more
lives were saved.
SANK IN FIVE MINUTES.
LONDON, May 31.-The German squadron.
consisting of three iron clads, the Prussen.
Grosser Kurfurst and Koenig Wilhelm, passed
Dover at 5:45 this morning, bound for Ply
mouth, whence it was expected to sail for
Gibraltar. When the squadron was off Lud-
gate, about five miles from shore, one of the
iron c1ads was observed to be gradually keeling
over on her beam ends and men we're seen
crowding on her bulwarks. In about five
minutes the vessel went down on her side, her
boilers blowing up as she sank. Boats from
the other iron clads were launched and num-
Der of Folkestone fishing smacks near by hur-
ried to the scene. 1t is hoped many lives were
saved. The Folkestone life boat was launched,
but arrived too late to be of service. Several
steamers have gone to the scene of the disaster
from Dover. 1t is believed the Koenig Will
helm, which ran into the GrOSser Kurfurst, is
very badly damaged.
THE CROWN PRINCE AT THE SCENE.
New YORK, May 3l.-A London dispatch
that $50 persons were drowned by the sinking
of the iron-clad Grosser Kurfurst. The Ger
man ambassador with the Crown Prince have
gone by special train to the scene of the dis
aster. It seems the vessels were under full
Roadway when the Koenig Wilhelm ran into the
Grosser Kurfurst The shock was terrific the
latter vessel filling and sinking within FIVE
minutes after the collision. To add to the hor-
rors of the situation the boilers of the vessel
exploded, scattering death and destruction in
every direction,
MORE LIVES SAVED.
LONDON, May S1.-A telegram to the adj
1niralty says of the sinking of the Grosser
Kurfurst: about 800 persisted ana 200 have
been saved" This comes from the coast guard
at Folkestone. A dispatch from Dover says:
I" It is reported the Grosser Kurfurst carried
crew of 600 men, of whom between 800 and
400 are supposed to be drowned telegram
to Lloyds from Folkestone repeats the report
first telegraphed that only eighteen men were
rescued, but it's correctness is doubted. All
previous reports say life boats were lowered
from the other ironclads Immediately, and q
large number of small crafts from Dover and
Folkestone FASTENED to the locality.
THE KoENIa WILHELM PARTLY UNDER WATER.
Eo 10 %bo -
the disaster received by the admiralty the col
lision occurred seven miles southeast of Folke-
stone The latest report from Dover says the
forward part of the iron-clad Koenig Wilhelm
is under water. W. H, Smith, first lord of the
admiralty, stated in the House of Commons
this afternoon that according to the reports re-
ceived by the lords of the admiralty from Is to
| 200 of the crew Of the Grosser Kurfurst had
been saved and 800 persisted. The Grosser
Kurfurst was flagship of the squadron. The
admiral commanding the squadron was among
the saved.
HOW THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
LONDON, May 31.-A steamer just returned
from the scene of the disaster reports the
Kocnig Wilhelm was able to proceed down the
channel, probably for Portsmouth. The Prus-
sen remains on the spot. Nothing is to be seen
Of the Grosser Kurfurst. The captain Of a
fishing boat makef the following statement.
My boat with other fishing vessels, was return
clads coming down. A bark was fetching of
Shore The Grosser Kurfurst ported her helm
to clear the bark. The Koenig Will
helm pulled hard aport and struck
the Grosser Knrfnrst forward of her mizzer
mast. The kurfurst went over on her broad
side and sunk in five minutes. She went down
in Is fathoms. All hands jumped overheard
Our boats reached the spot directly afterwards
and rescued ~ men, including three officers
Other boats rescued a number of the crew. al
of whom were transferred to the Koenig vii
helm. Captain Batach. of the Grosser Kur
furst, went down with his ship. The boiler
did not explode. but ths escaping steam mus
have scalded many persons in the water. Til
Koenig Wilhelm had her bows stove, but TIL
leak was stopped with hammocks The coils
ion was undoubtedly caused by the Koeni
Wilhelm porting her helm too soon.
Mr.. Smith, first lord of the admiralty, in hi
statement in the House of Commons to-day
confirms the report that the collision occurre
while the Grosser Kurfurst was endeavOring t
avoid a merchantmen. He said dock WI
preparing at Portsmouth for the reception Q
the Koenig Wilhelm. She is now proceedin
thither.
NO HELP FROM THE PREUssEN
LONDON, May 31.-Two Of the men rescue
died from exhaustion on board the Preusse1
Eye witnesses of the disaster say the Preusse
, did not lower any boats, and that nobody W;
: visible in the water half hour after tt
q Grosser Kurfurst foundered. The Koenig Wi
helm. which is the flag ship, carrying Rear Al
miral Batch, and the Preussen, are expected I
Portsmouth tomorrow morning.
THE SAVED.
LONDON, May 31.-The latest Lloyd's tel
q gram gives the total of the saved at % Office
and 100 men.
LONDON, June l.-According to telegra
. dispatched by Rear Admiral Batch fro
. Folkestone 1873 men were saved. Most of tt
Q estimates give the Grosser Kurfurst's crew
d about 500. A report resting upon the autho
) ity of the Sand-gate coast guard says 255 we
saved. The coast guard, however, state tn
are informed the Grosser Kurfurst's crew W
y nearer that number than 500. It is reported
of the rescued have since died from exhau
ton.
:, HOWEVER 1T HAPPENED.
l. LONDON, June WITNESSES state t
n Grosser Kurfurst had starhoarded her helm
IS tending to cross the bows of merchantma
10 and the Kenig Wilhelm ported apparently
q pass astern of the same vessel. T
10 Grosser Kurfurst having somewhat X
~ speed in turning they thus m
=. & The admiral states that the Gross
q, Kurfurst sunk quicker than the officers of
8. other vessel deemed possible 1t appears tn
of the Grosser Kurfurst's officers also underrat
K the damage, as they commenced an attempt
az turn the vessels head shoreward. Some sp'
~ fell at the time of the collision, probably p
~ venting the launch of boats, one Of which '
~ filled with men hanging from the davits wh
At the vessel sunk.
Is FATAL BOILER EXPLOSION.
CINCINNATI, May s1.-On the farm OF Rob
Linn, four miles from Hillsboro Ohio, t
rnornino a nortable cav mill engine explod