New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-01

MEN.
LONDON. Friday. May 81, 1878.
The great German irOncad GrosscI kuritir>t was
struck this morning Oh Folkcstonc by the k0nie
Wilhelm, and sunk almost Immediately. The k0nig
Wilhelm was injured bat was able to proceed down
the Channel in the direction of Portsmouth. II is
supposed that there were about 800 persons on board
the Grosser Kurlirst at the time. The latest L!oyPs
telegram gives the total saved ut % officers and 100
scamon. Hence il is feared that 800 lives were
lost.
1t appears that the German squadron, composed
of three iromclads the Gross"r kUrlirst, the KONG
Wilhelm and the prcus,rn. which left Germany
Gently for the Mediterranean, passed Dover at Il
quarter 10 Q this morning. bound for plymouth.
whence il intended TO sail for Gibraltar
When the squadron oft SYNDICATE,
about seven miles from shore, one of the ironcads
was observed 10 keel gradually over on hcr beam
ends, and ink IN ahoa; five minutes. The weather
was bright and the SEA calm at the time. The lost
vessel WI, the C,r,~s.r Kuriiir,t. She was ondcay
oring to avoid a merchantmen. when she came IN
the way Of the KONG Wilhelm, and iounicrcd from
the shock she received in the collision. ~ the YES
sci was sinking. her crew crowded on the bulWaiks
and plunged into the sea. Boats from the other
irouolad, were launched, and number of Fo.ke-
stone fishing snacis near by FASTENED To the spot,
and cndeayorcI To rescue the drowning scamcn.
1nr STATEMENT OF \ SPECTATOR
The captain If a fishing boat has been one OF
the ir, 10 give details Of the calamity, and OF the
efforts made 10 save the crew. " Ny boat, he says,
with other fishing vessels, was returning to "hc-
Stone when we noticed three ironcads coming
down. \ bari. was fetching oil shore. The Grosscr
Kurliir,t ported her helm to clear the bark. The
KONG Wilhelm pulled hard a port and struck the
Grossor Kuriirst forward of her milzen-ma,t The
Kurfirt wont over on her broad-idc and sank in five
minutes She wen. down IN iii. cen iathons All hands
jumped overheard. oar boats reached tine spot dl-
rcctly aftrrwari, and rescued - men. including
three officers The other boats rescued
number of the crcw all of whom transferred To
IN, Kong Wllhclm. Captain Bltock, Of the Gros>"r
Kuriiir-. went down with his ship. The boilers did
not explode, but the escaping steam must have
scadcd many persons III the water. The konlg
Wilhelm had her bow stove, but the leak was
stopped with hammochs. The collision was undoubt-
eddy caused by the Kong Wilhelm porting her helm
too suddenly
ga dispatch received by thu German Embassy in
the forenoon estimated the number of lost AT as
many rs 100 The Coast Guard AT folkcstonc tclc-
praphcd that about 800 persons persisted ana 200
were saved.
4 DOCK PREPARED Al PORTSMOUTH,.
Mr. Smith the First Lord of the Admiralty, in
his statement in the House of Commons to-day,
confirmed the report that the collision occurred
while the Grosscr kuriiirst was endcavoung To
avoid a merchantmen. He said dock was being
prepared AZ Portsmouth for the reception of the
KONG Wilhelm, aud she proceeding thlthcr.
TIE rREvsSEN Al THE SCENE OF THE DIsAsIER.
The Southeastern Railway C0mpanyS steamer,
inst returned from the scene of the disaster reports
that the KONG Wilhelm was able to proceed down
the Channel. probably for. Portsmouth. The PrcuS
sen remains on the spot. Nothing Is 10 De seen Oh
the Grosscr kuIiiiist.
IWO DEATHS From ENIIAJSGIoN.
LONDON, Saturday. June |. 1879.
Two Of the men who were rescued have died from
exhaustion on board the Prcusscn.
ALI STILL IL HALF Az HOUR
Eyewitness Of the disaster say the IreuSSen dId
not lower any boats, and that nobody was visible
in the water half an hour after the Grosser kurirst
foundcrcd.
THE TWO IEoXCLADS EXPECTED.
The KONG Wilhelm, which is the flagship carry
ing Ecar-Admiral Baisch, and the Prcnssen are cX-
pcctcd at Portsmouth at o'clock this morning.
ADMIRAL BATsCH's ESTIMATE
According 10 y telegram dispatched by hear-
Admiral I;atscl from Folkcstonc, le3 men wese
saved.
THE CREW ABOUT 800.
Most of the estimates give the GrosScr kuriiirstS
crew at about 900.
A COAST GUARDS REPORT
report resting upon the authority oil the SAND
gate Coast Guard says 22J were saved. Ihe COAST
Guard however states that he rs informed that the
Grosscr kurliirst's crew WAS nearer that number
than 800.
SAVED ONLY TO DIE.
1t is reported that twenty-five oil the rescued nave
since died from exhaustion.
REPORTS OF EYEWTrNESSES.
an
THEY WE'RE IS-A BOAr-LOAD OF MEN CARRIED
Down.
LONDON, Saturday, June |, 1873
Fyc-wtnesses state that the Gro'ser huri'iIs had
starboarded her helm, intending to cross
the bows of merchantman, and the kohlg
Wilhelm ported apparently to pass the stern OIL the
same vessel
The Grosser Kurfrst having somewhat lost speed
| in turning. they thus met.
The Admiral states that the Grosser kurfurst
sunk quicker than the officers OF the other 'essei
deemed possible.
II appears that the Grosser Kurfirss officers also
moderated the damage, AS they began an attempt
| to turn the vessels head shorewaid' -. A.,
Some spars fell at the time OF the
collision. probably preventing tho iallhch 1i
! the boats one of which was hlied WIN
! men hanging from the dayits when the vessel
| sank
REPORTS AND INCIDENTS.
LONDON Friday, May 81, 1873.
il was reported at first that the steamers poiierS