The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-01
The Times Not sansuine Of the
Result Of the Conference.
A Terrible Disaster in the
English Channel.
Two German War Vessels Collide.
The Sinking Vessel Explodss Her
Boilers,
Scattering Death and Destruction.
Three Hundred Lives Lost.

nfee flunureu Lisob LVsL
DOVER, May 3l.-The German squa.
dron, consisting !oi three ironclads, the
Prussen, Kurfurst and Koenig Wilhelm,
passed Dover at s:45 this morning, bound
for Plymouth, whence It was expected TO
sail for Gibraltar. When the squadron
was of Ludgate, about Eve miles from
shore, one Of the ironclads was observed
to be gradually keeling over on her
beam ends, and the men were seen crowd
ing on the bulwarks. In about five min
utes the vessel went down on her side,
her boilers blowing up as she sank.
Boats from the other irouclads were
launched and number OF other boats,
near by, hurried TO the scene. lis hoped
that many lives were saved. The Falk.
stone life boat was launched, but rrived
too late TO be Of any service. Several
steamers have gone to the scene OF the
disaster from Dover. Il ia believed that
the Koenig Wilhelm, which ran into the
Kuriurst, is very badly damaged.
LONDON, May 3l.-The Grosser Kur.
furst came in collision with the iron clad
Koenig Wilhelm at 6 o'clock this morn
ing three miles of Falkstone. The Gros-
ser Kurfurst 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. It
is reported from Dover that only eighteen
persons out Of q compliment OF AGO Off.
GERS and men on board the Grosser kur-
furst were saved. Boats went from the
shore and were sent from other vessels Of
the German feet to the assistance OF the
drowning people, and it is hoped that
more lives were saved.
Foug HUNDRED AND FrFrY PERsoss RE-
PORTED LOST.
New YoRK, May 3l.-London dis.
patches state that the German Embassy
Il informed that 450 persons were drown
ed by the sinking Of the iron.clad Grosser
Kurfurst. The German Ambassador,
with the Crown Prince, have gone by
special train to the scene Of the disaster.
II seems that the vesselslwere under full
head way when the Koenig Wilhelm ran
into the Grosser Kuriurst. The shock
was terrific, the latter vessel filling and
sinking within Eve minutes after the col.
lisiou. To add to the horrors Of the sit.
uation the boilers OF the vessel explod ed,
scattering death and destruction in every
direction.
LONDON, May 3l.-A telegram to the
Admiralty says Of the sinking Of the
Grosser Kuriurst: About 800 perished
and 200 have been saved. This comes
from the Coast Guard at Falkstone.
A dispatch from Dover says: Il is re.
ported that the Grosser Kuriurst carried
crew Of 900 men, OF whom between 800
and 400 are supposed TO be drowned.
kilograms to the Lloyds from Falk.
stone repeats the report Of the first tele.
gram, that only eighteen men were req
cued, but 1t Is doubted. All previous
reports say that life boats were lowered
from the other ironclads Immediately,
and large number Of small crafts from
Dover and Falkstone hastened to the To-
cality.
LONDON, May Sl.-According TO the re-
port Of the disaster received by the Ad-
miralty, the collision occurred about seven
miles southeast Of Falkstone.
The latest dispatch from Dover, says
the forward part Of the iron-clad Koenig
Wilhelm, il under water.
W. 81. Smith, First Lord Of the Admir-
atty, stated inthe House OF Commons this
afternoon, according TO the reports receiy.
ed by the Lords Admiralty that from $50
to 200 Of the crew Of the Grosser Kur-
furst, had been saved and 800 perished.
The Grosser Kurfurst was the flag ship
Of the squadron. The Admiral COM
manding the squadron was among the
saved.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
A steamer Just returned from the scene
Of the disaster reports that the Koenig
Wilhelm was able TO proceed down the
channel probably a. far Is Portsmouth.
The Preussen remains on the spot.
Nothing Ia TO be seen Of the Grosser
Kurfurst
The Captain OF the fishing boat makes
the following statement:
Ny boat with other vessels was re.
turning TO Falkstone when We noticed
three iron clads coming down. A bark
was fetching of the shore. The Grosser
Kurfurst ported her helm 10 clear the
bark. The Koenig Wilhelm pulled hard
aport and struck the Grosser KurIurst
forward OF her miLzen mast. The Kur-
furst went over on her broadside and
sank in Eve minutes. She went down in
fifteen iathoms Of water. All hands
Jumped overheard. Our boats reached
the spot directly afterwards and rescued
q men including three officers. The other
boats rescued = number Of the crew, all
OF whom were transferred TO the Koenig
Wilhelm.
Captain Batosb, Of the Grosser Kur.
furst, went down with his ship. The
boilers did not explode, but the escaping
steam must have scalded persons tn the
water. The Koenig Wilhelm had her
bows stove, but the leak was stopped with
hammocks. The collision was caused by
the Koenig Wilhelm porting her helm
too suddenly.
Mr.. Smith, First Lord oi Admiralty, in
his statement in the House OF Commons
to day, confirms the report that the col
liison occurred while, the Grosser Kur.
furst was endeayoring 10 avoid mer-
chairman. He said dock was preparing
at Portsmouth for the reception Of the
Koenig Wilhelm. She is now proceed.
ing thither.
LONDON, May S1.-Two Of the men
rescued died from exhaustion on board
the PreuHen. Eye witnesses Of the dis
aster say the Preussen did not lower any
boats, and that nobody was visible In the
water bali an hour after the Grosser
Kuriurst foundered. The Koenig VIII
helm, which Ia the Gag ship, carrying
Rear Admiral Batsch, and the PreusSen
are expected at Portsmouth tomorrow
morning.
Kurfurst had starboarded her helm, In
tending 70 cross the bow Of . merchant
Vessel. The Koenig Wilhelm ported,