The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-22
sTEA MsHIPs IN COLLISION
TIE Italy and Canada Crashing Together In
the Hay-WreckinG n Bark.

A serious collision occurred In the upper
bay yesterday morning. between the National
line steamships Italy and Canada and the Ger
man bark Barbarossa. by which the latter was
damaged to the extent Of 100000 and narrowly
escaped sinking. The Canada's iron sides we're
stove In. and she Was compelled to put back
while the Italy alone put to sea. after severe
scraping and damage to her standing rigging
The two National steamships started from
their docks ut Pier 80 shortly after 7 o'clock.
and within fifteen minutes OF each other. The
Canada bound for London. was the first to CO.
The Italy got into the stream just as the Canada
passed the Battery. but having on full
head OF steam. while the Canada had only
half head. she had no difficulty in
catching up with her slower-going rival.
The two steamships met about a mile to the
southwest OF the Battery and midway In the
channel between Governors and Bedloes
Island. The Canada struck the Italy slant
ingly Just ait OF the main rigging scrapinR the
latter's sides and crushing in her own bow. the
iron plates Of which were stove In for distance
OF halt y dozen feet. leaving an ugly gap July
six inches in diameter. The wood work OF the
upper deck wis alRo torn and deihced. In re,
heavily. and wound up by collidng again. This
occurred Just ms the Italy was swinging her
stern clear Of her dHnaged companion. and re-
suited In the loss Of veral davts the stern rail.
and one of the boats Of the former. When they
parted for the seconl time the Canada people
discovered. DeNlurb tnelT oineT lnJuFlfh n nple
under their twenty -three.foot draught line.
through which the water was pouring in tor
rent.
Meantime the Italy. in wrestling herself clear
OF the damaged Canadn. had inflicted vastly
greater injury on mn innocent spectator. The
German bark Burbarossa. in ballast. from
Havre. with a crew OF twentythree, in
Guiding tho Captains wife and family. lay at
anchor directly in the path Of the steamship.
The Inter bore down upon her with momen-
tum that nothing could check Her iron stem
struck the bark amidships on the port
side, cutting her down to the waters
edge and below II. leaving wide gap through
which the water began to pour In volumes One
Of the crew Of the bark who WIS sitting on her
bulwnrks a few feet from where the steamship
collidcd. was pitched bodily into the sea. On
the Italy ther" WAS great excitement. Capt
Simpson ordered lifebCu to be lowered and
in shifting tho ta"kle one OF the Italy's seamen
tumhled overheard. Both men were subse.
auenty picked up fleet Of tugs. which had
Witnessed the Disaster steamed up and Of
fered their services. The wnter had been
pouring through the BarbarOssas side for
some minutes, and il WIS evident that II not
speedily h.ached she would 20 down in the
channel. Five tugs were attached TO her with
hawsers and the sinking vessel tOwcd rapidly
to the shallow water of Bedloe.s Island. Later
on she was visited by p. W. Cesar OF the
Bremen Hamburg Insurance Company. and
Surveyors Harding aud Spencer. Divers were
employed TO examine her hold. The amount
Of her damages is estimated at from $4,000 10
t4O.O0 largely insured.