The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-11-12
PERILs OF THE DEEP.
DISASTROUS CASUALTIES AT SEA
RECENTLY.
Collision, at Sea .

tavia from the Breakwater for New York, came
into collision with the steamer Champion from
New York for Charleston, striking the steamer
amidships and sinking her in five minutes.
Thirty-ive persons are reported saved and
tbirty-two lost. The collision occurred Is
miles off the Cape at 4 o clock yesterday morn
ing. The ship is badly damaged and is being
towed to Philadelphia.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. S.-The ship Lady Gotta
via, in collision with the steamship Champion,
has arrived here. The captain reports he left
Delaware breakwater at $50 A. NJ, Thursday.
At A. N. Friday. forty miles north half north
from Cape May, he was run into by the steam
er Champion, from New York. The Champion
struck US just aft the stem. The steamer was
badly damaged. She sunk in four minutes.
Thirty persons of her crew aud passengers were
lost, and twenty-four saved and placed on other
vessels by the Octavia. The first mate of the
Octavia, James Ferguson, was in charge of the
deck at the time of the collision. The Octavia
brought none of the rescued to this port.
THE CAPTAINS STORY.
Capt. Lockwood, in answer to interrogations,
gave the following account of the disaster:
We had remarkably quiet voyage up to the
time of the accident. When we left New York
the weather was fcggy, but this cleared away
before We were ton hours out. On the morn
ing of the collision left my room about five
minutes past 8, and returned to the pilot house
fer few seconds. I had hardly got back to
my room again when I heard some one sing
out 'Sail ahead and hard by I jumped into
the pilot house, rnng the bell to stop the
steamer and then to back at full speed. saw
that the ship was coming down upon us, and
that collision was inevitable. She was steer
ing east northeast; we were going south south
west half west. The ship had full sail on, and
headed right at US. We were going under
steam and had just set the foretopsail. She
struck us right on the bows of the cathead on
the starboard side, and crushed right into
U.S. staring aras in That our whole Vessel bows wou
sink in '"'0 almost s' an NY instant instant wan" and
at once ordered the first mate to go forward
and see what water if any the Champion was
making, but before he had time to return I
found my ship was fast sinking. I then or
dered the second mate to get the boats in readi-
ness, that is, to cnt them loose from my ship,
as it was fast going down. also ordered him
to have the life raft cast loose, that it might be
rendered useful if the steamer went down, as
/ was afraid she would give us no warning. My
next work was to warn the lady passengers of
their great danger. rushed into the cabin
and cried aloud: Ladies, the ship is going.
You have not a moment to spare. Never mind
your clothing. Come out at once" believe
there were but three ladies there, but IF this I
am not certain. None of them came out, and
the only response received was loud screaming
and hollering. They could have come out very
easily If they wished, but I suppose they be-
|, came panic stricken. My duties called me
away, and was still in hopes that the women
had obeyed my summons, but unfortunately
found out afterwards they had not I believe
they were all lost. There has been but one fe-
male saved, and that is the stewardess, Cath
crime Cross. When the ship went down was
standing by the main rigging and near me
stood number of the crew. I said: s'Bovs,
save yourselves, and don't mind me.'' Each
of them then took life preserver and ex-
pressed their determination to stand by me-.
After few seconds said '"Throw the life
raft overheard. will come afterwards. Jump
for your lives" This was speedily done, and
they left me. I was the last to leave the
vessel, and went down with her. I soon
came to the surface again. This may seem
strange, but it is nevertheless fact. kept
near the surface of the water, and 80 suppose
didn't experience the suction of the vessel
while she was going down. When I came to
the top of the water found myself close to
the life raft, on which was pulled by those
already there. have been in command of the
Champion for the past years. Mr.. Leonard,
hrst officer, was in charge when the collision
took place. He was tried and experienced
seaman, and had sailed with me over fourteen
years. He was a man about 4S years old, a
resident of Brooklyn, and leaves wife and
two children. My room, where went just be-
fore the collision, joined the pilot house. In
Il
The Champion carried about five life boats
and a life raft. I understand that four pass
engers and two seamen were picked up by q
bark that came along some time after the
collision. have heard since that she was
Norwegian, but tina, is all. None of US knew
her name or anything about her beyond the
fact that she was evidently bound north. The
Lady Octavia, the ship that ran into us, saved
nine lives. We saved the rest on the life raft,
except, of course, those which were picked up
by the unknown bark. The night was beau
tiful starlight one, with a little moonlight. We
were about thirty miles from land, from Cape
Henlopen, which bore between fifteen and sig
teen miles east by northeast of five fathom
bank lightship. We were in about fourteen
fathom of water. At the timeI last saw the
Champion, or at least her wreck, her top masts
were about two feet out of water. + would
rather not at present say anything about who
was to blame for the collision.
LOST AT SEA.
NEW YORK, Nov. S.-The Austrian bark Re-
news of the loss Of the schooner Petrol and IF
teen of her passengers and crew, including the
captain. She also brings six survivors,, all
left of company of twenty-one persons.
Capt. Ivoncich, of the Rebus, reports that
when thirty-four days out from Trieste he
espied the floating hull of dismasted vessel
full Of water and water logged, That was on
north, longitude 66 degrees, 40 minutes
west. The wind at the time was lively gale
from the north, and strong sea was running,
The weather was bitterly cold. Some persons
were on the hull signaling for help with strips
torn from their garments. Notwithstanding
the danger attending the effort boat was
lowered and after battle with the elements
and at great risk of life to all concerned, six
persons on the wreck were saved. They all
survived, and they were all passengers. The
schooner petrol, Capt. 1voncich, sailed on the
25th.
NEW YORK, Nov. 8.-News was received to-
day that the well known whaling schooner
Florence, lately employed by Capt. w. h.
.Aowgate, of the signal bureau, in polar inves-
LEGATIONS, under command of Capt. Tyson,
had been lost in Cumberland straits to the
east of Hudson bay. She parted her chains
and went ashore during gale. Nobody was
- was lost. The crew landed safely, but suffered
subsequently greatly from exposure. They
stripped the vessel, made tents of the sails,
and stayed near the wreck for three days,
when they were rescued by passing vessel
which took two of them to
Peterhead Scott, from whence they came tc
this country. The remainder of the crew are
expected in Scotts vessel. at Peterhead. The
Florence was owned by G. A. Williams. OF
New Bedford. On one trip to South Shetland
Island she made in 1870 1900 O(l0