Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1883-01-13
FrightfaI Collision.

The Inman line SIehiner N'y VI
sells, Capt. Land, from New York Deee.h-
her 2s for Liverpool, was run down IN I''e
English Channel by 4 Glasgow steamer
tbe Kirby Hall, last week during fog'
and ten persons were drowned. Inc. COL
,;sion occurred az the estuary OF the Mer-
sew. The City of Brussels folndered al
most Immediately. When the CITY Oh
BRUSSELS arrived in the vicinity OF the
northwest light ship, ut about O'CLOCK
on Saturday morning, the fog was So
dense that the captain decided not to at
tempt to make Roadway, but TO remain
under steam near the lightship. a care
full lookout was kept, the captain ana the
secopd and fourth officers being on the
bridge. and the pilot ALSO looking out
Bells were kept ringing and fog horns
were Frequently sounded. For some nme
the steamer lay in safety. Extra LOOKOUT
men were posted in every part OF the YES
sci. Suddenly the low gurgling SOUND
of a vessel approaching was heard, anu
large steamer, only few yards DISTANT
and moving quickly through the water
doomed out in the fog. Almost instantly
and before any steps could be taken TO
avert it tremendous collision was seen
70 be inevitable. The bow of the KIRBY
Hall struck the starboard bow OF the
CITY of Brussels with terrific force, cut
ting her down TO the waters edge ana al
most half through. The Kirby left GlaS-
COW only a few hours before, and was
calling at Liverpool to complete loading
and to embark passengers for the East.
The moment the collision was seen 10 De
inevitable everything possible was done
on board the City of Brussels TO protect
the lives Of the passengers and crew.
Even after the collision the passengers
seemed 10 be unconscious of the gravity
of the situation and the terrible gap
which had been made in the forward part
of the vessel. She was known, however,
to be leaking very rapidly. All the pas
sengers were martaled into the appointed
confusion. Life buoys were served out,
the boats were swung, and every prepa-
ration was made for al emergency. ms
proved to be more critical and Immediate
than was anticipated. The passengers
had been into the boats, and some OF the
crew told off to man each of these crafts,
the captain and remainder of the men
continuing OH board until after the safety
of the rest had been assured. The vessel
got visiby lower in the water, and those
of the crew who had not escaped i'll the
boats climbed into the rigging aud await
ed results. In about twenty minutes alter
the impact the vessel gave tremendous
lurch, finging off those in the rigging
and plunging into the depths, with fear
full swirl. The scene was heartrendlnS
in the extreme. The people in the boats
were enveloped in darkness, and those
in the water were without help. The
Kirby Hall, which Immediately after the
collision had rcbounded through the rio-
lence of the impact, and was soon OBJ
scared in the fog, was unable to lower her
boats or render active assistance. The
boats Of the City of Brussels picked up all
who could be recovered. The fog lifting,
all the people were taken Oh board the
Kirby Hall, and when they were muster
ed on board of her it was found that t" o
OF the passengers of the City OF Brussels
had been drowned. They were Storage
passengers, and were Italians. There
were also eight of the crew lost, including
Second Officer Young and Carpenter
Woods. All the others are believed to
have escaped. One of the crew of the
CITY of Brussels states that some OF the
Brussels boats returned 10 that steamer
before she sunk, and pulled about close
to her so as TO give those OH board an OPP
portunity to save themselves. The men
dared rot go actually alongside the sink
inp vessel Tor tear their boats would be
sucked down with her. Thus number
of those who jumped into the water were
rescued, among them being the captain,
who was floating on spar. While the
boats were still being rowed about the
vessel she suddenly plunged down bow
first in about fourteen fathoms OF water,
leaving only her topmast visible. The
boats were rowed for time about the
spot where the City of Brussels had gone
down TO make sure there were no other
sailors or passengers in need of help, and
after time the boats pulled to the Kirby
Hall, which stood by Until the fog lifted,
at about o'clock in the afternoon.
Young and Woods were taken Oh board
the Kirby Hall apparently lifeless. All
efforts to restore animation were fruit
less. When the first or second boat
reached the Kirby Hall from the sinking
steamer the purser shouted us they pulled
up alongside to send some boats at once.
The captain of the Kirby Hall replied
that this was impossible, as he had only
four or five seamen on board, and all he
could do was to stand by. The bow of the
Kirby Hall was stove in.
The Course OF Love.