Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-09
A TREMENDOUS COLLISION

the City OF Brussels with terrific force, and
cut her down to the waters edge and almost
half through. The Kirby Hall was on her
maiden voyage. She had lett Glasgow only
few hours before, and was calling at Liv-
erpool to complete loading and embark pas
sengers for the east. The nom ant col
lision was seen to be inevitable everything
possible was done on board the City of Brus.
sells to prevent the loss of the lives OF the
passengers and crew. Those On board bear
testimony 10 the presence OF mind and calm
ness OF the captain and officers. Even after
the coll sion the passengers seemed TO be
unconscious OF the gravity Of the situation
and the terrible gap which bad been M 1de
iu the forward part of the vessel. She was
known to be leaking very rapidly. All the
passengers were marshaled into their APP
pointed places, 80 there was no hurry or con-
fusion. Life-buoys were served out, the
boats were swung, and every preparation
made for an emergency. This proved TO be
more critical and immediate than was au-
ticipated. The passengers had been put
into the boats and some of the crew tolled
off to each craft, the captain and remainder
Of the men continuing on board until after
the safety of the others had been assured.
The vessel got visibly lower in the water,
and those of the crew who had not escaped
III luC DOdto SilLuDCu lulO AnC
awaited results In about twenty minutes
after the collision the vessel gave a tremen-
dous lurch, finging off those in the rig
ging, and
PLUNGING INTO THE DEPTHS
with fearful swirl. The scene was heart
rending in the extreme. The people in the
boats were enveloped in darkness and those
in the water wer4 without help. The Kirby
Hall, which Immediately after the collision
had rebounded through the -violence of the
impact, was soon obscured In the fog, and
unable to lower her boats or render any act
i've assistance. The boats OF the City of
Brussels picked up all who could be recov-
cred. The fog lifting, all the people were
taken on board the Kirby Hall, and when
they were mustered on board of her il was
found that two of the passengers of the City
OF Brussels were drowned. They were steer
age passengers and Italians. Eight of the
crew were also lost, including the second
officer, Young, and the carpenter, Woods.
All the others are believed to be saved. The
Kirby Hall, after searching for several hours,
proceeded 10 Liverpool, where she arrived at
10 o'clock last night, and dsbarked the sur
vivors at the landing stage. One of the
crew OF the City OF Brussels states that
some of the Brussel.' boats returned TO
that steamer before she sank, snd pulled
close 10 her, so "a TO give those on board an
opportunity of saving themselves. The men
dared not go actually alongside
THE SINKING VESSEL,
for fear 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 p unged
down, bow first, in about fourteen faihoms Of
water, leaving only her topmasts visible.
The boats were rowed for time about the
spot where the City OF Brussels had gone
down, 10 make sure there were no sailors or
passengers in need OF help, and after time
The boats pulled to the Kirby Hall, which
stood by until the fog lifted, about o'clock
in the afternoon. Young and Woods we're
taken on board the Kirby Hall apparently
lifeless. All efforts to restore animation were
iruitless. When the first and second boats
reached the KIRBY Hall from the sinking
steamer, the purser shouted out rs they
pulled up alongside to send some boats at
once. The captain of the Kirby Hall re-
piled that this was impossible; that he had
only four or five seamen on board, and all
be could do was 10 stand by. The bow of
the Kirbv Hall ives stove
The officials of the Mersey Dock Board
and Liverpool Salvage Association visited
the scene of The collision and marked the
spot of the disaster, which is two miles aud
half from the lightship. The weather is
favorable, and good portion of the cargo
has been saved and other portions will
doubtless wash out. The masts and tunnels
OF the City of Brussels, which are obstruct-
ing navigation, will be removed.
Further Details.
LONDON, January S.--Further details of
the disaster to the steamer City of Brussels,
say Capt. Land was one OF the first picked
up by the boats, although he, with the chief
engineer, had been last 10 leave the rigging.
When rescued he was in the act OF passing
life buoy tosa drowning comrade. As show
ing the terrible nature OF the collision, the
purser says the main compartment OF the
City of Brussels was cut right in two. After
the collision the fog thickensd, and it was
dangerous even for boats TO move about.
They, however, approached the sinking ves
sci and found boy named Hamilton half
drowned clinging 10 the mizzen crossree.
The two Italians drowned seem to have been
lost from terror, and jumped overheard with
ont waiting 10 see what could be done for
their safety. The persons lost include
Common, quariermaster, and Cochrane,
steward. Neither passengers nor crew
were able to save anything, and
many persons were obliged 10 board the
ship with but little clothing. There is no
doubt that if the fog had cleared little
sooner all would have been saved. The
theory concerning the drowning of the sea-
men is that when the vessel lurchtd they
were struck by the rigging and rendered in
sensible. One man was found dead in the
rigging. The passengers OF the City OF Brus-
sells have drawn up the following memorial:
ave, who have Just been rescued from 8
watery grave, wish to express our sincere
gratitude anu admiration OF the courage,
promptitude and cslmuess in danger exem-
plified by the capt ain, purser aud other Off
GERS OF the Inflated vessel which has just
gone down SO near the termination oil her
voyage" Many passengers are suffering
greatly from the shock. Besides the breach
in the null the balkhead OF the City of Brus-
sells was shifted by the violence OF the col
lison, hus accounting Tor her speedy sink
ing. The captain of the Kirby Hall states
that ne backed his engines on frat hearing
the whistles OF the City OF Brussels. The
cargo OF the Brussels was valued at $3.50, 900,
and The vessel at 100000.
The captain OF The steamer Kirby Hall
states that the City of Brussels, although her
engines we're stationary, was coming on the
tide with such impetus that collision was
inevitable.
The purser OF the City OF Brussels states
that at the last moment they were putting
on steam with view Of moving to avoid a
collision, but usele-sly.
Siegel, passenger on the City OF Brussels,
g. ates that be was awakened by the crash.
He arose, bat hearing nothing further re-
turned to his berth, and was aroused again
by the call TO s'man the boats" He was
saved in the boat commanded by the purser,
which contained thirty persons.