Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-13
rnE poINr LOOKOUT coLLIsIoN.
Statements of Captain Hooper, of the
Vim. Lawrence, and the Captain OF the
Sunken Schooner in Regard to the Ae-
cident in Chesapeake Bay.

Statements of Captain Hooper, OF the
VIM. Lawrence, and the Captain of the
Sunken Schooner in Regard to the Ac-
cident in Chesapeake Bay.
The steamship VIM. Lawrence, Captain
T. A. Hooper, of the Merchants and Min
ers' Transportation Company, from Savan-
nah to Baltimore, an account of whose
collision with the schooner Sarah Lavinla
in Chesapeake Bay appeared in satur-
DAVIS MORNING NEWS, reached that port
on Friuay. having on board the survivors
of the sunken craft. Immediately upon
his arrival there Captain Hooper reported
the accident TO the Local Inspector of
Steamboats, and asked that an investlga-
ton be made. The Baltimore Sun reports
the following statements:
CAPTAIN Hooper, of the William Law
renee. SAYS: I'VE were bound up the bay
to Baltimore from Savannah, with pas
sengers and freight. shortly after 3
O'Clock a. m. Friday, while in the vicinity
OF Point Lookout. in the ship channel, the
lookout reported a green light right
ahead. Orders were then given to star
board the wheel and show our green
light, but Immediately afterwards the
vessel showed a red light. l then ordered
the wheel hard-apOrt and showed our red
light. Running on this course, each
which would have cleared both
of US, | saw the schooner
suddenly luff and change her position at
least five points to the eastward, crossing
our bows We We're steering north by
west at this time. | Immediately stopped
the steamer. but too late, as the schooner
was right under our bows. At the time
we struck the vessel we were on port
wheel and heading north by east, One-halt
east. Had the schooner kept on her ORR
ginal course the collision never could
have happened. | made every effort L
could to render aid, and succeeded in
saving Captain Anderson and two of his
men. / remained at the wreck until
twenty minutes past five O'Clock this
morning"
Capt. Anderson made the following
statement of the affair: Il left HaYre de
Grace about half-past eleven O'Clock
Thursday morning with 226 tons of coal,
shipped BY Mr.. Hills to \. A. McCul-
Tough. Norfolk, Va. There were on board,
besides myself. my wife, Henrietta Matil-
da Anderson. and my two step-children,
Wilhelmina Hull. aged five years, and
Laura Hull, in her ninth year. The crew
consisted Of Joseph LOYett, steward, Of
New York, and two cOlOred deck hands,
Chapman COfield. and Lewis Teakle. Be
tween and t O'Clock in the morning |
was standing beside Cotield, who was at
the wheel. We were a little nOrthward
Of Point Lookout. steering south by east
half-east, with leading northeast wind,
and standing we'll towards the eastern
side Of the bay. | made a green
light Of steamer with the glass.
Surprising she would pass on
my starboard side gave her my red light
when she suddenly showed me her red
light. | had no time to keep my vessel
of that | might clear the approaching
steamer. Seeing that she was going to
strike me. | threw the wheel hard down
and brought my vessel up into the wind;
but before she lutied the steamer struck
her on the starbOard side. little abaft of
the forward end of the cabin-house, cut
ting her halt way through. When | saw
the ship was about to strike me | started
down to get into the cabin to save my
wife and children, but l was knocked
overheard, and at the same time the main-
mast fell with crash. and | was caught
in the mainsail, and with difficulty eXtri-
Gated myself. l saw the top portion Of
the cabin floating in the water, and |
saved myself by getting on it, and had to
remain there until l was rescued.
While on it | felt around in hopes of find
ING my wife or either of the children. My
wife and the youngest child were asleep
in a staterOOm on the starboard side of the
cabin, about where the iron PROV of the
steamship cut through, and | think both
were probably crushed to death. Joseph
Loyett, the steward, and Laura were
asleep in rooms on the port side. Chapman
COtield was at the wheel at the time, and
Lewis Teakle was asleep in the fore
castle. but was knocked out by the COLI
sion. Teakle made for the main rigging,
but seeing it gone and the vessel settling.
got in the forerigging and escaped to the
steamer from the spring stay. think the
schooner was about five minutes settling.
Captain Hooper told me that he stopped
the engines but did not reverse them. He
launched boats from the Lawrence and
did all he could to save those who were in
the water. Chapman Cofield was saved
by clinging to the top Of the cabin with
me-"
The Sarah Layinia belonged to Green
leaf johnson d Sons, lumber merchants,
of Baltimore. She was of 126 tons regis
ter, and was about 20 years old. She was
valued at $4,000 and was uninsured. Eff
forts viii be made to recover the bodies of
those drowned in the vessel, and she VIII
probably be raised. The wreck lies in
ten fathoms of water, Point Lookout,
bearing southwest, seven-eighths south.
The VIM. Lawrence was very slightly
damaged, and will sail for this port to-
day.
CharIeston's One Hundred Years.
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