Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-01-12

AZ LNNAN srEANsHLp SUM-.

SHE Is RUN DOWN IN THE MERsEY By A u1As-
Cow STEAMER, HER BOWS STOVE, AND SIMS
IN TWENTY M1NUrEs-rEN MIN DROWNED.
Tho steamship City of Brussels OF the In
man line, which sailed from New York Dec
%, for Liverpool, was run down in the Chan
mel, near the latter port, by the Glasgow
steamer, the Kirby Hall, early last Saturday
morning and sunk A dense fog prevailed at
the time. Eight of tho crew aud two pas
sengers were drowned. The London des-
patch giving particulars of the disaster is as
follows;
When the City of Brussels arrived in the
vicinity of the Northwest lightship, at about
G 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 careful lookout
was kept bells wero kept ringing and fog
horns were frequently sounded. For some
time the steamer lay in safety. Extra look
out men were kept posted in every part Of
the vessel. The measures had n roassuring
effect on the passengers. Suddenly the low,
gurgling sound of vessel approaching was
heard, and large steamer only few yards
distant and moving quickly through the wa
ter doomed out in the fog. Almost instantly,
and before any steps could be taken to avoid
it, q tremendous collision was seen to be in
evitable. The bow Of the Kirby Hall struck
the starboard side of the City of Brussels
with terrific force, cutting her down to the
waters edge and almost half through. The
Kirby Hall was on her maiden voyage She
had left Glasgow only few hours before,
and was calling at Liverpool to complete
loading and to embark passengers for the
East. The moment the collision was seen to
be inevitable everything possible was done
on board the City of Brussels to protect the
lives of the passenger and crew. Those on
board bear testimony to the presence of mind
and GOODNESS of the captain and officers
Even after the collision the passengers seemed
to be unconscious Of the gravity Of the stu
alton and the terrible gap which had been
made in the forward part OF the vessel She
was known, however, to be leaking very rap
idly.
All the passengers were marched into their
appointed places, so that there was no hurry
or confusion. Life buoys were served out,
the boats were swung and every preparation
was made for an emergency. This proved
to be more critical and immediate than was
anticipated The passengers had been put
into the boats and some Of the crew told of
to man each of them the captain and the re-
mainder of the men continuing on board uu-
til the safety of the rest had been as
sured. The vessel got visibly lower in the
water, and those of the crew who had not es-
capped in the boats climbed into the rigging
and awaited results In about twenty min
utes after the impact the vessel gave a ire
mendous lurch, flinging of those in the rig.
ging aud plunging into the depths with fear
full swirl The scene was hCartrending in
the extreme. The people in the boats were
enveloped in darkness, and those in the wa
ter were without help. The Kirby Hall,
which Immediately after the collision had re-
bounded through the violence Of the impact,
and was soon obscured in the fog, was una
BILE to lower her boats or to render any active
assistance. The boats Of the City Of Brus-
sells picked mp all who could be recovered.
The fog lifting, all tue people were taken
on board the Kirby Hall, and when they
were mustered on board Of her it was found
that two Of the passengers Of the City Of
Brussels had been drowned. They were
steerage passengers and were Italians. There
were also eight Of the crew lost including
Second Officer Young and Carpent.r Woods
All the others are believed to have escaped.
The Kirby Hall, after searching for several
hours proceeded to Liverpool and landed the
survivors at the landing stage. Neither the
passengers nor the crew OF the City Of Brus-
sells were able to save any thing aud many
persons were obliged to leave the ship with
only the barest articles OF clothing.
The wrecked steamship was one of the
best known Of the Inman feet, and before
the entry into the service OF the larger yes
sels-the City of Berlin and the City of
Rome-was, perhaps, the most popular with
the travelling public. On several occasions
she has made remarkably quick passages for
vessel Of her class.