Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-09
FOUNDERED IN A FOG.
THE HORROR OFF THE ENGLISH
COAST.


ness and Courage of the Crew-Adrift
In the Darkness Two Passengers
Drowned-The Rest Safely Landed.
LONDON, Jan. S.-A Times Liverpool
dispatch says: ''The Kirby Hall, the
steamer which collided with the City df
Brussels, has arrived at Liverpool. She
reports that the collision occurred at the
estuary of the Mersey. The City OF Brus-
sells foundered almost Immediately. 4
dense fog had prevailed in the vicinity of
Liverpool for several days. When the
City of Brussels arrived i'm the Vi
cinity of the northwest lightship,
about SIX O'Clock on Saturday
morning, the fog was so dense that the
Captain decided not to attempt to make
headWay but remain under steam near
the lightship. \ careful lookout was
kept. the Captain and second and fourth
officers being on the bridge, and
the pilot also looking out. The
bells were kept ringing and fog
horns were frequently sounded. For
some time the steamer lay in safety. EX-
ira lookout men were posted in every part
Of the vessel. These measures had a re-
assuring effect upon the passengers. Sud-
denly the low gurgling sound of a yes
steamer only a few yards distant and moY-
ing quietly through the water lOomed out
OF the fog almost instantly, and. before
any steps could be taken to avert it. a
tremendous collision was seen to be in
evitable. The bow of the Kirby Hall
struck the starboard bow of the City of
Brussels with terrific force. cutting her
down to the waters edge, almost half
through. The Kirby Hall was on her
maiden voyage. She left Glasgow only
lew hours before, and was calling at
Liverpool to complete loading and to EN-
bark passengers for the East.
The moment the collision was seen to
be inevitable everything possible was
done on board the City of Brussels to pro-
tect the lives of the passengers and crew.
Those on board bear testimony to the
presence of mind and cOOlness of the
Captain and officers. Even after the col
llslon the passengers seemed 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 rap
idly.
All the passengers were marshalled into
their appointed places so that there was
no hurry or confusion. Life buOys were
served out and the boats swung and every
preparation made for the emergency
This proved more critical and immediate
than was anticipated. The passengers
were lowered into the boats, and some of
the crew told off to man each craft. The
Captain and the remainder of the men
continued on board until after the safety
of the rest was assured. The vessel 0Ot
visibly lower in the water, and those of
the crew who had not escaped in the boats
climbed into the rigging and awaited re-
suits.
In about twenty minutes after the inn
pact the vessel gave a tremendous Iurch.
flinging off those in the rigging and foun-
dering in the depths with a fearful swirl.
The scene was heartrending in the eX-
treme. The people in the boats We're en-
velOped in darkness, and those in the
water were without help.
The Kirby Hall, which Immediately af-
ter the collision had rebOunded through
the violence of the impact and was soon
Obscured by the fOg, was unable to lower
her boats or render active assistance
The boats of the City of Brussels
picked up those who could be re-
covered. The fog lifting, the
of 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 were drowned. They were
steerage passengers and Italians. Eight
of the crew were also lost, including Sec
Ond officer Young and Carpenter Woods.
All the others are believed to have es.
capped. The Kirby Hall, after searching
for several hours, proceeded to Liverpool,
where she arrived at 10 O'Clock last night,
and landed the survivors at the landing
stage.
Further details of the disaster TO the
steamer City of Brussels say that Capt.
Land was one of the first picked up by the
boats, although he, with the Chief En-
L. - Al. -.
ging. When rescued he was in the act of
passing his life buoy to a drowning COM
rade. According to the statement of the
purser, the fog necessitated the stoppage
of the steamer about half an hour before
the collision took place. As showing the
terrible nature of the collision,
he says the main compartment of
the City of Brussels was cut right
i'm two. After the collision the fog thick
ened, and it was dangerous even for the
boats to move about. They, however, ap-
preached the sinking vessel, and found a
boy named Hamilton half drowned, cling
ing to the miZZen cross trees. TwOltalians,
who were drowned, seemed to have lost
their wit from terror and jumped over
board without waiting to see what could
be done for their safety. The persons lost
include, Mr.. Connor, the Quartermaster,
and Mr.. COchrane, the Steward of the
crew were able to save anything, and
many perfOns were obliged to leave the
ship with the barest articles of clothing.
The Captain of the Kirby Hall was in
defatigable in his endeavors to relieve
the passengers, but owing to low tide his
vessel was obliged TO lie outside the bar
until shortly after seven O'Clock last even
ing. when all were landed at WOodside,
and subsequently brought to Liverpool.
Before the Kirby Hall arrived at Liver
pool pilot boat boarded her with pro-
visions, which were very welcome, as the
passengers had not tasted food for a num-
ber of hours. Many of them are
suffering greatly from the shock Besides
the breach in the hull the bulkhead of the
City of Brussels was shifted by the vio-
lence of the collision, thus accounting
for her speedy sinking. The Captain of
the Kirby Hall states that he backed his
engines on first hearing the whistles of
the City of Brussels. The total value of
the cargo of the City of Brussels was
$3.50, 900. The Messrs. Inman state that
the engine of the City of Brussels at the
time of the disaster had been stationary
for fOrty-One minutes.
The Captain of the Kirby Hall states
that the City of Brussels, although her en-
gines were stationary, was coming on
with the tide with such an impetus that
collision was inevitable, The purser of
the City of Brussels states that at the
last moment they put on steam with the
view 10 moving to avoid collision, but
uselessly.
LIVERPOOL, Jan. S.-Divers have gone
to remove the masts and tunnels of the
steamer City of Brussels, which are OBJ
structing navigation. Mr.. Skinner, pas
senger on the City of Brussels, states that
the pilot jumped into the first boat
launched. This so enraged the Captain
that he called upon the crew to pull hlm
out. This caused the only incident of
confusion. Matters were conducted so
smoothly that until the five boats were
lowered the passengers did not
believe the disaster to be real
ly serious. The officials of
Mersey Dock Board and of the Liverpool
Salvage Association have visited the scene
of the collision and marked the spot of
the disaster, which is two miles and half
from the lightship. There is no hope of
saving the hull. The divers expect to
save a good portion of the cargo if the
weather is favorable. Other portions will
doubtless wash out.
The Virginia Coupon Killer Appeal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. SIN the Supreme
Court to-day in the case of Andrew Anto-
niO, plaintiff in error, VS.. Samuel Green
how, Treasurer, etc, the Virginia Seoul
pom killer" appeal, argument was COM
menced by VIM. l.. Royal for the plaintiff
in error. Mr.. Royal in opening his argu-
ment endeayOred so often to go into the
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