The daily gazette., 1883-01-08
SUNK AND DROWNED.
LOSS OF THE INMAN STEAMER
CITY OF BRUSSELS.
OUT DOWN NEAR LIVERPOOL.
A Terrible Scene ON the Ocean--A Col
lisiOn in . Dense Fog at Night and Its
Details.

LoNcoN, Jan. S.--The steamer City of
Brussels Of the Inman Line was run down
and sunk By Glasgow steamer off the
mouth of the Mersey, last night, in the
midst of dense fog. Ten persons were
drowned, only two of whom were passeu-
gers. Although the disaster occurred not
far from midnight, very little was known
concerning 1t until this afternoon. The
City of Brussels sailed from New York oD
Thursday, December 2S, bound for Liver
pool, and carried moderate passenger list,
the American mails and a general cargo of
merchandise.
The City of Brussels arrived off the
mouth of the dersey in the evening. There
was dense fog at the time, and the steamer
was obliged to heave to and lay of until the
mists lifted enough for her to enter the river
and finish her journey. She was passed by
many craft and displayed her lights, and her
whistle could be plainly heard. "A Glasgow
steamer, the Kirby Hall, also delayed by the
fog, struck the City of Brussels forward
amidships, with severe shock the bow of
the Glasgow staVing In the side of the In
man vessel. A scene of wild confusion
ensued The passengers, aroused by
the collision, left the saloon and their state
rooms as speedily as possible, and only the
cooiness of Commander Land prevented
panic. The boats were manned in tine to
save all on board except 10 before the
steamer went down. Only a few minutes
intervened between the collision and the
sinking of the stricken vessel.
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER.
The bow of the Kirby Hall struck the
starboard bow of the City Of Brussels with
tremendous force, cutting her down to the
waters edge and almost half through.
The Kirby Hall was on her maiden voy-
age. She had left Glasgow only few hours
before and was calling at Liverpool to COM
plete 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 passengers and crew. Those
on board bear testimony to the presence of
mind aud coelness of the captain and
officers. Even after the collision the pas
sengers seemed to 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 rapidly. All ths passengers
were marshaled in their appointed places so
that there was no hurry nor confusion. Life
buoys were served out, the boats we're
swung and every preparation was made for
All emergency. This proved to be more
critical and immediate than was expected.
The passengers had been put into tho
boats and some of the crew took off TO man
rach of these craft. The captain aud the re-
mainder of the men continued on board
until after the safety of the rest had been
assured. The vessel got visibly lower in the
water and those OF the crew who lad not
escaped in the boats climbed into the rig
ging and awaited results. In about 20
| minutes after the impact the vessel gave q
offt In
rigging and plunging into the depths with
fearful swirl. The scene was heartrend-
ing in the extreme. The people in the boats
were enveloued In darkness and those on
the water were without help.
The Kirby Hall, after the collision, was
soon obscured in the fog and was unable to
| lower her boats or to render any active
/ assistance. The boats of the City of Brus-
sells picked up all who could be recovered.
The fog lifting, all the people were taken on
| board the Kirby Hall
When the passengers were mustered on
board of her 1t was found that but two had
been drowned. They were Italian steerage
passengers. Eight OF the crew were also
| lost, including Second Officer Young and
| Carpenter Woods. All the others are be-
i lieVed to have escaped. The Kirby Hall,
| after searching for sevaral hours, proceeded
to Liverpool, where she arrived at 10 O'Clock
last night and landed the survivors at the
| landing stage.
One of the crew of the City of Brussels
states that some of the Brussels's boats re-
i turned to that steamer before she sank and
pulled about close to her so as to give those
on board an opportunity of saving them
selves. The men dared not go actually
alongside the sinking vessel for fear the
boats would be swamped. Thus number
of those who jumped into the water were
saved, among them being the captain, who
was floating on a spar. While the boats
were still being owed about the vessel she
suddenl. plunged down, bow first, in about
| Ia fathoms of water, leaving only he top
| mast visible.
The boats were rewed for time about the
| spot where the Brussels went down to make
sure there were no other sailors or passen-
gers in need of help, and after time the
coats pulled to the Kirby Hall, which stood
| by until the fog lifted at about O'Clock in
| the afternoon.
The bow of the Kirby Hall was stove in.