Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-08-23
Sinking of the Tellapoosa.

AS stated in yesterdays GAZETTE the
United States steamship Tallapoosa, bound
from Boston for Newport was sunk late
Thursday night in Vineyard Sound, of Cot
tage City, Mass, by collision with the
schooner james s. Lowell, from Baltimore
for Portland. Four lives are supposed to
have been lost.
Captain Reed, of the schooner, states in
relation to the collision that he WAS passing
through the sound Thursday night with a
strong southwest wind, having all sails set.
The vessel was going at least nine knots.
The night wa; clear but dark. When two
miles away the lookout reported a light
ahead" Shortly it was seen to br Il red
light, and lie said speaking to the wheels
man, keep her straight" 81 stood near
the wheel during all the time. and the
course was not altered until woru came
that the green light could be seen. Seeing
that the steamer was doing nothing 10
avoid collision | ordered The helm hard
down, but before it could he done the two
vessels struck each other" The schoouer's
bow cut half way through the ship, tearing
a terrible hole in the side, through which
the waller rushed. The foremost was cut
away by the force of the collision, and the
schooncr's bow MAS shattered. The Talla-
poosa sunk, bow first, in ten minutes. All
that can be seen Of her now is about half of
her sm0kc-slack Captain Reed says ut
WAS the most careless piece of work ever
saw" The night was clear the lights of
the Lowell were burning all right and wer.
perfectly visible II long distance"
One OF the men on the lookout of the
steamer says he saw one OF the schoOner,s
lights fifteen minutes bcf"re the collision,
and reported the fact. Several of the crew
Of the steamer acknowledge the steamer to
be at fault. A sailor, who claims TO have
been in the pilot house at the lime Of the
disaster, says 1.-The captain, navigator and
mate saw he lights of the schooner, hut
disputed whether it was the green or red
light, and finally the captain exclaimed.
We'll, do something; turn her one way or
the other and then we struck" One of
the men at the wheel declares: They gave
The order hard starboard when it ought to
have been hard port
When the two vessels came together the
surgeon Of The steamer, DR.. Black, made
his way TO the hurricane deck. Here he
stood under the awning, holding fast to IL
srlire, and when Lieutenant Everett. per-
cciviug him, called ont that he better pro-
vide himself "ih Il life preServer, the sur
geon responded, Where are they ?"
The Lieutenant pointed them out, but
his friend did not move. \ sailor hur-
ryins by heard the tatcd officer remark
to himself. "WeIl, guess this is the last
Of Black - and almost Immediately the
vessel sunk. 1t l. supposed that the avn
ing prevented the officer from clearing
himself from the wreck, and he was mme-
dately drowned. The second man lost was
II colored saloon hand. named George Eos
ter, belonging in Norfolk, Via. He had
seized Il life preserver, and rushing to the
hurricane deck, threw himself over the
stern His body struck upon one Of the
monkey rails, and he was probably instant
ly killed The other two missing men,
William o. DonnclI. Of Boston, and w. +.
Jones, Of Wilmington, are believed to have
slowed themselves away on the Gate City.