The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-29
COLLISION AT SEA.
The United States Steamer TaIIapoosa
Collides With Collier and Sinks
Four Lives Lost.

The United States Steamer TaIIapoosa
Coilides With Collier and Sinks
Four Lives Lost.
Boston, Mass, August pa report has
just been received from Cottage City say
ing that the United States steamer ITALIA.
poosa collided with coal schooner off Mar
tha's Vineyard last night and Immediately
sank. All the officers and crew were saved
with the exception of Surgeon Black and a
colored servant who went down with the
vessel. The crew escaped to the deck of
the collier which Immediately started for
Woods HoIl, but being oyertaken by the
Gate City, of the Boston & Savannah line,
they were transferred to that vessel and
landed at Woods Hon. The United States
steamer FiSh-Hawk went to the scene of the
wreck where nothing could be seen except
the top masts of the sunken vessel. The
Tallapoosa was enroute for Newport to re.
ceiye Secretary Chandler and party, all OF
whose effects were on board the wrecked
steamer and lost.
Another account says the United States
steamer Tallapoosa collided with the collier
Lowell, of Baltimore, off Martha's Vine
yard Thursday night and sank in five min
utes. The scene of the accident was of
Squash Meadow Shoals The colliding yes
sci was loaded with 1900 tons of coal. The
crew of the Tallapoosa, consisting of 16C
officers and men, escaped from the sinking
man-of-war to the schooner with the excep.
ton of Surgeon Black and colored servant
named Foster. The collier Immediately set
sail for Woods Holl, but was overtaken by
the steamer Gate City, of the Boston &
Savannah line, and the crew of the sunken
vessel was transferred to her deck. The
officers and men were landed at Woods
Holl. There the United States steamer
Fish-Hawk was lying, and the crew en-
barked on her and Immediately started for
the wreck. The Tallapoosa sailed from
Boston for Newport, where she was to have
received Secretary Chandler and party,
She was fourth-rate paddle steamer of $50
tons, carried two hoWitZerS and was used as
a despatch vessel.
AdviceS from Woods Holl states that
many of the survivors were af10at for some
time before they were picked up by the
rescuing beats. The weather was mild SO
they did not suffer greatly. The schooner
that was in collision with the Tallap0osa is
the James s.. Lowell, of Bath, Me-, Captain
Reid. She is three-masted vessel of sos
tons, built in 1883, and owned by johnson
q Lowell, of Bath. She cleared at Balti.
more August Is for Portland. The Lowell
has on board several of the crew and it is
possible the missing men may be among
them. Lieutenant Commander Merry was
asked to detail the circumstances of the
disaster but he refused, saying that his re-
port would be made to the Navy Depart
ment.
The officers of the TalIapoosa were al
follows: Lieutenant Commander j. F.
Merry, Lieutenants w. II. Everett, M. H
Schwenk and F. E. Beatty, Ensigns S. w
Prepmeyer, f. w. Tappan, Past Assistant
Surgeon G.. E. Black. Past Assistant Pay.
master Smith, Past Assistant Engineers
w. S. Moore and n. II. Lamlin, Assistant
Engineers, j. D. Sloan and f. C. Bowers
Past Assistant Surgeon Clarence E
Black. who is supposed to be drowned, was
native of New Brunswick and was ap
pointed to his present position November
Ia, 1871, from Pennsylvania. He ranked
as First Lieutenant Had seven years of sea
service and five years shore duty and wa:
one year under waiting orders.
~ Paymaster John F. Tarbell, of the Navy
Yard, passenger on the TaIlapoosa, say'
everything went well until we reached
Martha's Vineyard. We were six miles Il
eight knots an hour, when the schoone
ell T INN
bled out of bed, and just ther
some one called down the companion
way, "All hands abandon the Ship
was no excitement. The officers and mel
| but most of us took to the boats. This i
the result of sliding down the chains (show
| ing his hands, which were terribly blisteret
| and torn.) We were in the channel anC
| the schooner had struck us square on tn
starboard side by the foremost. TIL
| schooner'S bow had cut half through tn
| ship, tearing terrible hole in the sid
through which the water was rushin
| The foremost was cut away and tn
schooner's bow was shattered. The ITALIA
poosa sank in ten minutes. All that ca
| be seen Of her now is about half of he
Smoke-stack. There was 10 time to say
anything. We had to leave just as W
| turned out of bed. The schooner sent on
boat to pick up those in the water and t,
render assistance. Another Schoone
came up and took part of tn
men while the remainder went on boar
the Lowell. She was leaking badly so GU
men took a turn at the pumps. The Cat
| City came up in few minutes and tool
| all the Tallapoosa's men. l want you
say good word for the officers and crew o
the schooner. They treated us with tn
greatest kindness. Our men were destitrlt
| of clothes, but their wants were supplies
by her officers and men.
Captain Reid, of the schooner Lowell
| states: "When two miles away the lOokou
reported "Light ahead" The course wa
not altered until the green light could b
seen. To avoid collision, seeing the vesse
bearing the light was doing nothing to avoi
us, ordered the helm hard down, but be
| fore it could be done and before my yesse
had altered her course the two vessel
| struck, their sterns seemingly coming tc
| gether exactly. found my vessel leak
| ing badly, though not in immediat
danger of sinking. The Tallapoos
| drifted away and sank in ten minutes
before many of the officers and crew ha'
left her. Before she went down those VIII
could took to the rigging, and were take
| off later Our vessel is badly damaged.
i is the most careless piece of work l ever saw
The night was clear; the lights of tn
Lowell burning all right and perfectly Visi
bic long ways.
-Four persons lost their lives: DR.. Black
the surgeon; O'Donel, seaman; Jones.
landsman, and the saloon boy (colored.)
WASHINGTON, August ga dispatc
received at the Navy Department thi
morning confirms the report of the sinkin
of the TalIapoosa last night. DR.. Black an
George Foster, landsman, are missing an
| supposed to be drowned.
Fifty Striking Miners Arrested.