New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-17
CUTTING A BARK IN TWO.
TIE STKAMsHIP MAIN HUNS DOWN KUH'IAN
sEL-ONE MAN LOST.
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

TBY TELEGRAPIt TO THE TRIBUNE.
HALIFAX. April 16-The North German Lloyd mail
steamer Main, Captain Christofers, NewYork April
H. for Bremen via Southampton with 2i3 passen-
GERS arrived here to-day with two large holes stove in
her bows She had been In collision with and had
sunk a Russian bark the night Of April ii. The
Main had a heavy list to starbOard. Her stem was two
feet higher out of water tlan her stern and the cash IN
her bow presented an ugly appearance, showing at
once the great force Of the collision and the narrow es-
cape that the steamer had from sinking. Officers of
the steamer refused give the details of the accident
but the following connected story obtained from
the captain and chief officers OF the steamer and bark
and Captain Bedford PIN. English Royal Navy, and
other passengers Tho steamer left New-York at D
a m on Saturday with a general cargo and 14o
steerage and 70 cabin passengers the latter largely
comprising women and children. All went wen WI
o'clock on Tuesday morning when IN latitude 4o' 0f
longitude, $40 80; 900 miles from New-iOrk and 400
miles southeast of Halifax, the steamer crashed into
the Russian bark Kaaja and sunk her, Chief Ohcer
Ecbel was on watch. The night, was dark, but the
weather mild and the sea calm. The CHIEF oihcer
saws that he did the bark until few moments
before the collision. Both vessels steering IN the
same direction. As as he saw the barks red
lights and found her so near, he put the helm hard
aport and reyer.ed enEnes me as% Thn re
suit that moment later the steamer going at full
speed crashed nco the bark just behind the mzzenDast
and cut her into two. The force Of the collision shook
crashing down on the deck.
There was great oom motion among the passengers.
Captain Bedford PIN says that the ladies. teng as
sured that there no danger remained IN the caDn
and behaved like bricks but that pandemonium
regned among the steerage passengers. They rushed
on deck in the widest excitement and many OF them
behaved like uaniacs. The acted with great
coolness. As soon the steerage passengers were
under control, boat was launched and manned by
the chief officer look for the OF the vessel who
were shIeking in the darkness for help In a short
tim the to the steamers side III their
and efforts then made to ascertain the damage to
the Main.
Captain Kaakinen Of the lost bark. said jumped
out my bunk in my night clothes through the rush
ing waterin the companion way and cabin ordered all
hands aft and launched the boat In which all hands
jumped. When the bark capslzed we sung out to the
steamer not &c leave u.s. Meanwhile the steamer had
launched Ioat. Our were taken on board. my
self being the last TO leave the boat Three men were
missing and the steamers boat was sent to look Tor
them The mate found some distance away float
ing between pieces OF logwood and the steward was
floating the companion way OF the after hatch. The
man at the wheel could not be found We were
steamer and supplied with all necessities. The
steamer lay to until daylight when another boat was
launched and the second officer and crew went to
look for the missing wheelman. We found the stern
of the ship floating. The wheel bar was broken and
the rlan at the wheel probably killed by the col
son In another direction. found the lore part oil
the hull with bow under water and bottom up.
Temporary repairs in the steamer viii be made mere
and Captain Ch1stoer expects 10 sail not later than
Sunday. The bark which had GOO tons OF Iogwood Ia
her hold ana 81 tons on her upper deck remarkably
large cargo for vessel OF her size, went down III ten
minutes after the collision. The steamer had q Won
derful escape from the fate Of the State OF Florida