Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-03
AN AWKWARD COLLISION.
The Passenger Steamer, WhiIe At
tempting ro Make Bnsr Doek,
Crashes Hnto the Fra gbs fsnrgc
Specntnti0ns AZ 10 the Canse.


A collision between the steamer Brandy
wine and the steam packet Coi,ts OF ,lie 4
Warner freight line occurred Mt Philadcl-
phia about 3 O'Clock Friday afternoon.
The Coleta was lying ut ler wharf aud
the Brandywine approaching hers when
the collision occurred breaking in the
Coleta's bow from the deck rail to the
keel. The Brandywine was but slightly
injured and brought some passengers back
to Wilmington that night but the majority
of those intending to come ON her, either
because of the delay caused by the acci-
denton in order to be safe from any risk,
took tine cars home. They were the first
to report the accident here, and il created
considerable anxiety for a time, until the
arrival of the Brandywine proved that no
serious damage had been done her.
The Brandywine left as usual for PhiIa-
delphia Saturday. She will not have
to be lai6 up for repairs. She is ulittle
splintered about the bow, Which can
easily be remedied, and that. together
with q coat of paint over the repair work,
is all that will be required. This will be
done between trips. The cause of the
speed which the Brandywine kept up is
stated by the boat hands to be that tic
steering wire broke so that the engineer
could not command the boat. The
Warner people said on Saturday that it
was either from that cnuse or for the
reason that the engineer misunderstood
the signal to slack up for that to go ahead
full.
Charles Warner, of the Charles Warner
Co., owners of the Coleta, said on Satur-,
day that the steamer ran into the packet
head on and stove her in almost 10 the
keel. He said il was fortunate for the
,I.yxu fhnt tho lhunlrai t1ina fIara
otherwise she would have run into tho
wharf and damaged herself probably
worse than she did tht Coletn. The conf
pany estimates the damage to its packet
at about 50 1000. She was towed by tugs
over to the Jersey flats in the evening,
and on Saturday a squad of car
penters We're sent up to patch
her with canvas, so that she eau
be brought to this city for repairs.
She will be taken to the yards of the
jackson & Sharp Company. The steam
packe Saunterer, belonging to the same
company but heretofore running on the
New York line, will be put on the Phila-
delphia line in place of the Coleta until
the necessary repairs are made. The
Saunterer has just had the finishing
touches of some repairs to her put on at :
jackson & Sharp's.
hc 4 tHtto o1 kothbhAhiAy
contains the following account of the col
lision.
When the crash came all of the pas
sengers were thrown from their feet or
chairs and some excitement followed, but
nothing of q panic. The impending col
lision had been witnessed by most of the
passengers and they were prepared for it,
Those who were not were quickly reae-
sured by the fellow-passenge and the
officers of the boat. All of them crowded
to the front of the boat and, after con-
vincing themselves that there was no
danger, composed themselves to watching
the efforts of the steamboatman to hber-
ate the boat from the involuntary en-
brace of the barge. The PROV of the
steamer had been forced into the
side of the barge like wedge. The
wheels of the steamer were reversed, but
were unable to budge it from the tight
grip in which it was held by the timbers
of the barge
After several ineffecual attempts to
separate the two boats by means of the
steamers paddles, a tug boat was sent for s
and hawser was attached between it and
the stern of the steamer. The barge was
securely lashed to the stanehions on the
wharf and then the tug boat tugged and
the steamboat lashed the water into foam
with its powerful propeller wheel. There
was sound of crashing timbers and the
steamer moved several feet into the
stream, but the barged adhered to it as
firmly as ever. The tug and steamer had
simply succeeded in tearing away one of
the heavy stanchions on the wharf. By this
time it became evident that it might be
an all-night's job to separate the two
boats and one of the RIdgway Park boats
80 l.
from the steamer to the wharf, which was
accomplished without any mishap.
Another tug boat was called to the
assistance of the first, and after the barge
had been more securely fastened to the
wharf the two tugs, aided by the wheel
of the steamer, began the work of sepa-
rating the boats in earnest. After work
ing for nearly two hours this was accom-
plished. All the time that this was going
on gang of stevedores was at work
tightening the barge, which was heavily
laden with general merchandise. This,
precaution undoubtedly saved the barge
and its cargo, rs the moment the PROV of
the steamer was withdrawn the water
rushed into its hold through the cash in
its side, It had been cut fully three feet
below the water line. The opening was
quickly patched up, but not before three
Ieeb VI Whper nhu rHhneu luto tue uoiu.
1t was towed to Camden and beached and
will be repaired Immediately. The dam
age to the boat and cargo is estimated at
$500. 1t is owned by Warmers Will
mington Line.
The steamer was only slightly damaged.
Some of the woodwork on the prov of
the boat was splintered and the fag-pole
was broken short off and in falling struck
Park Lame, 80 years old of Chester, who
was passenger on the boat, squarely ON
the head and inflicted severe injuries. He
was taken to the Pennsylvania Hospital.
After its liberation the Brandywine took
on few passengers and some freight and
went hof3 I Wilmington.