New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-20
COLLISION CAUSED BY TIDE.
TWO STEAMERS CRASHING TOGETHER

An OCEAN TRAMP GIFTS HOLE PUNCHED IN HER
SIDE AND SINKS.
The steamship Britannia of the Fabrc line, from
Marseillcs. with general cargo and 721 Storage
passengers on board, steamng around Castle
William at $50 yesterday morning. The ocean
tramp BcacoasGed and the Van Dyck another steam
,hp bound for Brazil came down the East River at the
samc time The tide running strong ebb and
the space for the steamers was small. The Beacons
field had cargo of 10000 bushels of gram and was
low 10 the water The tide set her toward the Cover
bors Island shore The officers aud the pilots on all
three of the vessels that there danger OF q
collision Two ferryboats added to the crowded state
Of affairs
The pilot of the Van Dyck put his helm to port and
srounded on the edge Of Diamond Reef second
later and the Britannia and the Beaconsfeld crashed
together The Britannia struck the Beaconshed
amidsbips the port side and made hole big
,npugb for a man to crawl through, extending for
n,ree feet above the water line and for distance
below The helm OF the Britannia had been put TO port
and she struck with her port how, making a large
hole in it, but above the water line The Italian ana
French immigrants who had been watching the
manouvres of the steamers from The Britannas spar
deck were of any danger until the vessels
"a ma together The shock threw some OF them on
their feet and scared them all badly. For minute
there was n panic but the efforts OF the officers the
of the land and tho tact tna IN snip qua not
sink under them, they expected 20 see IT, soon put
them in a calrner frame Of mind Two police officers
of the First Precinct came oil board the britannia
sf,cr me collision and when any OF the iminl:"ns
showed signs OF getting "panc..y AGAIN, Gained
Mem W th the majesty OF the law
The whole affair was in lrss than minute ana
nco,e standing the Barge Office pier Watching the
Eeamers did not realize that collision had occurred
mill they saw the Beaconsied beginning to srtte IN
tLe water The Britannia went to point on wood
rna-. stores Brooklyn and anchored The Beacons-
field however was too badly damaged 10 90 anV,
where without help. swarm OF tugs were around
the vessels "a soon the accident occurred: The
wafer was rushing into the Beaconsfeld and already
her 6res were put ont. The great thing was 10 save
her carro and tugs making fast TO her started with
her Cor the Erie gram elevator in Jersey City, so that
snch Grain "a was not ac adv wet might be taken out
Meantime tugs hal pulled the Van Dyck on the roci
and rs she was unniured she proceeded TO sea:
/Ihe elevator had scarcely got TO work ON the gram
before the Beaconsfcd sank at the pier Thus the
cargo Will prove a total loss. .
The barGes from Castle Garden took the immigrants
of the-Britaunia soon after she anchorei and the
vessel then TO her pier. Both the Britannia and
the Beaconsfell in charge OF pilots when the
collision occurred. The pilot OF the Britannia says
that he could not have stood in further toward Cover
nors Island without grounding and that the tide scnt
the Beaconsiicld down him. Each pilot. OF course
banes the other aud it will be for investigation
by the Pilot Commissioners. |
The Britannia is AN English-buit steamer OF 1873
TONS Sac now flies the French flag however, being
owned by Cypran abre,.o Marseies, and Is manned
AMI Differed by Frrnchmen The Beaconshed is an
ocean tramp of LIS tons, owned by George Clongh
of North Shields Eng land she built in 1877.
She has four water tight bukheads. She was bound
foe Aberdeen Scotland The loss on the cargo OF the
Beaconsield Will be about 10000 and it will cost
can be judged before an examination is made
OF the rent in her side, about $4,000 to put her IN
order again. She be easily raised as her spar
deck is ONLY a feet below the surface. The dam
age to the Britannia will not be great.