The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-08
PRICE, TWO CENTS
COLLISION AT SEA.
THE STEAMERS BENIsON AND EU.
REKd STRIKE.
The Latter Believed TO Have Gone Down
With all ON BOarl-How the Accidsut
Occurred-Statemsnt Of Captain Aitken-
hesd-Foreign and Domestic kilograms.
Special TO the Timcs.l

kSpcSidi w tue
NORFOLK. VA, May THE British
steamship Benson, Captain Aitkenhesd,
and the steamship Eureka, Captain
Quick of the Morgan line from New
York TO New Orleans, were ia collision
SUNDAY at 1915 pm. about 100 miles
southeast of Cape Henlopen. The
Eureka probably went down with all on
board. The Benson was bound from
Matanzas to Philadelphia with cargo OF
sugar She struck the Eureks's bow on
or about amidships. he BenisOn's bow
Is stove In for a distance OF about ten
feet, and horse and cart could be driven
through the breach.
A HEAVY Foo
prevailed at the time Of the collision,
aud the captain Of the Bension did not
see the Eureka until he was right on top
of her. After the collision the sound of
escaping steam, aud one whistle was
heard, then all was silent. Ii Is almost
certain that the Eureka went down with
all on bosrJ.
SHORTLY AFTER
the fog lifted. and the steamship Hudson
which had left New York about the same
time as the Eureka hove in sight Seeing
the signals of distress displayed by the
Bension, she ran down To her assistance.
The big hole in the Bension's bow was
partially stopped with tarpanlins, and
she was taken in tow by the Hudson aud
brought to this port, arriving about
O'Clock this morning
The fireman and engineers In the hold
Of the Benson AT the time OF the collision.
with the exception of three, deserted
their posts, and only went'back when all
danger of sinking was known 10 be past.
The Benson Is divided into water tight
compartments, and 10 this fact is due her
safe arrival In port. She II an iron
steamship OF about eleven hundred tons
register, and is owned in Liverpool.
INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN AITKENuEAD.
Captain Aitkenhead OF the steamship
Benson was seen shortly after his AR
rival here. lie says that Just before the
collision he had stopped his ship 10 take
a sounding by which 10 determine his
position, az it had been impossible to
make an observation on account OF the
fog. At the time that he went below the
fog had lifted, and while he was looking
about he WAS surprised to hear his big
whistle blow. He rushed on deck TO
find out what was the matter, and asked
the mate why he was blowing the whistle.
He was told there was a steamer on the
port bow. He listened and heard q
steamer whistle. He th ordered his
helm put hard to port, and the mate
sprang TO help the man at the wheel He
then caught hold Of the whistle and
sounded several sharp blasts H. reply
he got two whistles, which meant TO put
his helm 10 starboard. BY this time the
Benson had swung several points
to port, and ii continued, the Captain
say-, collision would not have
occurred, except probably side and aide.
In obedience TO signal from the Eureka,
he put his helm to starboard, and he then
saw through the fog Right on top of
him was the line Of foam at the Eureka's
bow tie rang his engines back, and
when the vessels struck they were thus
working. He says the Eureka was going
al full speed, and as he swung he struck
her just abaft the fridge with his bow
full on. lie says the force OF the blow
spun him around, and the Eureka passed
on into the fog and was lost To sight,
though he heard her steam escaping and
several blasts from her whistle.
THE BENIsoS's CONDITION.
The BENSON Is at the dock Of the Nor
folk l. Western railroad in this city, and
Is leaking badly She would sink were
she not on mud While being towed into
fort by the Hudson all of the crew Of the
Benson except the engineer were sent on
the Hudson a. It was thought the Beni-
son would sink
THE EUREKA
was In charge Of Captain Richard I.
Quick She had crew of thirty.eight
men. She carried no passengers. She
had a miscellaneous cargo valued at
100000 She was powerful, iron
built, screw steamer of $500 tons, classed
A American Lloyds. She was built In
1894 by Cramp Il Sons of Philadelphia al
cost of $4,000 She was S5l feet
long, fortv-two feet eight inches wide I,
had depth Of thirty-two feet six inches
She was one Of the fastest and best
equipped vessels on the Morgan line
fleet, her average speed being fourteen
knots an hour. She was divided into
wster-tight compartments, and was cou-