The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-25
COLLISION.
The Steamer Princess Struck by the
Steamer Crescent City.

The Steamer Princess Struck by the
Steamer Crescent City.
Yesterday morning about 1890 o'clock,
as the steamer Crescent City was near
ing Capt. Adams dock she blew for the
landing. and was answered by the Prin-
cess, which had just left Lucas dock
with party of fifteen excursionists on
board, bound for the Loser Grove. Ac-
cording to the rules and regulations for
the government of pilots, the boats were
in the fifth situation.
This is a situation requiring great cau-
ton, the red light of A in view to B and
the green light of B in view to A will
inform both that they are approaching
each other in an ohlique direction. B
should put her helm to port and pass
astern of A, while A should continue on
his course, or port his helm if necessary
to avoid collision, each having previously
given one blast of the steam whistle, as
required by the rules when passing to
the right.
y The signal of the Princess was one
j blast of the whistle, to give way to the
Crescent City and drop to the rear.
allowing the latter to pass, but instead
of dropping asteam the Princess at
tempted to cross the bow of the Crescent
City. As soon as Captain Beach saw
this he at once rang to stop and COM
menced backing Immediately, but in
spite of this the Crescent City struck the
Princess little aft of amidships on the
starhoard side and nearly capsized her.
Her side was considerably broken in and
she commenced leaking badly. The
Princess righted as soon as freed from
the Crescent City, and headed at once
for the old Florida Southern dock, where
her passengers got off.
She then went to the foot of Madison
street and was beached to prevent sink
ing.
The damage is estimated at between
$500 and $400, and coming as it does in
the midst of the busy season is serious
loss to Capt. Lucas.
The boat was in charge of the pilot
Henry L. familiarly known as Roxie,)
Bennett, and as he had been on the river
number of years, and licensed as a
pilot for fifteen years, was considered
competent.
We understand that on being asked
why he did not go as he signalled, had
nothing to say.
Captain Lucas was standing on his
wharf at the time and was watching the
Princess as she moved away. He also
heard the signals, and seeing the Princess
still holding her course he became
alarmed and jumped into boat and had
got some distance from the dock when
the two boats collided. He felt certain
that nothing could save the Princess
and expected to see his favorite little
pleasure boat cut in two and the passen-
gers in danger of drowning. His only
Thoughts was to rescue the excursionists
from watery grave, and was rapidly
nearing the scene of the accident. He
freely Acknowledges that the collision is
the result of carelessness on the part of
his pilot
The Inspector has been notified in ac-
cordance with the facts.
There We're fifteen PASSENGERS on board
and ia crew of four. Among the passengers
were Mr.. and Mrs. Losier, and it was re-
ported that she was so terrified that
there was great difficulty in restraining
her from Jumping overheard.
The fireman, Ed Perry, jumped over
board after the boat had righted and the
immediate danger was over. He swan
toward the Crescent City and was picked
up by her.
Mr.. F. E. Rosignol, so long and well
known as an efficient pilot on the river,
and usually in charge of Lucas boats,
was on another boat at the time of the
accident and was away from the city.
The Princess was being hauled out of
the river in the afternoon and will I'M
d ergo thorough repairs. The huh was
50 badly damaged that it is thought not
sound plank remains ON the side where
she was struck. 1t came near being a
very serious and terrible accident. Capt.
Beach acted as promptly as possible UNI
der the circumstances and had it not
been that his Roadway was checked and
his steamer backing at the time. there
must have been several lives lost.
Grape fruit are selling at Cincinnati at
TWENTY-FIVE cents apiece, according to
private letter received yesterday.