The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-12
CUT IN TWO BY THE UMBRIA.
he French Steamer iberia Struck
by the Big cunarder.
Her Crew Saved and the Steamer
Grounded off Long Beach.
Little Damage Done the umbria
Which Returned to New York.

NEW YORK. Nov. 11.-The Cunard steam
er Umbria, Capt. McMickan, which sailed
hence for Liverpool yesterday, retur ed at
LIS this afternoon. During dense feg she
came into collision with the French steamer
Iberia, Capt. Sagols, from Bussorah, Sept
20, for New York, striking her bows on. The
Umbria's stem was started and a hole
stove in her starboard bow. Pilot
Ssyles, of the steamer Nasmyth, reports that
his pilot boat, the Calvin II. Colt, No 10,
put a salvage crew of three men on board the
Iberia this morning. The Iberia lies three
miles off shore, directly opposite Long Beach
hotel. She is lying in an easy position and
can be towed off by slipping her cables with
the aid of tugs. She has about IA feet of her
stern cut clear eff but otherwise is in good
condition. Her cargo was examined in the
hold and found in splendid condition.
The collision occurr ed only short distance
outside Of Sandy Hook and, from all the re-
ports received, was caused by the Umbria
going at too great rate of speed in the
fog. The Umbria reached Sandy
utes late, and discharged her pilot.
The weather was growing thicker all the
time, and by l o'clock it was so foggy that
half speed. Shortly after this the whistle OF
steamer was heard on the starboard bow.
Capt. McMickan, of the Cunarder, answered
and continued underway, going through the
water, as he says, at a little more than steer
ageway At this time they were shut in by
the fog, and could not see through it any
further than the length Of the vessel. Sud-
denly, through the haze, steamer loomed
into view not more than hundred yards
away. She was headed north, and just be-
ginning to cross the course Of the big Gu,
harder. Capt. McMickan says he ordered
the engines stopped, and later on, Dinute
or so, gave the signal to 60 astern. The
Umbria, however, continued to keep what
headway she had, and presently both yes
sells collided. The bow of the big CunardeI
struck the Iberia about 20 feet from the stern
and carved her way through 1t as If it wa:
made of paper. The stern section of the
Iberia fioated past the Umbria's starboard
side, and the main portion of the
hulk grated past on the port side
As soon as the vessels were cleared of each
Umbria and dispatched to the disabled yes
sci. First Officer Guilot, of the Iberia, and
| few seamen then came to the Umbria anC
| told Captain McMickan the extent of the
| injuries to the Iberia. Both vessels wert
then pointed shorewards and the ,Umbris
off Long Beach. There the latter
vessel was anchored and her captain anC
| crew, numbering 80 men, were transferred Il
| the Cunard steamer. The Cunarder remained
by the Iberia all night and until noon today
| Captain McMickan then headed to this port
| Repairs will be completed by noon to-mor
| row. The Iberia belonged to the Fabre lin,
| and was bound hither from the Persian Gulf
Her cargo consisted of dried fruits, coffee
hides, ETC. The passengers in the Umbris
say regarding the speed of the vessel at thu
time OF the collision. Some say sh,
was going at almost full speed
An hour before the collision the Umbrii
had narrowly escaped another accident
| The French steamer La Normandie. ais,
| bound out, was running about parallel witt
the Umbria and the two could hear eact
| others whistle at intervals. Suddenly La Nor
mandie's whistle sounded:nearer andiin few
seconds the vessel came in sight just before
the Umbria's bow. There were cries O
alarm but the pilots on both steamers CAV,
the proper turn to their wheels and the yes
| sells swung away and in moment were ou
| of sight again.
Ex-Mayor Thacher of Albany says tn,
shock when the Umbria struck the Iberia die
not seem at all severe in spite of the terrible
| damage to the latter. The discipline on th
Umbria was perfect 0ficers and men seemed
to know exactly what to do and their coolnes
inspired confidence among the passengers
The. crew of the Iberia seemed terribl,
afraid they would be abandoned and thei
| frantic cries were plainly heard in the Um
bria. IL took several hours to bring then
| on board the Umbria, The Iberia carried m
passengers. The officers were French, tn,
| crew Arabs, Greeks and other nationalities
The Umbria had ON board 215 cabin, 81 in
| termediate and 429 steerage passengers
| There was great excitement among them bu
| the management of the officers prevented an,
| serious panic. Amodg those on board werl
| Thomas Barrin the banker, Edward Cooper
the Earl of Norbury, Hon. Boyd Wincheste
| United States minister to Switzerland and
host of others equally well known TIL.
Umbria's damaged bulkhead was repaired a
once and she will probably resume her voy
age tomorrow or Tuesday. Her agents sa,
| she could have proceeded safely but the cap
| tain acted with wise precaution in returning
Capt. Sagols, of the Iberia, this evening
| said the Umbria was running at the rate O
about II miles an hour and came on to tn
Iberia without warning, cutting her elea
| through so that about one third Of the Iberi
| was cut off and drifted away and sank, Will
the forward part was kept afioat by air tigh
compartments. Two anchors were throw
| out to keep the wreck from drifting away
1t has probably sunk by this time. Wreck
| ers have been engaged to recover the carg
If possible. The breaking down of the Ibe
rla's machinery October 18th delayed he
| two days.