New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-22
STEAMERS CRASH.TOGETHER.
THE SWITZERLAND AND GASCOGNE IN
COLLISION IN HE BAY
NO ONE HURT, But GOOD DEAL or DAMAGE
CAUsED-THE ACCIDENT nAPPENgD AT NOON
WITH TIE sun SHINING BRIGHTLY

NJ oNh hoHl, But GOOD DEAL OF DAMAoE
cAUsED-THE ACCIDENT nAPPENGD AT NOON
WITH TIE sun SHINING BRIGHTLY
WHICH VESSEL WAS AT FAULT
One of the most remarkable steamship collisions
on record occurred yesterday near Bcdows Island
between the French Line steamer Gascognc and
the Switzerland Of the Red Star Line the two
vessels were going out TO scd. The two vessels
are among the largest that visit this port. They
were both commanded by men supposed to he
experienced seamen and each had licensed har-
Dor pilot on board. There was abundance Of
comparatively clear sea room all sides. 1t
shortly after noon and the sun shone brightly.
let under all these favorable conditions the vessels
came together with such violence as to compel
the Belgian steamer to put back and 60 into dry
dock for repairs. The GascOnc escaped with
comparatively slight damage, not enough to pre-
vent her from going on her voyage.
WHO Is To BLAME FOR THE BLUNDER7
On whom the responsibility for this accident,
or rather incXcusable blundcr, rests only DE
determined by official Investigation. Each side
bLnneo the other and the statement made by one
is at complete variance with that given ny the
other. Louis De BeDlan agent OF the French Line,
dICef haiNS an examination VI the audlr declared
III thc most positive tcrhIs tlIaJ The collision wds
entirely The lault Of the Switzerland. Tins charge
Is uehieu Will great emphasis by Ciptdln jules
Ueberweg, oI the Began 81 amer and by all other
officials vi the company VINO have expressed them
selves
he facts OF the ease, so far as they could be
ascerr,incd, are these: The Gascogne was adNer-
tscd 10 lc-ve her pier at Morton ST., North River,
az ii Il. III. and the switzerland W2s 10 leave her
pier Ill Jersey City half an hOur later But the
Red Star steamship swung odu from her pier in
Jersey City "a little ahead OF the GascoGne and
started down the bay at the rate Of about ten knots
an hOur Tie French vessel is much faster
sailer. She did not start until fifteen or twenty
minutes after the appointed hour but soon began
to overhaul the other They almost side by
the island off Robbins Reef they began to get
dangerously close together.
THEY GET DANGEROUSLY NEAR EACH OTHER.
Cal tain Ueberwcg and Pilot William Parker
on the Switzerland bridge at the time
They had noticed the Gascogne their starboard
quarter, but did not pay much attention TO her un-
til she BEGAN, they assert, to sheer toward them
tor the evident purpose Of crossing the Swtzer
lands bows. Captain Sar toli Of the Gascogne,
with Pilot Oscar Evans were the bridge of that
vessel at the time When the vessels got within
about hundred feet OF each other and nearly
abreast Captain Uebcrweg became alarmed and
put tie Switzerlands wheel TO port, letting
her bow TALL of to the stai board and away from
the direction in which the Gascogne was travel
ling.
Here the statements OF the captains BEGIN to
clash Tie SwitZtrland's commander declares that
vhen he shccred. tie French ship followed him, to
his great surprise and alarm. lie continued 10
sheer away, hut the GascOgnc kept following and
hy her superior speed came almost alongside
Seeing then that a collision inevitable Car
tain Ueherweg stOpred the engines but. of course,
il then toe late TO affect the speed of the
vessel materially. Consequently the Switzerland
struck the French steamer with Tremendous force
inst abaft amilsliDS.