The Forrest City times., 1888-01-28
A TERRIBLE CRASH.

Two His Steamships Collide In the Mar,
 rows-So Lives Lost
 NEW YORK, Jan. 2l.-The Narrows were In plain sight off tie Battery, two miles away, and the upper bay was bright In the winter sunlight Saturday noon, when two big steamships. the Switzerland and La Gascognc. crashed into each other mile below the statue Of Liberty. At the time the river and bay were dotted with the usual satur- day fleet of oatward-boGnd passenger steamers. Leading the fleet was tho Switzerland of the Red Star line, with seventy-six steerage and fifteen cabin in command of Capt. Jules Veberweg. The Switzerland was forging ahead slowly under half speed, and at abou, noon was abreast of the big steamer At that time the black and red tunnels of La Gascogne were seen passing the Battery. La Gascogne had left her dock nearly twenty minutes later than the Switzerland, with fifty-six cabin passengers and small number in tho oNOCAo6Ss 1ARt. 0antClAA was III tOtu- mand and Pilot Leran was directing the vessels course. Before Robbins reef was reached the two steamers were abreast of each other, about hundred yards apart, with the Switzerland on the starboard side. Suddenly the Switzerland swung quickly around, helped by the strong westerly wind, and headed directly for the side of the Gascogne, and the next instant her Iron prov struck from the broadside of the Gascogne 100 feet from the stern. There was a loud crash; the Switzerland heeled over to starboard and both ves- sels for an instant seemed to have lost their momentum. The first shock was followed by lesser one, and the bells fin the engine rooms of both vessels brought the big steamers to a sta dstill as they
 SLOWLY DRIFTED APART,
 the Switzerland with her bow plating and stem broken, and La Gascogne with a quarter boat and her railings smashed. A less staunch vessel than La Gascogne would perhaps have been sunk. The terrific shock was felt on both vessels, and threw some of the passengers off their feet. There was a momentary feeling of alarm and ten dency towards panic that was soon stopped by the officers assurances that there was no danger. The shock was the most severe on the Switzerland, and her steerage passengers were greatly alarmed as they scram- bled out on deck. La Gascogne slowly steamed down to quarantine and anchored, while the Switzerland headed back to Jersey City with pumps going. The damages were found to be confined to the port side of the bow. T O gaping holes on the second tier of plates below the deck showed whero the flukes and stock of the anchor had been crushed into the side by the force of the impact. The holes were each nearly three feet in diameter and hali a dozen plates were bent and smashed, The greatest injury has been done to the plates nearest the stern, Around the twenty four foot mark two plates were cracked and pushed from the bolts and below the water line the stem was broken. A gang Of 'longshoremen was at once put to work hoisting out the cargo. none of which is believed to have been damaged. Ten thousand dollars will cover the damage. La Gascogne had her rail torn away for fifty feet and | life boat smashed. She will proceed to sea tonight