Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-10-30
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AssaCIATED PRESS DISPATCHES.
Collision at sea-Two Steamers Sunk,

wha, fccm Neveort News, arrived this
morning Wish the crew of the steamer Cleo
patre, 20 in number. and the crew of Is of
the steam boat Cr3stsl Wave. which we're
both sunk 10 Collision at $50 o'clock yester.
day mornipg eff the oapes of Delaware.
ALI hands we're saved. The Cleopatra was
an American screw steamer OF 523 tons reg.
later and was built in 1865 She was run
ming on the Old Dominion line and was
bound from Weat Point. Va, for New York.
The Crystal Wave was q aide wheel river
steamer and was bound be0ce for Washing
ton. The Crystal Wave was cut down to
the waters edge and the Cleopatra com
menced to break up and. as she was sink.
Ing rapidly, her officers and crew, 26 il
number. decided 10 abandon her. The Ka
nawha attempted to tow the Cleopstra but
was Unable to do so, ss the latter vessel fill.
ed rapidly and became complete
wreck. The Cleopatra had no passengers
The Crystal Wave was purchased week
ago last Saturday for s45 900 from the
Bridgeport steamboat company by h. 3.
Randall, of Washington, D. G. Caps. Dan
Martin, one of the beat known steamboat
men in this port, was placed il command CT
the Crystal Wave and she left here at $3.50
O'Clock last Saturday afternoon for Wash
ington. The weather was clear and the
sea smooth until the vessel reached the
| Horse Shoe. Ths.e q slight storm came up
and the boat anchored until Monday night
| At 73O o'clock that night the boat resumed
her voyage, proceeding without further
| interruption units few minutes after 3
o'clock Tuesday morning. Al this time the
darkness was intense Capt. Martin Was in
the pilot house, and be Gays his vessels side
lights were brightly burning. Suddenly 8
black object doomed up. Before he could
signal the engineer to slow down the black
object that Capt. Msrtiu now saw was the
bow of a steamer crashed into the Crystal
Wave. The captain had just time TO make
out the name Cleopatra on the approaching
| vessels bow wh en- he was thrown to the
floor of the pilot house by the shock of the
collision. The Cleopatra struck the Crystal
Wave at right angles between the paddle
box and the starn on the starboard eide. |
The Crystal Wave WAS cut clean through to
the keel. The Cieopatre's pianks parted |
aud in an instant both vessela began to I'LL
with water. The Cleopatra was the least
damaged, aud her captain, Ira E. Dale, Or
dered his crew to lower the life boats and |
endeavor to save those on board the Crystal
Wave. One or two boats had beer lowered |
aud several men had been taken from the
Crystal Wave By the CIeopat,a's boat when
the Ksnawha came in sight. and all those Oh
board both vessels were Transferred to the
Kanswh in the life boats, vita the excep
ton of Capt. Martin, who refused TO leave
hls vessel. The Crystal Waves owasr, Mr..
Randall, who had bsea taken off, saw his
vessel was sinking and shouted 20 Captain
Martin to enter life boat, but the Captain
refused and remained on bard for 81 hour
after the collision. Then the Crystal Wave
plunged down bow 6rst with Capt. Martin
stil in the pilot house when soc suak. He
was subsequently, picked up. NnIives were
lost. The Cleopatra, which carried e Valu
able cargo of cotton, still remained afloat
after the Crystal Wave had sunk, and was
taken in tow by the Kanawha. She was
lowed for an hour, when the water which
had been continually pouring through her
parted plsnks, had risen over her hurricane
deck, and it was impossible to tow her fur.
Their. She was abandoned off the Delaware
lightship, six miles from the place where
the collision occurred.
The captains Of the lost boats each claim
that his vessel was not at fault. The Cleo
patra had recently BEEN purchased by the
Old Dominion Company as an extra vessel.
She formerly belonged to the International
Steamship Company. She was wooden
vessel, schooner rugged, and of about 500
tons burthen. She was valued at between
$40 900 aud S25 900 and not insured. The
value of the cargo could not be learned.
The Crystal Waves o1oer. Mr.. Randall,
said to-day that he had invested his iife's
savings in her purchase and had not dol
lar of insurance on the boat.