New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-31
TWO VESSELS GO DOWN,
SINKING AFTER COMING IN COLLISION.
THE CLEOPATRA CRASHES INTO THE CRYSTAL
WAVE-BoTH CREWS TAKE TO THE BOATS
AND ARE PICKED Irp


wAvE-BoTH CREWS TAKE TO THE BOATS
AND ARE PICKED UP
Just before daybreak on Tuesday morning the
screw steamer Neopatra and the s.de-wheel
steamer Crystal Wave came in collision and sank
OIL Cape Delaware. Fortunately no lives were
lost The Cleopatra belonged TO the Old Do
mlnlon Steamship Company and had seen her best
uhys' She was vessel of ,045 tons burden,
valued at $4,000, and was not insured Her
cargo, however, which consisted Of 945 bales of
cot'on, consigned to various people in this city,
seems to have been fully covered by insurance
inc crystal wave was wooden excursion
steamer of 700 tons old measurement and jSS
IONS according to the new scale. She was on her
way South TO engage in the business of carrying
eAcurslonlsts on the Potomac River She was
'"Iued at $4,000 and was also without insurance
Doth vessels were sl1irting the coast At a
quarter past they came together with terrific
SHOCK, the Cleopatra's stem crashing into the
siue OF the Crystal Wave about fifty
,eeo from her bow and cutting half way through
Der Then there was n rebound and they
parted. Those On board of the Crystal Wave saw
that the other vessel had lost her cutwater and
DOW. The crews of both vessels promptly took
10 The boats, and in less than half an hour were
Al
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company
captain Martin, Of the Crystal Wave remained
on board of her with Captain Randall, her owner
ai'er the four boats containing the crew had pulled
away. Captain Randall jumped into the water and
swan to the boats, but Captain Martin stuck to
MS craft until she went down, saving himself by
the aid of life raft.
Every one concerned says IL was clear night
Captain Martin, who commanded the CRYSTAL Wave
is welknown in shipping circles in this city, and
formerly had charge of the steamboat st. Johns,
OF the New-Jcrsey Central Railroad He saws that
he put out from Sandy Hook on Monday night
at 1918 o'clock after once turning back there dn
account Of bad weather He passed many craft
bound north on the trip down the coast. and had
trouble in avoiding them. lie admits he saw
from the Plot-house the steamers lights she
approached him. Beyond this he refuses to make
any statement until he files his report to-day with
the United States Local Inspectors of Steam
Vessels.
Captain Ira Dale. Of the Cleopatra, is less rcti-
cent lie told Vicc-Prcsident Stanford, of the Old
Dominion Company, that he kept straight on his
course and that if the Crystal Wave had done so
she would have escaped uninured. But she un-
eXpectcdy attempted TO cross his starDoard bow.
Before there was time to change his course the
collision occurred. The log OF the ship states that
the precise place where the crews were picked up
was eight miles south-southcast from the Five.
Fathom Lightship, off Cape Delaware. Thirteen
men, including captain. officers. crew and owner,
were taken from the Crystal Wave, and twenty
six all told from the Cleopatra. The kanawha got
two hawsprs attached to the Cleopatra and tOwed
her for an hour Then, finding that she was hope
lessly sinking, cut her loose Captain Randall, who
owned the Crystal Wave, bought her few days
ago from the Bridgeport Steamboat Company for
1000, investing his fortune, which ne had peen
a lifetime in accumuating in the purchase. lle
intended to insure her after he realized some proht
from her trip South.