Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-30
COLLISION AT SEA.
One OF the Old Dominion Line Steamers
Sunk.
N THE DARKNESS or A GALE TIE CLEOPATRA AND
rHE CRYSTAL WAVE COME roaErBER-THE cRys-
TAI WAVE HAD JUST BEEN BOUGHT TO PLY on
THE PoToMAC-BoTH VESSELS SANK QUICKLY


rHE CRYSTAL WAVE COME roaErBER--THE cRys-
TAI WAVE HAD JUST BEEN BOUGHT TO PLY on
THE PoTonAC-BorH VESSELS SANK QUICKLY.
New YORK, Oct. 90.-The steamer Kanawha,
from Newport News, arrived this morning with
the crew OF the steamer Cleopatra. twenty-siX
in number, aud the crew Of thirteen Of the
steamboat Crystal Wave. which were both sunk
in collision at $50 O'Clock yesterday morning
of the capes of Delaware. All hands were
saved. The Cleopatra was an American screw
steamer Of 623 tons register and was built in
1866. She was running in the Old Dominion
line and was bound from West Point, Va. for
New York. The Crystal Wave was a side-wheel
river steamer and was bound hence for a
southern port.
The boats came together about $50 o'clock
yesterday morning. The Crystal Wave was cut
down to the waters edge and the Cleopatra
commenced TO break up, and. as she was sink
ing rapidly, her officers and crew. twenty-six in
number, decided to abandon her and we're
taken of by the steamer Kanawha. from New
port News for New York. The Kanawha also
took Oh the officers and crew of the Crystal
Wave. She attempted to tow the Cleopatra.
but was unable to do 80, as the latter vessel
hlled rapidly and became q complete wreck.
The Cleopatra had no passengers. The crew
of the Crystal Wave consisted of thirteen all
told. The Crystal Wave was bound for WASH
ington.
BoUoHr FOB WASHINGTON.
The Crystal Wave was purchased week ago
last Saturday for a45.000 from the Bridgeport.
steamboat company by E. s. Randall OF WASH
ington, d. c. Capt. Dan. Martin. one Of the
placed in command of the Crystal Wave, and
she left here at $50 o'clock last Saturday after
noon for Washington. The weather was clear
and the sea smooth until the vessel reached
the Horse Shoes. There slight storm came up
and the boat anchored un1 Monday night
At 7:30 O'Clock that night the boat resumed
her voyage, proceeding without further inter-
ruption until a few minutes after o'clock
Tuesday morning. At this time the darkness
was intense. Capt. Martin was in the pilot
house, and he says his vessels side lights we're
brightly burning. Suddenly and without any
previous warning great black object loomed
up. II was 30 dark that Capt Martin says he
was unable to distinguish what it WAS Before
he could signal the engineer to slow down the
black object that Capt Martin now saw was the
bow OF q steamer crashed into the Crystal
Wave. Her captain had just time to make out
the name Cleopatra" on the approaching ves-
sells bow. when he was thrown to the floor of the
pilot house by the shock of the collision OF the
two vessels. The Cleopatra struck the Crystal
Wave at right angles between the paddle box
and the stern on the starboard side. The Crys-
tai Wave was cut clean through to the keel
The Cleopatra's planks parted, and in an instant
both vessels began TO nil with water Ii was
not then known that any vessel other than
the two that had collided was within miles of
them and hurried preparations were made by
those on board each vessel to take to the boats.
The Cleopatra was the least damaged and her
captain, Ira E. Dale, ordered his crew to lower
the life boats and endeavor to save those on
board the Crystal Wave. One or two boats had
been lowered and several men had been taken
from the Crystal Wave by the Cleopatras boat
when the coal boat Kanawha, from Newport
News to Hoboken, came in sight and all those on
board both vessels we're transferred TO the
Kanawha in the life boats. with the exception
of Capt. Martin, who refused to leave his ves-
sci and remained on board The Crystal
Waves owner, Mt. Randall, who had been
taken of, saw his vessel sinking and shouted
TO Capt. Martin to enter life boat that was
waiting for him, but the captain refused and
remained on board for an hour after the COLI
sion. Then the Crystal Wave plunged down
bow first with Capt Martin stiii in the pilot
house when she sank. He was subsequently
picked up by one OF the life boats.
NO LIVES WERE LOST.
The Cleopatra, which carried a valuable
cargo Of cotton, still remained sfioat after the
Crystal Wave had sunk and was taken in tow
by the Kanawha. She was towed for an hour,
when the water, which had been continually
pouring through her parted planks. had risen
over her hurricane deck, and il was impossible
to tow her further. She was abandoned of
the Delaware light ship. six miles from the
place where the collision occurred There had
been a crew of twenty-seven men on the Cleo
patra, which was bound from Newport News to
this port, and on the Crystal Wave there were
| thirteen men. Neither vessel carried any pas
sengers. The crews of both vessels were landed
at the pier of the Old Dominion company in
| this city by the kanawha this morning.
The captains of the lost boats each claim that
his vessel was not at fault. The Cleopatra had
recently been purchased by the Old Dominion
company as an extra vessel. She formerly be-
longed to the International steamship company
and piled between NovR Scotia and Boston She
was a wooden vessel. schooner rigged and of
about 500 tons burden She was valued at
between $40, 900 and 81, 900 and was not in
sured. The value Of the cargo could not be
learned. The Crystal Waves owner, Mr.. Ran
dali. said today that he had invested his life's
savings in her purchase and had not dollar Of
insurance on the boat.