Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-29
SHE WENT DOWN.
THE wYASogE STRIKES AHp SINKS A
SCHOONER
An Exciting Incident at sea-The State
ment Of q survivor-Ten Min
utss' Work.
IspecIal telegran, 70 the pIspateh.l

NORFOLK, Va, March 2S.-The Old Do
minion steamship Wyanoke, Captain Smith,
arrived here tonight, bringing thesurylvors
ola collision of the Cspes OF Delaware this
morning, where the schooner Ruth Darling,
Captain Edwin Lowell, with n crew OF
seven men, bound from Ponce, Porto Rico,
Tor New Haven, Conn.,, with \ cargo OF mo-
lssses, was struck by the Wysuoke and sunk
with all on board within ten minutes. and
only portion OF the crew were picked MP.
Arthur Ashton, seaman, one OF the sur'l>
vors OF the schooner, states that the collision
occurred this morning ut 2:15 O'CLOCK, when
the weather was so thick that. he could not
see hall the length OF the vessel. lie bad the
lookout and was the only watch on deck and
Captain Lowell was at the wheel. He heard
Jaw the hight at her masthead.
lie sung out TO the Captain: "Light right
ahead" The steamer was then bearing down
RAPIDLY on the schooner. He saw that the
WyanOke showed & green light, and the only
chance Tor the schooner was TO port helm,
and sung out 10 Captain Lowell TO port helm,
but instead OF porting the helm the Captain
put the helm a-starboard. The next mo-
ment the WyanOke struck the schooner with
a terrific crash on the stsrbOard beam for
ward OF the main rigging, cutting hall way
into her and causing her TO sink In ten min
utes. Ashton gave the alarm TO the men
asleep below and they hsd barely time to
scramble 10 the deck, when the vessel went
under aud left them struggling 10 the water.
Ashton sprang on the steamer and chung
on her side until hauled over the
rail. The WyanOke threw overheard
buoys and lIie-lines, and I've OF the men
swan b. the lines and held on until they
han on " vaupka
Captain Edwin Lowell and seaman named
Charles Harrison were lost, having been
sucked under by the wreck or washed
away. Those saved were Chief Mate Rad
ford Brown, Frank Trepto, the cook, aud
Seamen Arthur Ashton, Ambrose Harrison,
and John NeelsOu. They are now being
cared for on board the Wyanoke, and will
be carried 10 Richmond and then 10 New
York. The Wyanoke was hove to on the
scene OF the disaster for two hours, blowing
her whistle and making every possible
search for the missing men. As the schooner
went down the wheel OF the Wyanoke
dragged over her. and Mate Brown was
| caught in the wheel and very badly
hurt about the head and shoulders
before be could be gotten out. Captain
Smith In person tonight carried the mate TO
st. Nincenps Hospital.
The Ruth Darling was twenly.three days
ont and belonged in New Haven. Captain
Lowell belonged IN Buckspor Me-, aud
Charles Harrison was from Norway.
The passengers on the Wyanoke were
asleep ut the time Of the collision, but were
all quickly on deck. They state that Cap
tain smith and his officers behaved with
great GOODNESS and did everything possible to
rescue the men on the unfortunate schooner.
Both the officers and passengers on the
steamer attribute the disaster to the thick
weather.
The passengers made up purse Of $50 for
The survivors and furnished them with some
! fresh clothing, as they bad no time 10 save
anything whatever from the schooner