The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-05-27
TWO STEAMERS COLLIDE.
The Gov. Stafford and st. Nicholas To-
pether in Port Royal Sound.

PetleF II FOIE AsOy 81 oCNuu"
The steamers Governor Stafford and st.
Nichoiaslcolhded in Port Royal sound, about
fourteen miles from Beaufort, yesterday
about / O'Clock. Each steamer had on
board between $50 and 200 excursionists
bound for Beaufort The two steamers left
here about 10 o'clock in the morning aud
steamed along smoothly for the first forty
FIVE miles Of the trip.
Capt Usina was in command Of the St.
| Nicholas and Capt Mccullough Of
the Governor Stafford. The boats
were making about twelve miles
an hour when the collision occur cd
! Fer a moment almost a panic prevailed
Just whose fault caused the collision IS not
easy TO determine. Passengers and officers
| Of each boat deny all blame and
each steamer saddles it on he other.
The Governor Stafford reached her dock
| at 80 o'clock last night aud a MORNING
News reporter saw one Of her officers before
leaving the vessel The Governor Stafford,
be said. was running quarter Of a point Of
the compass outside Of the buoy. She blew
twice for the right of way, and
the St. Nicholas gave the signal
for the Governor Stafford to take the
right Of way The St. Nicholas crossed
the Governor Safford's bow, aud ran
along to the starboard side. She
changed her course again after
running short distance, and
started t. cross her bow again. The Stafford
signaled for the right of way, and steamed
ahead. The S. Nicholas signaled, giving
the right of way, but kept her course u
cross the Governor Safford's bow. The
Governor Stafford could not veer ont insi de
the buoy, without endangerink the vessel
and the lives OF the passenger.
Neither vessel Stacked, and in a moment it
became evident 70 the eXcurslohlsts on eaca
beat that collision was i'm llent Every
BODY ru.hei TO the deck and a moment later
the ats were together side Y side Tee
bulwark gates II the st. Nicholas were
mash d in. The steamers chung to each
other and ran locked for ten or fifteen
minutes, when the St. Nicholas drew away
and llowed the Governor Stafford into
Beaufort. arriving there between 2:30 and
3 O'Clock.
The ST Nicholas left Beaufort an hour
after the Governor Stafford aud reached her
moorings here about 10: 30 O'Clock last night.
Capt. UsiHa was the last of the steamer.
He told a MORNING News reporter that ne
intended 70 report The collision
to the steamboat inspectors to day
for their investigation. he dam
age to his boat, he said, is not
great, still the collision might have been
prevented. Capt. Usna said that it was a
surprise and a shock to him to see the
Governor Stafford crash into the S.
Nicholas when there was no earthly cause
for it, THE st. Nicholas" ne said, was
running dead ahead, and the Governor
Stafford had a mile on either side Of hsr.
When the Governor Saff Jrd blew,
the St. Nicholas signalsd her the
right Of way, because she had
as much room as she wanted all around
The G vernon Stafford sim ly overlook the
ST. Nicholas and ran into her, Capt. UAna
said land that is all there is of it.n He &C
C united SCR the dam gs to has vessel and
none to the Governor Stafford in this way:
The st. Nicholas had more people
aboard, and when they saw the wo
steamers coming together they rushed
across the deck and caresn d the
stea er over on her side This caused her
guard to go below that Of the Governor
Stafford, and it was an easy matter to
smash IN the bulwarss Neither steamer
Stacked speed, and an inspection was not
made until Beaufort was reached, an hour
later The passengers were ali in a good
humor when the vessels swung into their
a d each one had some funny in
cident 70 tell about the accident.