Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-11-14
DONE HIS FULL DUTY
CAPT. ALLEN TELLS OF THE RECENT
MARINE DISASTER.
He Repudiates All Reports that He
Did Not DO His Full Duty as COM
manding Omcer-The Disaster Due
TO Carelessness Of Spanish Officers
OF the vizcaya-Wreck on New
York Railroad Caused by the on
ciousness of BOY.
The story of an Ocean Disaster.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. Nov. 4.-Cap-
tain John Allen OF the Inflated schooner
Cornelius Hargraves, whose collision
with the Spanish passenger steamship
Vizcaya off Barnegat Thursday night
resulted in the sinking of both ships
and the loss of many lives arrived in
the city yesterday. To reporter
Captain Allen gave brief story OF the
great marine disaster and repudiated
all reports that he had not done his full
duty as the commanding officer OF the
Hargreaves. When he arrived at the
offices of Samuel j. Goucher, PIP Wal
nut street there were many friends to
greet him. After several minutes of
handshaking the captain OF the ILL
fated schooner excused himself stating
that he wanted to get on some better
clothes. When a reporter approached
him about the disaster. Captain Allen
said he had read the statement of First
Mate Perring in the newspapers and it
was in substance just what he would
give as to the case of the disaster.
Il think my first mates account of
the cause of the collision is mainly
correct" continued he. ''but can't
say that agree with him regarding
the action Of the Vizcaya officer. My
opinion is that there was not any look
out on the Vizcaya at ALL The disas-
ter was due to the carelessness Of the
officers on the Spanish steamship.
just who was culpable may.neve be
known. So far as / am concerned, /
adhered to maritime law and did my
lookout on the Vizcaya | really don't
see how there could have been "a col
lision. We saw the green lights of
the steamer several miles away. about
half hour before the disaster oc-
Cured. Our red lights, which were
in perfect order, were burning. When
Perring informed me a steamer was in
sight | went on deck. The steamship
was running at twenty knots an hour
and we were going along at about
seven knots. Being Il sailing vessel
and on the starboard side we had the
right of way. The steamer pressed
down upon us. Feeling that
something was wrong took an extra
ordinary precaution of having torch
waved, but the steamer kept bearing
down upon us. Then jumped for the
steam whistle and sounded it. Here
the Vizcaya people seemed to realize
the danger, and the steamships course
was changed, but it was too late.
Both vessels were so large III at
neither could veer about in an in
slant. We struck her midships. That's
how it all happened. 1t was gross
carelessness on board the Nizcaya. |
near have been accused of have de-
sirted Second Mate Walker and Look
out Harry Gaines; that | Intentionally
left them on the sinking vessel. That
is not true. Walker was ordered TO
take charge OF the boat, so that. the
Spaniards could not steal it. When
we pushed off from the sinking vessel
neither Walker nor Gaines were
around. 1t was their fault that they
did not get into the boat. After we
had left the Hargreaves l heard
Walker yelling to me. yelled back
for him and Gaines to jump overheard
and we would pick them up. You see,
If we had gone back to the sinking
schooner, the Spaniards would have
made a rush to get into the boat, and
undoubtedly all of us would have been
drowned. II walker and Gaines had
| jumped overheard then we would have
picked them up. think l did what
was right" Captain Allen will re.
main in the city for couple of days
and then will start for his home al
Fall River. Mass. The Cornelius Han
greaves had some twenty owners. O.
whom Captain Allen is one. They
claim that their loss will be $66, 600
the insurance on the vessel being very
light.