New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-01
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DEATH LEAPED FROM FOG,
A BARK SUNK BY A BIG STEAMSHIP.
FOUR LIVES LOST IN THE COLLISION STORY
OF THE ACCIDENT AND STATEMENTS
on BOTH SIDES.

on BOTH SIDES.
The Netherlands-American Steam Navigation
COmpany's boat Obdam, which arrived yesterday
afternoon at her pier in IIobolen. brings another
tale of death and disaster in the fog. On
board the OLDHAM were twenty-five passengers
who had not found place on the purser's books
when she started on her westward voyage from
Rotterdam. They were the captain. officers and
part of the icrew of the French fishery smack
~. Christopher COlomb. which had been run
down by the OLDHAM during the thick fog that
hung over the Grand Banks of Newfoundland
Saturday night and part of Sunday The col
lison cost the lives of four sailors. who formed
part of the fishing smack crew. The OLDHAM left
Rotterdam on July 10, having on board about
$50 persons, thhty-sN Of these being saloon
passengers. At o'clock on Sunday morning
the Obdam off the coast of Newfoundland,
and in the midst of an impcnetrabe mist that
hid all things at the distance of few yards. SO
dense was the fog that orders were given 10 reduce
the speed Of the vessel 10 seven knots an hour.
All through the night Captain Baker and the
second, third and fourth officers remained on the
bridgcr while there were two lookout men, one
at the forecastle and one in the crows nest. The
fog-horn was kept blowing at intervals
ranging from one TO two minutes With
morning the fog seemed 10 grow heavier and
as noon approached it was impossible 10 discern
anything ahead at the distance of a few yards.
AT 1 10 p. m. when the Obdam was in
latitude II . and longitude 50:l2 and about
2.2GO miles out. the watch sighted n ship ahead
| to starboard simultaneously with his call. there
sprang out of the fog, as though risen from the
waves, three-masted bark, heading to the south
with all sails set and trying to cross the Obdams
bows.
The bark was right under the OLDHAM. and
Captain Baker knew that he could never clear
her. Instantly he put the Obdams helm hard
aport stopped the engines and reversed them full
speed astern. This was accomplished in one min
ute, but it was too late. The Obdam turned
quickly TO starboard, and in the same instant
crashed into the bark amidships with her bow,
cutting her almost in two. The bark sank like
a log, and in two minutes had disappeared be-
meath the water.
As the boats came into collision the rigging Of
the bark fell across the Obdams bows. The
majority of the baril's crew clambered up the
rigging with the agility of monkeys and dropped
safely on the Obdams deck. Seven men and
dog came alongside the OLDHAM in a dOry and were
taken on board. In the meantime boat had
been lowered from the Obdam and was manned,
but was unsuccessful in saving anybody. For
two hours the Obdam crUlsed around the scene
yond WIeckage
When the crew of the St. Christopher Colomb
We're mustered on the Obdam'S deck It was found
/ that tour out ot the twenty-siX men who manned
her were lost Their names are Narclsse IhauNet
and Jean Dehhaies, sailors Louis Robert and
Marus Better, ship-bOys. The men saved arc
! Joseph l.. Rubatto, captain; Ferdinand Houlller,
second officer Fortune lie Francais Robert, Jean
/ Baptiste, Victor Louis Geronl, Jules Alexander
Davis, Victor Simon Roberts, Henri Francois Mor-
tier, Throdor Ernest Grlsel, Alexandra Lnless
Grse Pierre Leopold Deneuve, Robert Senateur
I Poul Alfonso Beltier. Frangule Nictorien Ongot,
Martin iiervieux Ernest HervieuX, Eugene VAN
/ chel Jean NarciSse Babeiul, Joseph SelUsten Lc
| dun. Henri Fauvel, Eugene Soutry, Charlemagne
/ Richer.
! The Obdam sustained only trihing damage.
" | cannot understand how il that the st.
! christopher Coomb's crew failed 10 hear our
! horns aud whiNles which Were blowing righr up
10 the moment of the collision, said Captain
Bakker. She did not answer one of our signals,
and we had therefore no earthly chance 10 avoid
| her Late IN the day a large number Of tie
passengers who deck at the time of the
! collision signed a memorial confirming Captain
Bakers statement Of the collision.
The St. Christopher Colomb came from Cette,
! in BRITTANY and is owned by Michel Lenagre.
She was about 90 feet long by twenty four feet
beam ard of 2j0 tons burden. At the time OF
the accident she had on board about 1870 tons Of
/ salted goldfish The estimated value of the bark,
which with the cargo is fully insured was $4,000
/ francs.
Captain Rubatto. when seen by a Tribune re-
porter said: We had dropped anchor and lay
to all through the night account of the fog.
Five minutes before the accident the mist was
still dense, but | thought | saw signs that 10
would clear away, and | SET my men 10 lift tho
anchor Que fog-horn was kept blowing al
through the night | solcmnly declare that
never heard the Obdam's whistle until lust before
the crash and it sounded but once and then the
OLDHAM had cut us down.