Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-12-08
NEWS By TELEGRAPH.
From ALI Quarters.
COLLISION OF STEAMERS.
Two Vessels Come Together
Near Sandy Hook.
COUNCIL WITH INDIAN CHIEFS.
Serious Railroad Accident
in Vermont. 81
PLANS FOR 4 week IN CONGRESS.
A Western Town Terrorized by
an Ex-Cowboy.
PLANS FOR A Week IN CONGRESS-
COLLISION AT SEA.

The French Steamer La Cham
pagness Stem Carried Away by the
Lisbonense-How the Accident oc-
curred-Accounts of the officers
Panic on the Steamer SaaIe.
NEW YORK, Dec. THE French steamer
La Champagne, which sailed from this
port for Havre at noon Saturday, returned
to her dock at the foot of Morton street
morning with the freight steamer
Lisbonense bound to Brooklyn from Rio
Janeiro. La Champagne lost piece of
her stem, about ten feet long and three
feet wide, above the water line. The acct
dent occurred about two miles south of
Sandy Hook. The stem of the La Cham
payne struck the stern of the Liabonense
and both vessels escaped serious injury.
No person was hurt. After the collision
the Lisbonense proceeded on her way to
her dock.
Captain Boyer of the La Champagne
gives the following version Of the affair:
We sailed at noon on Saturday with 449
cabin and steerage passengers. We had
pilot and the tug Assistance to lead us
out to sea, because the weather was
foggy. On the way out we passed the
Etruria. We went through the main
channel and shortly after 5 o'clock this
morning we sighted the Lisbonense coming
towards us quite speedily Her route lay
through the south channel We were
going at half speed to keep going,
as the channel is but 200 feet wide
and we would be washed ashore if we
stopped It was SO dark that I could only
make out the lights and outline of the
ship. Our pilot signalled the other vessel
that we would cross her bow, we having
the right of way. The other vessel, much
to our surprise, answered that she would
cross our bow. I saw that if she persisted
in her course, and continued at the same
rate of speed, we would cut her down
amidships. I relieved the pilot and gave
the signal to stop my ship. The vessels
approached each other steadily and finally
came together, La Champagne's bow strik-
ing the others stern, but, owing to the les
sened speed of my ship, without doing any
very serious damage. 1t was dark at the
time, but the fog had cleared and the stars
were shining"
Pilot H. A. Devere, who had charge of
the La Champagne, corroborated Captain
Boyer's statement in every particular, add
ing: 'tFor moment thought either ves-
sci must cut the other in two. 1t is my
opinion that the captain of the Lisbonense
was alone to blame. Captain Parker of
the tug Assistance also says that the fault
lay with the Lisbonense. Although La
Champagne was making no water and was
in no danger, Captain Boyer determined to
| return to port and take no chances. When
| the vessel reached her pier A. Forget, gen.
| eral agent of the line, told the passengers
Wednesday, when La Gascogne would
take them on their voyage. La Champagne
will go on the dry dock tomorrow. The
passengers were asleep when the collision
occurred and but few were awakened, so
slight was the shock. There was no ex-
element. The Lisbonense is lying at Mar
tins stores, Brooklyn.
| Her commander, Captain King, said in
regard to the collision: "We took on q
pilot about fifteen miles off Sandy Hook.
The weather was calm, and we proceeded
at full speed. When we sighted the French
steamer our pilot signalled "We will port. "
I am not sure of the reply. 1t was La
Champagne's duty to keep out of our way.
The current was against us and the
Frenchman struck us ON the port side
about twenty-five feet forward of the
stern. The Champagne's nose crashed
into our side about four feet, broke off
and grazed few feet further, and then
the vessels separated. I think the French
l
bonense has gaping hole twenty feet long
and ten feet wide just forward of the
stern. The lower edge of the hole is two
feet above the water line. Captain King
could give no idea of the amount of dam
age. 1t will take ten days to make repairs
ROUGH PASSAGE OF THE sAALE.
The north German Lloyd steamer Saale
which arrived this morning had tn,
stormiest passage she ever EXP erienced. Or
Monday last the strong westerly gall
turned into a hurricane. Every wav
washed the deck fore and aft A towering
mountain of water swept over the bridg
and deluged the officer in command
This was followed by another of equa
size and shortly afterwards by a third
The command was given to heave-to ami
await the subsistence of the storm. TIL
steam was shut off and then there occurre
a sudden down draft through til
I furnaces which forced vast volume
of smoke into the stoker
compartment. This pulled up th
air tunnels and rushed into the saloon an
dining rooms Some excitable perso
yelled "fre," and for while panic pr
vailed. Only the prompt assurance of tt
officers that there was no danger proven
ed serious consequences. It was eigf
hours before the ship could resume be
course. Tuesday was also a stormy da,
and on Wednesday the bridge was agai
D swept by waves. When the Saale reachs
the Newfoundland banks her decks we
g covered with ice. Neils Simeonson, an II
y migrant, died of delirium tremens on N
u vember 81, and on the following day Al
g Chevis, another steerage passenger, died
\ pneumonia Both.were buried at sea