Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1892-07-28
A FLOATING PALACE SUNK.
W. x. vandsrbllts Magnificent Yacht
Wrecked in q Collision.

BosroS, July 25.-The steamer H F.
Dimock, of the Metropolitan Steamship
company, arrived here from New York
about O'Clock this evening. having on
board the occupants of w. X. Vanderbilts
yacht Alva, which the steamer ran down
this morning The Alva, under command
OF Capt, Henry Morrison, left the harbor at
aociock Saturday evening, bound FOR New
port, X. l., having on board the owner and
his guests-Frederick W. Vanderbilt, George
De Forest. LOU. Webb Winfield Scot,
White and Frank Riggs. all o: whom are
summering st Newport Early this morn
ing thick log set in, and it became so
dense that Capt. Morrison deemed it i'm
prudent TO run further as the vessel was
then In the track OF coasting vessels. y ter
making Pollock rip lightship anchor was
dropped. Whistles and horns We're blown
at frequent intervals and every possible
precaution taken to warn other vessels
o; tae whereabouts OF the Alva.
sleeping i'll the berths, when at a
few minutes past 5 they were aroused by
heavy crash, ACCOMPANIED by the tearing
OF the plates o their vessel. VII lam X
Vanderbilt was tie first on deck. closely
followed by Mr.. Riggs. Looming up
through The FOG they could the dark
hull q. large steamer backing away from
the yacht. The steamer was the II. f.
Dimock, whose stem had penetrated the
side Q! the Ava, staving i'll the forward
hu!Sheads. The crew OF the yacht nailed
the steamer aud informed the captain that
yacht must sink.
Capt. Coleman. OF the Dimock, after re-
ctivin.: an affirmative answer TO the ques-
ion whether the boat remained intact told
The people or the Yacht that he would lay
by until hey could b, transferred to his
vessel. A small launch. four row boats
and taphtha launch were then lowered
rom the Ava which vas rapidly sinking,
ana the owmers and Passengers with the
ere" OF ti:ty-t"o men We're soon atioat and
rapidly pulling away nom their
do med craft. Their exit was
none too soon, !or when hey We're
about cables len j from their vessel she
made violent Zee! 10 port and righting
again, plunged down bow first and moth
ing but the three !nasts sticking out OF the
water indicated the presence OF the mag
nlhceut ocean rover they had so lately de-
serted. He party were all safely taken on
boarc the Dimock. which anchored
and remained until about lao
Q CLOCK Ia the afternoon, wien the
log lifted aud a course was set 10.
Boston arriving at the dock OF india wharf
about O'Clock this evening. The Dimock
was gong al q greatly reduced speed at the
Ginc OF the collision, otherwise She would
probably run right over the Alva and a
irightu loss ot!ite would have been the
result, owing to the .act tha, a ! the pas
se!gera and one-halt the crew were as eep
at the time oil the accident.
The Ava was not built Tor speed. SAFETY
ana comfort Were the first requirements
She was q floating palace. and yachtsmen
pronounced her the finest vessel OF the kind
ever constructed in this country. Money
mad been expended lavish!y by her owner,
and It is sufficient 10 say That he was iully
satisfied with his vessel. She was screw
steamer with barkentine rig. The
American yacht list gives her ton
mage as l,l5l.2i aad her gros,
tonnage AT 6oo.55. She was 2s5
feet over all, 252 .eet on the water line, b.
feet wide and had draught OF Is teet.
III. engine was thrce-cylinier compound
direct acting type. y powe. ,ul dynamo
engine supplied The electric light with
which tile yacht was lighted throughout.
She was supplied with steam steering gear
and steam wlndlass. She was oui. in
1856, and cost about 500. 800.