New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-11
LA BkETAGNES CRASH.
SHE RUNS HALF WAY THROUGH A PIER.
HEAVY TIMBERs SENT FLYING-GREAT ALARM

HEAVY TIMBERs SENT FLYING-GREAT ALARM
on TIE STEAMER.
The big French steamship Bretagne while trying
to get out of port yesterday morning went crash
ing into the new extension of the pier at Frank
Inst. and the North River. The pier was cut
hallway through and the steamer badly damaged
Fortunately no one was killed or even hurt.
Ne Bretagne left her pier at MortOn-st shortly
after o'clock yesterday morning bound for Have,
with about 100 cabin assengers Oh board. She
backed on. into the stream as usual, going well
over toward the Hoboken shore, while strong
Glib tide flowing GOWN the liver and a pdfng
tug assisted TO turn her head toward the Mar
rows II was misty morning, but objects on
both shores could be seen distinctly. As soon az
the stem of the steamer was well around, tue
tug cast of and the pilot signalled TO go ahead
at full speed. The great ship started diagonally
for the Ncw-York shore, the tide carrying her
down stream rapidly. The helm was ported,
but the Ship turned slowly. and Captain Collier,
who was on the bridge, said to the pilot that they
we're getting in dangerous proximity TO the New
Yorl; piers The pilot. Marshall Il. White, re-
piled that he thought there was room enough for
the ship TO turn as she had good Storage way
on. Then the plot ordered the helm hard a-port.
The ship obcyed her helm slowly and it was
evident that She would strike the Franklin-st.
pier if she KEEP
Tie pilot sgnallcd to back her, but the ships
momentum was 80 great, and the tide was running
so strongly, that almost before she began to feel
the reversed action Of her screw She struck the
pier and went hallway through it. There was
great excitement Oh the pier and great excitement
or the steamer for time. There was sound Of
smashing timbers and breaking and rending iron
Tie steamer backed away clear Of the wrecked
pier with the plates on both bows stove in, rip
ped and torn. Most of the passengers were IA
breakfast when the collision took place. but
few deck waving n farewell TO their
friends on board. When La Bretangne struck the
pier she carecned Sharply 10 starboari, and that
with the shock, brought everybody on deck.
The pier struck is occupied principally by the
Homer Ramsdell Transportation Company. which
runs small boats up the Hudson. one two
small steamers were lying at the pier at the time
and it looked at first as if La Bretagne was going
TO strike one Of them As il was the steamer Sea
Bird was injured about her upper works by the
timbers Of the pier which the big steamer sent
lying. La Brctagne struck the pier about twenty
leet uom lt9 outer end. On the end OF the wharf
were two trucks, and she cut so far in that the
chasn lad TO be brdgcd over after the accident
in order to enable the trucks to get to the shore
The steamer after the collision returned 10 her
pier, and IL will take Ten days TO put her in con
diton 10 leave 1t again. There about ten
plates stove in and ripped in her bows, and when
she backed away she carried pieces Of the pier
sticking out from the holes in her On the port
side the plates We're smashed III. On the star
board side they We're ripped upward and outward.
Fortunately all the damage was above the water
line. The outer end of the pier knocked, az
sailor would say, galley west and crooked
The loss 10 the steamer, including her deten-
ton, will amount to about $4,000. The cost Of
ripping out the damaged extension of the pier and
rebuilding IL will be about $4,000. Altogether
it was expensive crash. The work Of repairing
the steamer was begun yesterday afternoon. Nine
teen of La Brctagnc's passengers transferred
10 the Cunard steamship Aurania, which called
later III the day. The others will sail OH La Baur-
gogne, which is due here to-day. and will be sent
out again on Wednesday. The mails La Brc-
tagne were transferred 10 the Auranla The cabin
passengers on La Bretagnc We're as follows; George
+. Bradley, Robert Bcrkermans, Samuel l..
Croker, 3. Glcnny, j. t. HiXon, w H. Johnson,
j. Land, J. Livingston, Loon Ncuvile Victor OH
Won, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Passavant, Henry Ffaltz,
John Perham, {. T. Pratt, Edmond Quevit, j.
Rutgers Leroy, +. NJ. Rathbonc, A. Robbati, Miss
V. c. Ware h. Wortz J. Wassermon, Miss Leon
tine Wradame. f. IIedcnhcimer, C. Elskamp, Mrs
Josephine Common, Mrs. Eskamp De Sevilla, c.
francotte, Emile Celcrer g. Brienne, NJ Znlvi.
dar Alfred Olivan, Mrs. Leroy and Mr.. Girdle-
stone.