The morning call., 1893-05-21
The Damage to the State of California.

tumbled out of their berths ana state
rooms and made rush for Social Hall, re-
gardless of the fact that there was moth
ing between them and the salt breeZes OF
the ocean but their scant linen wear.
THE shock came very Suddenly" said
an officer of the Stale. "We struck The
Whitesboro a glancing blow, which NAV
account for the fact that she did not run
us through like a needle through cloth"
There was heavy thump like we had
struck a rock, followed by a shiyering Of
glass and the excited yells OF the Whites
boro's crew, added TO the cries from our
steerage passengers, who were the most
scared people on board either vessel.
Men in their nigbtgOwns came rushing
forward, and with blanched faces en-
Quired Tor heavens sakes TO tell them
what was the matter. Women did not
hesitate TO show themselves in light attire
either, but the confusion on deck did not
last long. 1t was bright moonlight night
and everybody could see at CLAN e by
looking over the rail that we had not been
struck below the water line.
"More anxiety was felt for the Whites
borO, which had drifted clear of US, and
from whose low black form W ere heard the
cries of her captain, earnestly pleading
that We stand by his ship, as she was fill
ing s:M fast. - ,
time the Whites boro's skipper had discov-
cred that his craft was not leaking so badly
as he had supposed, then we stretched
SONS canvas over The hole in our side and
steamed into port"
There was not exactly panic" said
saloon hand, "but there was sufficie
confusion among those passengers who
had retired to keep all the boys laughing
for some time after the trouble was all
over.
''One woman insisted on knowing where
the life-preservers were Kept. although
she had two OF them in her arms. Where
did you get those? asked an officer, point-
ing to her burden. oh. | found these
over my berth aud as they seem TO have
cork in them l thought would bring them
along In case l should have to SWIM
One passenger, young man, too, rushed
to the upper deck clad only in his night
shirt Hay! What are YOU doing up
for a life raft came the reply"
Captain Ackley Of the State says that
his steamer was making about twelve
knots when the WhltesDoro was sighted
I'VE whlstled for her to stear TO starboard
and kept on our regular course.
'She whiStled in return, but almost De-
fore l knew it she was right under our
bow. Then the crash came. | did not
have much fear or the Stale, but thought
sure we had sunk the little steamer and
called out to her captain TO ask if lie
needed assistance. lie replied by asking
uo ~ oLohh Ny AOl dhuiit, ds HIS Vessel was
filling"
Several members of the States crew
stated that the steamer was on her proper
course. and that ample warning was given
the Whltesboro by whistle, but in spite OF
signals she tried to cross the States bows.
Captain Liebig of the Whitesboro did
not care to make any statement, but his
first officer claims that Captain Ackley was
TO blame for tile collision.
when the State struck u.s." he said
"we had reversed Our engines and were
backing. If We had been going at full
speed We weuid have cut right through her
ana both vessels would have gone to the
bottom"
The tremendous force of the collision
can be imagined by The manner in which
the State of CalifoTnia's plates and iron
stanchiopS are broken and twisted. Heavy
half-inch plating was torn like paper and
solid columns of the same metal were bent
and broken as though they were made Of
some light pliable material.
The hule In the vessels side extends
from the upper deck TO a few feet below
the steerage deck aud is about six feet
wide. One plate had a hole puuctured in
ii as if it had been struck by heavy shot.
The WhllesborO has her bow badly
smashed. but is not injured otherwise
She was bound for Cleone, having cleared
Friday morning. The State OF California
was inbound from Portland with heavy
freight and 104 passengers.
The Whites b1ro will go to the Oakland
shipyard or repairs, and the State to the
Union Iron Works