Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-24
RUN DOWN IN Mln-RlvER.
The Steamer Parthian Sinks the
Wilmington Yacht Slesta.

Wilmington Yacht SieSta.
-Four WILMINGTON Men and the skipper
have Close Shave for Their Lives
Picked up by schoonor's Boat and
Taken Ashore.
About IL o'clock, Thursday night, a
party of four young men OF this city
William A. Barr, A. Bradley Jones, Frank
Corbit and Harry d. Holt-left Penns-
grove, N. j, OH the well-knoWn yacht
Siesta, bound for Edge Moor, her moorings.
On the trip across the river they were ran
down by the Windsor Line steamer
Parthian, their yacht sunk, and their lives
saved only after an exciting and danger
GUS experience.
AT the time of the collision the Siesta, in
charge of Sylvester Bowen, skipper, was
about in the middle of the river, pointed
for the Edge Moor light. The yacht had
all lights out, in regular form. The Par
THAN was coming up the river, and as she
drew nearer those on the yacht noticed that
she was not altering her course.
There was no opportunity Of getting out
of the liners way. The blow from the
parthians bow was so sudden that the
Siesta was turned completely around, then
she sank.
Two Of the men clambered the mast.
Barr got a mattress and Holt plank.
The mems cries of alarm were heard from
the deck of schooner moored about half
q mile off. She sent out a boat Immediately
and rescued the four men.
The Windsor stopped as soon as she
could control her engines and then sent
out her yawl but the schooner's boat was
already rowing the rescued men ashore.
They found harborage in the buildings ut
the adjacent government pier.
The Sesta, which is the property of the
Wilmington Yacht Club, lies in "a feet Of
water, total wreck, only her topmasts
showing her location.
The Siesta had all her lights out as re-
qnired and was making for her moorings
! off Edge Moor She is a comparatively new
boat and is valued at 5000. Her net ton
mage is ~. She was thoroughly overhauled
last spring.
Just Immediately before the accident,
another stoiy states, two Of the crew were
asleep in the cabin. Captain Bowen shouted
| for them and they ran up In alarm.
One of them afterwards said when he
rushed OH deck and saw the bis liner over.
head she locked as if the big Equitable
Building was going to tapple over them.
| Captain Bowen remarked to Holt, she
don't see us. Get out a light and wave it."
| As this was done the Partllan seemed to
| swerve slightly on her course. Holt was
turning away, thinking everything was
| safe, when on looking again he cried out,
why, she is bearing down on US"
II was then that the captain cried out,
Call the men from the cabin.n
1t is understood that the Wilmington
| Yacht Club, the owners of the Siesta, will
seek redress by legal means.
There was no mist at the time and the
| Parthian's error cannot be understood.
The way the news of the sinking of the
| Wilmington yacht Siesta, Friday morn
| ing, was taken in Philadelphia is best
shown in the following from Saturdays
Times.
| The first report OF tho accident was brought
| by the steamer Norman, which arrived yester-
| day from Providence. Captain Megathlin, her
sunk of Edge Moor, between Cherry Island
| Hats and the government wharf, a third Of the
| way from the channel. The peak Of the gatt
| and topmast showed above water.
Captain Snow OF the steamship Parthinn de-
clined to say anything other Than that the
yacht tried 10 cross the bows Of the steamer,
whereas, II she had kept her COURSE, the col
lision would not have occurred. The iest of
the crew would not talk.
| Neither at the Maritime Exchange nor tho
| custom house was anything known outside
| OF Captain Megathln's brief statement. At the
Maritime Exchange the name of the yacht was
not even known. At the North American ln-
surance C0mpanyB otlice however, all par
ticulars were obtained early in the afternoon.
The rumoIs on the street were that n dsas-
trous collision had occurred Oh Marcus Hook
and that some lives had been lost which sent
was not, however, until late in the afternoon
that any definite information could be OBJ
thined, though the Parthian was lying at her
dock
The above is in strange contrast with the
open and emphatic story told by those on
board the wrecked vessel. The Parthians
people tell nothing, the Siesta's unhesita.
tingly answer every question.
In addition to paying indemnity to the
owners of the wrecked yacht by the man
ayers of the Winsor Line, il it can be
proved that the accident was caused by
neglect or carelessness the master or pilot
OF the Parthian would be liable to lose his
license.
Collector OF the Port Townsend Satur.
day night received a record report of tho
accident to the yacht Siesta, which was
sunk by the Windsor liner Parthiau
early Friday morning, from the owner
Frank Curbit.
The report was entered at the collec,
tors office, the facts sent to the Life
Saving Bureau of the Treasury Depart
ment. A reply from the Treasury De
J partment is expected in few days. The
! vessel is documented at the office of the
collector of the port as new vessel
and it is said the owner will demane
damages for new yacht.