Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-10-04

poa1 W lO)h uller the crew OF Tue Aile-
gheny when the tug steamed up.
HOW THE DISASTER OCCURRED.
The cause of the collision was appar-
emily due to misunderstanding of sig
mails, enhanced by the presence of the
schooner between tho two steamers,
Neither pilot could get clear view Of
the others movements, though the night
was clear, and in the darkness the lights
could be seen burning distinctly from
all three vessels. The Caucase, which
was loaded only with ballast, was in
charge of Pilot Louis Sayre. He said
that he distinctly heard two steam
whistles from the Allegheny, which,
according to the rules of the road, signi-
fled the Intention OF the ship to pass 10
port, and every preparation was made
course of the ship, he says, had already
been changed to that end when a single
whistle from the Allegheny signitied
that she was going to alter her course to
the starboard. Before Sayre could COM
ply with that order he saw that q col
lislon was inevitable, aud the engines
were Immediately reversed, but not
quickly enough to avert the crash.
None of the crew of the Allegheny
would give any information, but her
agents, Peter Wright 81 Sons, made the
following statement:
"The Allegheny sighted the Caucase
when the latter was four or i've miles
down the bay. Ii was noted that the
side and masthead lights of the Caucaso
were all in view. AS the Caucase
approached she altered her course by
which she would have passed the Allie
gheny and seemed to be preparing to
pass her on the other side, compelling a
similar change on the part of the Allie
gheny. When the vessels were quite
close the Caucase again changed her
course to her former position and struck
the Allegheny on her port quarter at the
engine room, about go feet from the
stern and close to the cabin bulkhead.
The Allegheny was displaying all her
lights."
Captain Alix of the Caucase, could
not explain the accident, but Pilot
Church of the Allegheny said it was un-
avoidable. Both Church and Sayre are
skilled pilots.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE STEAMERS.
The Allegheny was bound for Skaal-
veg, Norway, with 1921 $50 gallons of
oil, most of which was in bulk. She is
owned by Alfred Stuart of London, and
was valued when new at $200,000. The
value of her cargo is estimated at
$36,000. She was launched in 1890, and
was $50 feet long, AZ feet beam and drew
~ feet and 8 inches of water. Her gross
tonnage was 2,9l4 tons, and as she sank
in eight fathoms of water, only her
yard arms and starboard bow are visible
and she is a dangerous obstruction to
navigation.
The Belgian steamer was inward
| bound from Calais for cargo of oil
| consigned to the Continental Oil Co.
| Her entire stem is crushed in below the
water line, and the vessel leaks consid.
erably. Part of her stem was left in the
side of the Allegheny. A survey will
be made to-day, but docking will be
necessary before the full extent of hei
damages can be ascertained. She be-
longs to Antwerp, where she is owned
by L. Lambert. She was built in 1883
measures $50 feet in length, 30 feet il
breadth and "a feet 3 inches in depth
Her gross tonnage is 1866.
| After the accident the tug Pioneer
and the Caucase steamed up the bay
together, the latter anchoring at thu
mouth of the Schuylkill, while the tug
came to the Walnut street wharf. Tht
crew, with their scanty clothing, marched
to the British consul's office, followed
by wondering crowd. The men were
supplied with entire new outfits o.
clothing, shoes and hats, and an accoun
was opened tor them at Brady's board
ing house, Front and Pine streets. Las
night they did not know what was t.
become of them or the property lost OIL
the boat, but they rather expected to b
sent home as they were. The officers
were taken TO the Delaware Hotel a
Second and Pine streets.