The Portland daily press., 1895-06-14
SOME ONE WAS TO BLAME.
Expensive Collision of Steamers Off New
York Harbor.


New York, June 13-The Red Star
steamer Noordland and the oil tank
steamer Deutschland ran into each other
at the entrance Of the harbor yesterday
afternoon The Noordland was only
sligt tly injured and proceeded on her
voyage to Europe, while the Deutschland d
was taken to her anchorage with several
plates broken.
The Noordland, Captain G. H. Grant,
left her pier at the foot of Fulton street,
North River, at noon on her way to Ant
werp. AT two O'Clock she was moving
through Gedney Channel, opposite the
Sparlight Buoy.
The Deutschland was approaching in
harge of Captain Bernhard Schienhorst.
She was returning from Hamburg in
ballast.
SIGNALS NOT FOLLOWED
According to the story given out by the
agents of the Deutschland, Pilot Murphy,
who was on the bridge of the tank steam
er, blew two whistles, signifying that he
intended to keep to the left. The Noord-
land responded with two whistles, which
meant that she would keep to the lett
likewise
The Deutschland turned to the left, but
instead of doing the same the NOOrdland
seemed to keep right on. Pilot Murphy
realized too Late that the Noordland was
not bearing off.
Although it was hazy the pilots of the
steamers could see each other. The big
vessels were so close, however, when the
signals were exchanged that reversing the
engines had not effect on them. They
crashed together, as the Deutschland
could not get out of the path of the
Noordland. The Red Star boat crashed
with great force into the starboard bow
of the tank steamer.
After the collision and rebound the
engines of the Deutschland were started
ahead with the purpose of clearing the
bow of the Noordland. Pill OF Murphy put
his helm to starboard to help him in this
could back away the tank steamer swung
around and her stern crashed into the
Noordland's bow.
PASSENGERS ALARMED.
A great many of the Noordland's
passengers were on deck at the time.
Most of them were women and they were
very much excited. The officers of the
ship explained that there was no danger,
and that the steamer was not damaged,
but their alarm was not allayed until the
vessel moved ahead ON her course.
The top of the Noordland's forecastle-
head was slightly damaged. Some of her
timbcrs were left in the plates of the
Deutschland. The damage to the Deutsch-
land was considerable. Eleven of her
plates were smashed, the fiukes of her
bow anchor were carried away and the
anchor was smashed and bent in the
hawser hole. AT the stern of the tank
steamer, as a result of the rebound
collision, two plates were twisted, and
the poop deck was lifted nearly foot out
of place.
While his men were quieting the excited
passengers on the Noofdland and making
ready for any emergency that might
arise. Captain Grant was learning how
much damage had been done to each
B. Dalzell, which were near at the time
were already alongside the Deutschland
Being informed she was not
taking in any water, and find
ing that his own vessel was not damaged
to any great extent, he ordered the
Noordland sent ahead on her way to
Antwerp. The two tugs accompanied the
Deutschland to her anchorage off Liberty
Island.
She will go to Red Hook. South Brook
lyn, today for repairs 1t will take some
time to repair her, and the chances are
that there will be some correspondence
between the Standard Oil Company and
the Red Star line over~the matter. The
pilots of the two vessels will probably be
called before the Pilot Board to explain
how the accident happened.
Captain Schierhost and Pilot Murphy
came to the city and visited the Offices of
the Standard Oil Company The Captain
refused to be seen and the details were
furnished by young man in the office.
Red Star line, said that all he knew of
the matter was that the Noordland had
been in a collision, but had proceeded on
her voyage. The Noordland carried sixty
six unmarried and twenty -four married
women and thirty nine men in her
saloon, sixty persons in the second cabin
and nearly a hundred in the steerage.