The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-12
COLLISION AT SEA.
The Gcrmnnic and the Cumbrac Meet
Near Crosby Lightship-An Intcrcsting
Story Of the Accident.

Story of the Accident.
Liverpool. Dec 1.-THE steamer Ger
manic, hence from New York, came into
collision shortly after leaving the Mer-
sey this evening, near Crosby lightship,
with the steamer Cumbrae, inward
bound for Liverpool.
The Cumbrae was sunk and the Ger
manic's bows were damaged.
The Germanic returned to Liverpool
A dense fog prevailed at the time O; the
collision.
Among the passengers on the Ger
manic were Lord Dunraven and the
members of John Hares company. in
cluding Mr.. and Mrs. Gilbert Hare, son
and daughter-in-law Of Mr.. John Hare;
Charles Groves and wife, and the Hon.
F. G. Curzeon and wife. Mrs. Curzeon
Is the actress F,llice Jeffreys.
The ,Germanic is steamer of 5,066
tons gross and 1889 net. She is 455 feet
long and was built by HO'land & Wolf
in Belfast in 1874. Last year her inter-
ior was remodelled and she was fur
nished with, triple expansion engines.
which enabled her to enter the list Of
seven n-day vessels. She is a first-class
boat in every respect, but is not as large
as the steamers Teutonic and Majestic
of the same line.
The Cumbrae was from Glasgow. The
Germanic took off her passengers ana
crew. There was no loss Of life.
| The Cumbrae was vessel of 900 gross
| tonnage. She'was commanded by Cap
tain Blair. She was engaged In a
freight and passenger service between
Liverpool and Glasgow, and was owned
by G. and ]. Burns.
Particulars Of the Accident.
The following particulars of the acci-
dent have been received:
| The Germanic left her quay under an
easy head of steam. The weather at
the time was very thick, and every
precaution was taken to avoid an acci-
dent. The seamen were stationed in the
crows nest in addition to the Ordin-
airy lookout. About eight miles of slow
steaming, warning whistles being
sounded meantime at short intervals.
the vessel reached Crosby Channel. BY
this time the fog had become so in
tense as to hide everything from view.
Suddenly q whistle sounded close by
and the Gerrnanic promptly responded.
1t was too late. however, to avoid a
collision, and the white star liner struck
the Cumbrae a slanting blow between
the forecastle and the forehatch. The
Germanic's bow penetrated the side Of
the Cumbrae to a depth of fourteen feet
| If the Germanic had been under more
way she would doubtless have cut the
smaller vessel completely in two. On
| the Cumbrae's deck, q scene of terror
ensued. There were twenty-eight pas
sengers on the vessel. including num-
ber Of women and children, who rushed
to and fro. shrieking in their terror,
or fell on their knees and prayed aloud
to be saved. On the Germanic also.
there was much excitement, all the pas
sengers rushing on deck to ascertain
what had happened. The shock of the
collision was not severe enough, how
ever, to cause great alarm, and the ex-
citement on the big liner had subsided.
Captain McKinsley, at once ordered
sufhcient way to be maintained to keen
the bows Of the Germanic in the hold
by the Cumbrae's side and officers had
men calmly and actively proceeded to
the work Of rescue. Belts, ropes and
ladders were thrown upon the Cum
brae's decks. and within a minute all of
the passengers and crew of the doomed
vessel had either scrambled or been
hauled upon the Germanic's decks. One
passenger was slightly injured while
being hauled on board, and a woman
fell overheard. but was instantly res
cued by a boat from the Germanic
which had been previously lowered.
When all were safe the Germanic's en-
gines were started, reserved and the YES
sells separated. The Cumbrae immedi-
ately lurched and began to settle. Sew
enteeno Of the Cumbrae's crew and O dog
en- Of the Germanic's men entered a
boat with the intention Of boarding the
Cumbrae in order to draw her fires to
prevent an explosion and to try to save
property. They r0wed within fifty
yards q the sinking vessel. when she
suddenly plunged forward and went
d0wn. Sc ~