The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-25
SUNK BY THE GERNANIC
She Sends the Steamship. CImbrae
to the Bottom
PASSENGERS AND CREW RESCUED

Collision in Dense Fog on the English
Coast Just Outside the Mersey---ihe
White Star Liners Bows Stove INA
Wild Panic on the Decks OF the
CumGrae---LordD ID unraven on Board.
The White Star Line steamer Germanlc,
Captain McKinstry, which had sailed from
Liverpool England, for New York. came into
collision shortly after leaving the Mersey
with steamer Cumbrae. Of Glasgow. inward
bound for Liverpool. The Cumbrae was
sunk and the Germanic's bows were stove.
Fortunately, the accident resulted in no loss
of life. The Germanic rescued the passen-
gers and crew of the wrecked vessel and re-
turned to Liverpool. A dense fog prevailed
at the time of the collision.
Among the passengers on the Germamc
were Lord Dunraven and the members OF
John Hare's company, including Mr. ana
Mrs. Gilbert Hare. son and daIShter-in-law
Of John Hare; Mr. ana Mrs. Charles Groves,
and Mr.. and Mrs. F. G.. Curzon. Mrs.
Curzon is the actress Ellice Jeffreys.
The Germanic left her quay under an easy
head of steam. The weather at the time was
extremely thick, and every precaution was
taken to avoid an accident. The seamen
were stationed in the crows nest, In addt-
tion to the ordinary LOOKOUT. After about
eight miles of slow steamtng. warning
whistles being sounded meantime at short
intervals, the vessel reached Crosby Chan-
mel. BY this time the fog had become so in
tense, as to hide everything from view;
Suddenly whistle sounded close by. and
the Germanic promptly responded. 1t was
too late, however, to avoid collision. and
the White Star liner struck the Cumbrae a
slanting blow between the forecastle and the
forehatch. The Germnnic's bow penetrated
the side of the Cunbrae to depth OF four
teen feet. If the Germanic had been under
more way she would doubtless have cut the
smaller Vessel completely in two.
On the Cumbraes decks scene or terror
epsued. There were twenty-eight passen-
gers on the vessel, including number 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 excite
ment, all the passengers rushing On deck to
acertain what had happened. The shock
Of the collision was not severe enough, how
ever, to cause great alarm, and the excite
ment on the big liner soon subsidized.
Captain McKinstry at once ordered SUI
f1cient way to be maintained to keep the boWs
of the Germanic in the hole made In the
.Cumbrae's side, and officers and men calmly
and actively proceeded to the work OF rescue.
Belts, ropes and ladders were thrown on the
Cumbrae's deck, and within minute all the
passengers and crew of the doomed vessel
had either scrambled or been hauled on the
Gsrmanic's deck. One passenger was slight
ly injured while being hauled on board, and
woman fell overheard, but was instantly
rescued by boat from the Germanic, which
had .been previously lowered. When all
were safe, the Germanie's engines were re-
yersed and the vessels separated.
The Cumbrae Immediately lurched ana
began to settle. Seventeen OF the Cumorae
crew and dozen OF the Germanie s as men en-,
tered boat. with the intention OF boarding
the Cambrae in order to draw her fires to
prevent an explosion and to try to save prop
erty. They rowed within fifty yards OF the
sinking vessel, when she suddenly plunged
forward and went down. The Cambrae
foundered in comparatively shallow water,
the tide being three-quarters full. The boat 8
crew fixed lights on the masts OF the
sunken steamer to warn passing yes
sells. The sea was calm at the time, but the
fog still prevailed aud the boat could not hnd
the Germanic. After cruising around for
while. the boat was found by the tug Game
cock, which took the men on board. Inc
Germanie's men were transferred to their
vessel, while the hancock conveyed the
#Cumbrae's sailors to Liverpool. the passen-
gers and crew OF the wrecked vessel lost
everything. "
Among the passengers on the Cambrae
were the members Of provincial theatrical
company who were going to Blrkenhead to
perform the play 'iSaved From the Sea-"
The Germauic then returne to Liverpool
where the passengers were landed and sent
70 hotels