The evening times., 1896-11-10
WHY THE MAGGIE WAS sunk
Schooner THea- to Gross the
Steamers Bow.
l-sS sa7
THEIRS CAPTAIN TALKS
His Version Of fIthe Accident by
Which Thirteen People Were
Drowned CorrobOrated by the
Mate-Scenes After the Collision
Were Heartrending.

sydney, N. b., Nov 1O.-capt. De Lisle,
OF the British steamer Tiber, which Gel
lided with and sunk the Newfoundland
schooner Maggie Off ST. Johns Harbor last
Friday night, causing Il loss oi thirteen
lives, arrived here yesterday
To IL representative Of the United Asso-
ciated PRESSES Capt. De Lisle told tbe
following story OF the collision:
We left ST. Johns Tor sydney on FRI
day at 6:25 y. III. The wind was south
east and the night was fair and starlight.
We steamed slowly cut OF the barDor, ana
at Z .0o We landed our pilot near Fort Am
bcrst light and continued under moderate
head of steam. We SAW lights coming INTO
the barbor, and by the aid OF n glass
made out two schonners siiiing IN WIN
IA Iair wind. One wds about balr point
olr our port bow, the other 1.-THE Mag2ie)
nearly ahead. Both schooners wsr3 SLOW
ing red and green lights.
We put our helm To port ana were
steaming clear OF both vessels. when std
denly the Maggie put her helm hard TO
the starboard To cross our bow. My helm
was hard To port and the ship paying OF
10 the starboard, with the engines re-
v"rsed and going iuIl speed astcrn, when
we met, striking the Maggie a little abait
the man rigging.
The schooner commenced to III with
water, and we at once did all in our power
To save the unfortunate people. Ropes were
thrown to them and a boat launched as soon
as possible. One man who wes in the main
rigging was pulled on board the steamer,
and another was pulled from the deck or
the schooner by means Of rope.
COVERED BY THE SAIL.
The schooner went over canting to-
ward us. The mainsail covered those who
were lost and took them under. The roll
nf h.rh shl IaI ms
a boat to be lowered and manned, and
shouted to the pilot boat which had Just
left me tu come back and help us in the
Rescue, and also to the other schooner. which
was then passing within haiiing distance
on our port side.
In "a very short time our boat was
lowered, manned by the mate and wo men,
leaving plenty OF room for any we might
rescue. The mates boat rescued five men,
the boat from the passing schooner two men
and woman, all OF whom, as well as tie
men already on board our ship, expressed
the wish to lie landed at once. They were
landed at the wharf OF Shea & Co, where
they were taken charge OF by the police
and their friends. Our boat returned to the
ship at 9 o'clock, and We proceeded On our
voyage"
Capt. De Lisle's explanation OF the &C.
cdent is that the Captain Of the Maggie
tried to get under tie land on the south
side "f Fort Amherst light until the Tiber
got by, but he misjUdged the distance be-
tween the two vessels. Capt. De Lisle ex-
pressed great regret at the awful loss Of life
and seemed very much affected while talking
Of .he unfortunate event
IL Boulanger, mate OF the Tibcr and form
erly master OF the Montreal brig Yuba, was
standing forward when the collision oc-
Cured. He said
SHOCK WAS LIGHT.
..The minute the Maggie's green light was
lest to sight We reversed our engines and
when the vessels came together the shock
was olfght the chief engineer who WIS be-
low, did not know there had been "A col
hsion until he came on deck. II the Maggie
had kept on her course she would have
cleared US and have had room TO spare.
The schooner went down stern first and
sank very quickly. Her matches probably
were open. The deck load on the schooner
was lumber and the people We saved by the
boats were cllnging to it, except a sixteen
year-old boy, who was clingiDg to bale Of
hay when l got to him.
The captain of the schooner seemed
out OF his mind when got him in the boat.
He jumped around In a frantic manner and
talked about the loss of his Wife and
property. i went around the spot where
schooner went down three or four times
calling out so that none might be left, and
did not leave until the captain OF the Maggie
was satisfied that there Were no more to be
saved. | Will never forget the heartrcnd-
ing screams OF the women"
Not a mark can be seen on the Tiber to
Indicate such fatal collision. Nothing
has been done here toward arrestng Capt.
De Llsle, and when the facts are known
nothing of that nature will be even talked
OF. The Tiber is loading coal for ST. John