Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-29
JOINED BY HER HUSBAND.
DAMAGE TO THE COLUMBIA.
OmcIai Report Made 10 the war
Department..

The following press dispatch concerning
the collision was received from Washihs-
ton last night:
"The following official report Of the disas-'
ter was received by telegraph at the Navy
Department at 10 A. NJ: Fort Monroe
Captain Sands reports that the Old Do
minion steamer Wyanoke last night FOUL
ed with the Columbia, anchored at New
mort News. and sunk under her foreioot.
Passengers all saved. Sew or the
crew were injured, and ere J i attend
ed by the Columbias surgeons. Damages
sustained by the Columbia consist OF one
hole 2 feet in diameter on port side 10 rect
above water line. heavy indentation feet
above water line on same side. and In
dentation OF one plate on s1arboard side
opposite hole. opening seam for about
feet: temporary loss Of one anchor and
Al fathoms OF chain. Shall take her TO
Norfolk navy-yard as soon as require
ments of paragraph 400 Of navy reguld-
lions are complied with.
WHO WAS TO BLAME.
The regulation referred TO is that re-
curing a survey TO be made by special
board of officers Immediately after an ac-
cident to ascertain the extent Of injuries
sustained by naval vessels, and what re-
pairs are necessary. This survey was
made yesterday, and the board examined
number Of witnesses, with view 10
finding out who was 10 blame for the ac-
cident The evidence was in effect what
has been told above by the Dispatch.
THE COLUMBIA.
The Columbia is a triple-screw cruiser
of 1915 tons burden, and next TO the
Minneapolis, her sister ship. the fieetest
cruiser in the United States navy. or, IN
deed, in the world. and, as II was neces-
sary to construct her hull very lightly in
order to accommodate the weight Of the
tremendous machinery Of 1900 horse
power. her frames and skin are not as
heavy as is usual in all vessels of her
tonnage. Fortunately for her, the Column
bia is fitted with a big steel ram. and the
additional strength given to her bow by
this Il Is thought undoubtedly saved the
vessel from more serious and perhaps
vital injury. The Columbia's long ram,
which projects out several feet from her
bow, was what kept the Wyanoke from
sinking Immediately. The force OF the
collision drove the passenger boat up on
this ram, and she remained balanced
there. as shown in the Dispatches excel
lent view Of the collision. until the water.
which rushed into her, caused her to slide
off, when she Immediately sank.
An Officers Version.
A special to the Dispatch from Norfolk
SAYS the Wyanoke lies In front OF the
ship-yards, about a quarter Of mile from
shore. and nothing but her topmasts are
visible above water. The Norfolk corre-
spondent gives he following version Of
the accident as told by one Of the off,
GERS:
II. II. Glover, first officer Of the Wya-
noke. had Just come on deck when the
crash occurred He had hardly gotten
on deck when Captain Jenney gave the
alarm, and all hands were ordered out
10 make the boats ready. BY that time
the steamer had struck the cruiser and
got a list Of forty-fve degrees All the
boats on the starboard side were rem
dered useless, only two boats on the port
side being available for saving the pas
sengers. One OF these was placed In
charge OF the first officer, and the other
was commanded by the quartermaster.
They were Immediately filed with ladies
from the steamer. and proceeded 10 shore,
picking up two men from the water while
on their way.
Mr.. Cover was carried down by the
collision, and came near being drowned.
He managed TO get to the surface OF the
water. near the Columbia, and caught
hold of a llfe-raft. which had Just been
lowered
Professor CULVER. of Waterbury, Conn,
also came near losing his life.
The Old Dominion Steamship Company
has furnished transportation TO the pas
sengers TO various places
VIII Not Interfere with Traffic.
press dispatch from New York says
that the Old Dominion will be put into
commission in place of the Wyanoke, and
! will sail next Saturday from that port
in place of the sunken vessel.