The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-01

warnings at intervals. Suddenly there
was terrific crash, and the ship trem-
bled. We had been run into by one
of the French liners We found that
six TO ten feet of our bow had been cut
off below the waterline. On account
Of the air tight compartments We did
not sink at once. A tug. the Harold
lying off Fort Hamilton started 10 our
rescue. Ten minutes after the coils
ion the Ailsa began 10 founder. We
all took TO the rigging. The women
acted admira bly,. There was no screa-
ming, but they were nearly frightened
TO death. Six Of the crew took the lie
boat and went ashore at Fort Hamilton
"One lady and one gentleman jump
ed overheard and were rescued. The
tug Harold played about US, twenty
five yards distant, not daring 10 come
nearer for fear of the suction. In
three minutes more the Ailsa was un-
der water. Then the Harold came
alongside, and all. with the exception
Of three, were taken safely aboard and
landed at the battery. The remaining
| three were rescued by another tug. The
captain and officers Of the Ailsa We're
as kind as possible TO all on board
After running into US the French liner
| backed off and disappeared in the fog.
she sounded no warning and we knew
nothing Of her presence until the struck
us"
The Ailsa was an iron vessel of 200
tons and was the crack steamer Of the
| line.
New York, Feb. 29.-The Press says
| the steamship La Bourgogne was 50
! badly hurt in the collision that she
! had to lay off Fort Wadsworth, and
| late last night she was reporter Is get
-
repairs.
THE NEW YORK AGROUND.
| New York, Feb 29-Once more the
| International Navigation company has
had a streak Of bad luck with one of it's
steamers. Early this morning, during a
thick fog, the fast ocean racer, New
York, ran aground on the tail of West
Bank, mile to the south of Swinburne
! island, and about a thousand yards
west of the ship channel. Up to $50
O'Clock this evening the fog had not
lifted and at that time it looked Is if
the weather would be thicker during the
night. The first and second cabin pass
engers, with their baggage, as we'll as
the mails, were transferred by steamer
from the ship to this city. The steer
age passengers may be taken off later
tonight, but it is more likely that they
will remain on board until tomorrow.
The Associated Press dispa tched
representative on special tug with in
structions to locate the New York. d
task which was no easy one, consider
ing that one could hardly see two boat
lengths ahead through the drifting rain
and thick fog.
Shortly after 1 o'clock the lines of the
big steamer doomed I'D dead ahead, and
it was easily seen that the American
n I'D i Coz IN, b.s 4
mud. She lay perfectly helpless head
ed northeast She drew seventeen feet
aft and fifteen feet forward, leaving a
space of nearly eight feet below her
water line visible. One of the blades of
the propeller on the port side was half
exposed above water. and from her
draught it would seem that she is i'm
bedded about five feet in the muddy
and sandy bank.
The quickstep bell buoy bears east
northeast of the stranded steamer, and
it is just possible that the pilot may
have mistaken this bell for the one
which is placed at the junction of the
sWash and ship channels.
NO EXCITEMENT ABOARD.
When the tug drew up alongside the
vessel, the passengers crowded to the
rails and said they felt no uneasiness
and that there was no excitement on
board. None of the officers, nor the cap
tain Of the ship could be induced TO
make any statement in reference to the
accident The name of the pilot who
had charge of the vessel when she
grounded was also kept a secret.
One of the passengers, Mr.. Robert |
Woodhouse Of Grahamstown, South |
Africa, said that he was on deck at $3.50 |
this morning, when the pilot was taken |
aboard. About an hour later the ship !
came to a sudden stop. while he was in /
his berth. When he went on deck again /
he was informed that she was aground. /
1t was raining heavily at the time and /
the ship was enveloped in SO thick a fog /
that objects on deck could not be seen /
more than twenty feet away.
The Merritt Wrecking company's /
boat d. 5. Arnott, was the first 10 |
reach the steamer this forenoon and |
Captain c. S. Grant. who is in COM
mand Of the New York. Immediately |
dispatched one Of his officers on the |
Arnott to quarantine TO make arrange
ments for the transfer of the passengers
and mails TO this city. \ number of |
boats were hurriedly dispatched to II ; |
New York.
The work OF transferring the bag
gage and mails was begun at o'clock
by about sixty men who had been sent
down from this city. As soon as the
mails and baggage of the cabin passen-
gers had been lowered over the side,
the first and second-class passengers
were transferred to the George :.
Starr. The main sangway was lower
ed for their convenience and they left
the ship quietly, without the slightest
exhibition of haste or anxiety.
The Starr proceeded TO quarantine.
where DR.. Doty was in readiness and
then came on 10 this city, reaching the
cOmpany'S dock al o'clock. Just about
twelve haurs later than II the accident
had not occurred. The steamer John
+. Moore arrived at the same hour with
the baggage
WRECKERS AT WORK.
After the steamers had left the New
York. the wrecking company's derrick
was placed alongside for the purpose Of
tightening the vessel and al the same
time four of the company's tugs had |
lines 10 the New York's port and star
board bow. The wind changed at $50 |
o clock from south to northeast and
there was heavy swell on al that time |
The wrecking tugs are all in readiness
10 attempt 10 haul the steamer off at
foOdtide tonight.
Captain Hank Williams Of the J. n. |
Jones said that he was doubtful if the
snip Coulu pe Sol OF without having her
cargo removed entirely. If the ATTEMPT
tonight * unsuccessful Il i understood |
that the work Of Tightening viii be
pushed as fast as possible 70 Try and
have the New York off in time 10 sail
on her return for Southampton her reg
ular sailing day being next Wednes-
day.
This Is not the first time this steamer
has been aground in the lower bay. as
she was stuck in the mud off Romer
shoals about six years ago ana remain