The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
WE'RE THEY RACING.
What the Hon. w. BOurl<e Cochran
md Other Passengers Say.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-The cabin passen-
gers of the ST. Paul were landed in this city
from the tug George Starr at the American
line pier, at the foot of Fulton street. at
O'Clock tonight. They looked a cheerful lot,
Notwithstanding their experiences. Those
who were interviewed by the newspaper
reporters were divided in their opinions
as to whether the Campania and the St.
Paul had been racing, as at first reported
Almost the first passenger to step ashore
from the tugboat was the Hon. w. Bourke
Cochran, who looked the picture of health
He said that the Campania and st. Paul
had not been racing. at least the latter had
not. "But we kept ahead, all the same"
said he, las a matter of course. Occasion,
ally on Friday. the Campania would take
the lead, but not for long. There was no
racing at the time of the accident, for we
had stopped, or almost stopped, before the
steamer grounded. 1t may be that we were
going at a speed Of three or four miles,
but not more. The st. Paul is a grand
steamer, and / hope she gets off all right.
1t was not until O'Clock on Saturday
morning that / knew anything about the
steamer being ashore. When the passengers
learned of the accident there was not the
least trace of excitement. Everyone was
cool and confident that every one would be
taken off safely if the steamer failed to get
off at high tide. 1t was early Friday MORN
ing that we sighted the Campania. The lat
ter appeared TO be about nine or ten miles
behind us. The st. Paul continued ahead
all day Friday. At supper time the steam
ers were abreast, but am sure that so far
as the st. Paul was concerned she was
merely getting along as it was her business
to do OF course. she was not holding back.
I saw no betting going on among the pas
SengerS and heard no racing talk on the
part of the officers. l believe 1t is the duty
OF the steamers to make the best time pos
sible in safety.
"At the time the steamer grounded I was
In my stateroom: There was no great
shock, or should have gone on deck There
was sort OF stop and then a go-ahead
motion, and that was all. No one was
thrown ont of his bunk, no one rushed on
deck do not believe that, outside of the
officers and crew OF the steamer. any one
on board was aware that we had grounded
until in the morning. There was a dense
o'clock Friday night, and the fog grew
worse as the evening wore on. The ST.
Paul had practically stopped running at
m,idnignt, ii,n and was feeling her way in the
were being made every minute or so Friday
night. and Captain Jameson and his Off
GERS were most careful. No one is to blame
for the accident. 1t could not have been
avoided
When futher questioned about the prob
ability OF the accident having been caused
because the vessels were racing Mr. Cock
ran said: 'Oh, that is just nonsense. OF
course. they were close on Friday. but they
were on the same course. and would have
kept within sight of each other unless one
or the other had gone down. The service
on the st. Paul was fine and the trip. until
the steamer came within a few. miles of
port. was everything that could be wished
for"
William Heap, OF Muskegon, Mich,
thought that the vessels were racing all
day Friday. and that the race was a good
one. When the fog came on them on FRI