The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-04-30
THE STEAMER WYANOKE LIES
AT THE BOTTOM OF NOR
FOLK HARBOR.
STRUCK THE PROV OF COLUMBIA
The Accident Happened Early Tuesday
Morning-The Passengers and Grew
Are Believed to Have All Been
Saved-To Be Investigated.

Norfolk, Va, April 2S.-While the Old
Dominion steamer Wyanoke was max
ing for the Newport News pier, about
$50 this morning, she struck the Prov
of the United States steamship Column
bia, lying at anchor, and had hole cut
in the forward part of her starbOard side
and sank in about Il quarter of an hour,
in sixty feet of water. All of the Wyan-
Oke' passengers and crew were saved,
but the baggage is all lost and probably
the cargo also. Beyond this no further
injury is reported The Columbia was
anchored very near the pier, and was
| not seen from the WyanOke on account
of the briliancy of the electric lights
on the pier. There were on board the
Wyanoke seventeen cabin passengers
and a crew numbering forty-two. OF the
seventy-seven steerage passengers some
may have been drowned.
The passengers praise the conduct of
the officers during the excitement.
Captain Jenny and Purser Burdette
were the last to leave the sinking YES
sci, and were compelled to jump over
board in order to prevent being carried
down with the wreckage. The COM
mander of the Columbia has appointed
board of investigation to determine
how far the naval officers are response
BILE for the accident. 1t is now at work
behind closed doors.
NAVAL OFFICERS DISQUIETED.
Washington, April 2S.-The officials of
the navy department were very much
disquieted this morning by the report
that the United States steamship Column
bia had been in collision near Norfolk
last night. Efforts were made to secure
news through official sources of the ac-
cident, but it was not for some time that
a telegraphic report came from Admiral
Bruce, commanding the North Atlantic
squadron, to which the Columbia is at
tached. This telegram, which was sent
from Fort Monroe, the nearest telegraph
station to the admiral's flagship, the New
York, read:
10 the Secretary of the Navy, Wash
ington-DOminion steamer Wyanoke last
night fOuled the Columbia, anchored at
Newport News, and sank under her fore
foot. The passengers were all saved.
Several of the crew were injured and are
being attended by the Coumbia's sur
geons. The damage to the Columbia is
one hole two feet in diameter, on port
side, ten feet above the water line, heavy
fluctuations two feet above the water
my VI INC S"ne Slue, anu lHuenlatlOn or
one plate on the starboard side, opposite
the hole, opening seam for about six
feet. Temporary loss of one anchor and
10 fathoms of chain. I shall send her
to the Norfolk yard, as the requirements
or paragraph 400, naval regulations, are
complied with"
The regulation referred to by Admiral
Bunce is that requiring survey to be
made by a special board of officers i'm
mediately after an accident to ascertain
the extent of injuries sustained by the
naval vessel and what repairs are neces-
sary. 1t is believed that in this case
there can be little doubt that the blame
rests with the Wyanoke, unless it can
be shown that the Columbia anchored in
a dangerous position and failed to exhibit
me lights indicating that she lay at an