New-York tribune., 1896-09-28
A SMASH IN ,SWASH CHANNEL.
THE MAY AND THE NYMPHAEA CRASH
TOGETHER.
COLLISION DIE To THE FOG WHICH RESTED
OVER THE LOWER BAY-DAmAGE FORTU-
NATEI.Y ABOVE THE WATER LINE.

COLLISION DUE To THE FOG WHICH RESTED
OVER THE LOWER BAY-DAMAGE FORTu-
NATELY ABOVE THE WATER LINE.
In the centre Of Swash Channel, in the Lower
Bay, two steamships were in collision. head on,
yesterday morning just before the fog lifted
They were the Nymphaea. just finding her way In
after a slow voyage from Gibraltar and Mediter-
ranean ports. and the May. just putting out for
Colombian ports. Just who is to blame for the
collision is not clear. Captain Munro is extreme
y wroth and says that all the blame belongs to
the May while the officers of the May are equal
ly disturbed in mind and say that the collision
was the immediate result Of Captain Munro's
actions. In any case both steamers sustained
considerable damage. all above the water-linc,
however. and the cabin hoy OF the May was
badly bruised and scratched and lost few teeth.
Captain Munro says that he passed Sandy
Hook at Il O'Clock. and half an hour later ran
into thick fog and anchored off Romer Beacon
until 9:3O. when he raised anchor and proceeded
slowly up Swash Channel The captain declares
that he had several lookouts posted and kept his
fog whistle blowing constantly and heard other
whistles on all sides The pilot was on the
bridge He did not see the May until she loomod
up suddenly out ~ the fog bank. about 200 yards
away. He at once reversed his engines. he says.
but the May at full speed when she struck
the Nymphaea.
Chief Mate Stevens says that the May had her
helm to port at first and would have passed the
other boat In safety had she not suddenly put it
to starboard. The steamers met nearly bows
on. The plates on the starhOard side Of the May
peeled back to make "A rent Of 10 by
- feet. while a huge section Of the Nymphaea's
plates was forced through the Mays side into
oil
to splinters. The boatswain Of the May
scrubbing decks and complaining al his hard lot.
Had he not been ordered to scrub the decks he
would have been in his bunk. and in all proba-
bility would have been killed. The cabin boy
looking out through the hawsehole. and was
picked out ~ tie debris for dead. But as soon
as he had wiped the blood from his fac and
spit few teeth overheard. he declared himself
all right.
The Nymphaea was also badly damaged.
cash was made In her port side extending mid
way between the top of her forecaste head to
the water-lne. about 10 by l. feet. and her port
anchor was broken off below the stock and the
fuke was driven through her port side Just back
Of her cutwater. whore il stuck Her bows were
split open to the water-ne and about thirty ~
her plates damaged.
Captain Grahl. of the Nay not aboard
yesterday afternoon. but the chief mate Willy
man. says that his vessel left her pier about :
O'Clock and felt her way through dense fog to
q point OF Governors Island. whore the fog
lifted and the steamer at full speed TO the
NarrOws whore she met the fog again and
slowed down. getting into Swash Channel at
about ~ O'Clock. The second mate Bart"s. was
constantly sounding. and the steamer pro-
ceedng on the west side Of the channel AS the
lead showed five fathoms. ne could not go fur
ther TO the west without running aground The
Nymphaea did not appear until she only ltD
feet away. Captain Grahl AT once ordered the
engines reversed. and blew three whistles TO
show his intention. He got nc answer from the
Nymphaea. h" says. until he had repeated his
signal. II appeared TO him that the Nymphaea
trying 10 cross the Mays bow. and he de
cared that the Nymphaea dd not alter her
course at all and did not reverse her engines
until just bcfor" the steamers struck. about two
minutes after they had sighted each other.
While the damage sustained by the steamers
serious. il all above the Water-line and
the carg0es were not harmed The May at once
put back through the NarrOws and anchored
south OF Liberty Island. followed soon after by
the Nymphaea.
The Nymphaea is n British steamer Of .249
tons registry. was built In lSN2 at Newcastle.
and is owned 10y Joseph Robinson r. Go. She
brings a full cargo ~ fruit and sulphur. The
May is also n British craft. IS OF IIl tons and
was built at Sunderland In 1890. She Is owned
~ j. f.. Buthc & Co II will be some time be
fore either steamer is again I'm a seaworthy CON
dtion.