New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-20
COLLISION OFF SANDY HOOK.
THE ATLAS LINER ALVENA RUN DOWN
BY THE FREIGHTER BRITISH QUEEN.

HEADED FOR THE SHORE AND GROUNDED I,
SHALLOW wATER-PANIc AMONG THE CREW
QUICKLY sUBDUED-THE STEAMERS
CARGO MAY BE a LOSS.
Tho small Atlas Line steamer Alvena. outward
bound. and the big Phoenix Liner British Queen
inward bound were In collision yesterday after
noon. at the junction of the Swash and GedneS
channels. just off Sandy Hook The British Queen
struck the Alvena bow and cut a clean breach
in her port quarter. The water rushed in through
the gap, and the Alvcna began TO fill. She was
headed for the Sandy Hook shoals where her
sinking stern grounded in about twenty-five feet
Of water. AS the water worked forward In the
hold of the steamer she settled till she lay on an
even keel with her bulwarks just awash, and in
perfect safety far as her crew. OF about forty
men, and her two passengers concerned.
Statements diffe- to how the collision &C.
CURED. Pilot Van Pelt. who was bringing in the
British Queen. which sailed from Antwerp. said
that as he came up Gedneys Channel he the
whistles indicating that he would pass to star
board. The AIvena, he said. answered with two
British queen ks Kept ''' or When Within few ca
tle lengths of the Alyena; the latter vessel, he
the path of the British Queen, which reversed en-
glres at fun speed but too late When her , iron
ish Queen backed out. and came to anchor, TO lend
tent Of her own INJURIES. These were quickly seen
10 be serious. and the pilot said. seeing that
she could he OF no assistance TO the Alvena, she
proceeded TO her pier, In Hoboken.
When the Alvena began sinking the station pilot
boat Walter Adams and the tugs Emperor and
Robert Haddon made for her. There was mo-
mentary panic on the settling steamer and several
Of her men jumped 20 the Emperor but they were
She headed for tn. shoals. the pour
Ing into her and pieces of her cargo OF general
mercha hdise pouring out through the breach until
she was run aground. The baggage OF the two
pa ssengers Charles A. Vautier and Alfred Lccontie
and all the effects OF the crew were transferred to
the piot-boat and later brought to the Atlas Line
pier al West Twenty -ifth-st.
Captain Patterson OF the Sandy Hook life-saving
crew. who. with nine OF his men. put out I'm Gov
that the Alvena was in bad position and could
not be saved At any rate. II the wind shouiA
change TO the east the whole cargo valued at about
$1,000. would be total loss.
The placing OF the blame for the collision will
only be determined by official inquiry. The
Atlas Line has been singularly unfortunate with
It's vessels The Ailsa. one OF its best boats. now
only year ago of similar accident TO the one
which has now befa.len the Alvena
The Chapman Wrecking Company sent a steamer
to the wreck before evening. but finding th.
Alvena lying safely. returned TO town TO consult
with her agents. PIN, Forwood & Keock OF No
n State~st.. as TO the best means OF saving and
raising her. Work to do this will probably be
begun to-day.
The Alvena bound for Iaytian ports She is
n single screw iron steamer built in Glasgow I'm
$50: IL l.264 tons "a feet long g feet beam ana
y feet deep. The British Queen built al New
castle in 1880: H. OF 26o tons 4OO feet long A. feet
b-a nm and % feet deep