The sun., 1897-09-04
COLLIDED IN THE MURK.
4 BIG SCHOONER HITS THE GATE
CITY IN THE SIDE.
Smashes n Great Hole Amldships Three
Feet Below the water LINE. Theu Drifts
Away In tho Dark with No Cry for
OHer Of Mcln-All well on tho steamer..

Smaahes Great Hole Amdshipa Three
Feet Below the water Line, Then Drifts
Away in tho Dark with NO Cry for or
OTcr OF Hcip-An well on tho steamer.
Yesterdays early morning was murky and
tho lookouts were doubled on tho Savannah
limo steamship Cato City. She was about six
miles off Littlo Egg Harbor, which is midway
between Atlantic City and Barnegat, when
Able Seaman Harry Benson, who was on the
forecdstle head peerlng through the gloom,
saw huge pyramid OF canvas matcraliZe close
aboard ON the starboard bow. The appartion
was so sudden that the lookout could not toll
whether the schooner carrying the mass of
muslin" was three or n four master. He is
pretty certain that she was wing-and- wing.
The Gate City was making about eleven
knots. She had left Savannah on Tuesday and
was bound for this port, with twelve first cabin,
seven second cabin, and two stcerage passcn-
gers They were all asleep wher the schooner
loomed up on the steamships bow. Seaman
Benson shouted warning to tho bridge which
was in charge OF Second Officer Anderson.
There was a tug with tow on the port side Of
tho steamship and almost abeam Of her.
Anderson was watching the tow when he
heard the shout Of the lookout. When he real
lied tho ships danger he into the pilot house
and called Capt. Googins, who came out and
helm. Tho Gate City shecred to port. What the
schooner did the lookout and the second officer
are unable to say. they were too busy trying
to help their ship out of peril. The schooner
rammed tho coaster abaft the engine room, al.
most amid ships, on the starboard side
The schooner was flying light, aud her iib-
Gate City and tore out the sides OF three state
In these rooms. The cutwater of the schooner
t3ro N'shaped hole IN the steamships sido
rows OF plates three feet below tho water line.
1t was a mighty crash as the schooner was
running before thrtecn.knot wind from north.
men of the Gate City think that their shin
would not have had much show of keeping
ailoat. II was bad enough Ii was. Capt.
Googinss thinks. All he passengers were
aroused by the shock. They were assembled
In the social hall and were assured by the ships
officers that they we're In no danger. Mean
while the schooner had disentanh led her head
gear from tho steamships side aud had disap-
and no calls for assistance came out OF the
darkness; Capt Googins thinks tho schooner
of ner own on tho deck OF the Gate city. Most
OF the passengers stayed awake until daylight in
their Tooms. One man, after learning that there
dock.
After the schooner had withdrawn her prying
nose there was some lively work aboard the
Gate City. heavy swol combed up by the
brisk northeaster swashed into the hole in the
ships side. A tarpaulin weighted and
droppod over the wound. Then the pumps were
set going. Twelve men under Assistant Engi::
neer Thorsen were sent below to shift the coal
from the starboard to tho port bunkers. 80 tho
ship would list to port and the submerged part
of the hole on the starboard side would rise
clear OF the water. The twelve men stretched
athwartship. each with n shovel. and they
sweated and toiled as they never had before for
somewhat more than half an hour They passed
In that time fifteen tons OF coal across the ship,
and. by the shifting OF some cargo got the an.
gle OF the cash even with the sea.
10 prevent the crest OF the swella from
Ing into the broken apartment matt rcsses. stiff
fened with shutters we-c made fast across the
hole, tho upper part of which was AS big as a
barn door. The ship was finally able TO steam
almost at normal speed. The officers and look
outs Of the Gate City say that they did not see
any lights on the schooner. but they are in.
Of vilion than TO the absence OF lights.