Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-09-06

o>r On THE NV Eh.-4 uo
eoL OIL, columbia, of the Potomac
steaulo9a. nnder command of Capt.
Ferry r IL started on her usual trip
T'ly Washington to Alexandria q. gig =
from Wing A dense fog prevailed
this nV ',me and with due and required
sti ne ION all dangers were avoided
preclau.,.Gjrui zinc ut a point just north OF
ggaa.. Il n.r The Norfolk steamer New;
SAepTls New in the meantime had arrived
p0F!! ; ao" discharged her freight
a' A n.ocsed on her way at slow speed
anG l Pio gSinTton blowing her fog whistle,
70 steamers responding. oa Inc VIZ .se
oil s'e .'Je the fog was light, but on the
s,u,a side very dense. From wnst
Mary i'1 leaned the officer OF the Co.
ean Ds having heard the fog whistle OF
lamS S, ' nort News. decided to stop his
the NEW "i,LiI The boat had passed, but
eng, eng. ~ ,,' me fog signals. Suddenly
lsiis wi Wing or drifting in this condition
*nl! s,i,, mi was struck by the New
the O ~ on the starboard bow about
P0;i. -n roy % the wheel house. the
21 ,a n' ss,samer's bow crashing through
At. No''O hray " ironed guards, her
la' s..m passing through the
sasIg work. breaking the journal
lo'ue'' irving away and demolishing
s IN r,S C. aud bending a twelve
Tue wrought iron shaft, forcing the
lu s. "strscned back partially upon
WI %n lSscs These effects are visible to
tn. tue J pssssrby, but closer inspection
suV snow the immense wrenchlng the
VII I.. I'm wnst have had. The Columbia
' Vs'S'' l l,' signal of distress.
. .aeI WA. responded TO by the Belle
Haven. OF the same line, which was 80 On
h b.r rrpular Trip from Washington. The
p 3s' - eayrn took the Columbia in tow
a n' brought her to this city, where she
a .ras docked by the tug George w.
Pride. The joiuer8' work Is all tnroW s.a
a l. ';sy, and tne canvas covered decks
s aoil lie miniature waves. Engines and
r m.cnioe[y will all have to be "Nned
unS and repairs of damages variou.ly
~ up mated 1u from s., 900 to $1,000 made.
The Columbia had its usual freight, but
only four passengers, none OF whom
W. injured. Cant. Folkes, who was
y, the wbee at the time of the collision,
was thrown violently from the pilot
bonse and received injuries that require
medical attention anu will unfit him
far dutv for several days. Capt. James
Scott was also badly hurt by one OF the
ballast casks rolling against him. he
was taken to his home on south Fairfax
street on a stretcher. Superintendent
Ridley has given directions to clear the
wreck and place the Columbia in tow.
ing condition, and it is his intention TO
send the vessel to Baltimore for repairs
At once In the meantime he will en-
desyor 70 secure another steamer to
take the place of the Columbia, until
that steamer is repaired. The Newport
News sustained but slight injury and
no one on board was hurt. Had the
steamers been running at full speed
there is no doubt that the Columbia
would have been cut in two and sunk
with ell on board. AS it is the Column
bias hull was not damaged. The ferry
steamer, as stated above, had but four
passengers aboard and fortunately none
ofthem WAS hurt and there was com
paratively little excitement on board.
Had there been crowd on board a ca.
ta,trophe could hardly have been
averted.
Superintendent Ridley says that by
Friday morning next two boats Will
again be running regularly on the ferry
line.