The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-08
A CRASH IN THE COG
Graphic Description Of the Collision Of The
Newport News and Columbia.
THE CAPTAIN STOOD BY HIS BOAT
TI,o Ferry Bont Was Endly Smashed.
Capt. f0ikes and Two others In-
Jured-Stond ut i1is Post Until tho
wreck Was Cleared AvRy-Cinims
Otaer Eont Had l.cft ITS Course.

gives the following graphic account of
the collision between the Newport News
and Coiuinbtl:
The steamer Newport News, of the
Norfolk and Washington Steamship
Line. crashed Into the ferry steamer
Columbia In the Potomac river, a short
distance above Alexandria, about $50
O'Clock yesterday morning, injuring
three people seriously and almost cut
ting the ferry boat III two. a dense fog
prevailed ut the time. and neither
steamer was seen until they were with
IN twenty feet OF each other. The Co
unbia had beer brought to u stand
SUI, preparatory to making I landing
at Alexandria. when the crash came.
capt. II. II. Folkes, who has been
running the steamer Arrowsmith all
summer. was IN charge of the Columbia,
with Engineer Webster. Captain
t'olkcs had taken charge yesterday
morning. in place of Captain IIsiridge.
who Is III. Tho Columbia left the Wash
i1gton wharf ut 6:tO O'Clock, with q
two-horse team belonging to the Wash
lhGton brewing company, Il lot OF mis-
c~el'nneous merchandise and several pas
sengers. The fog on the river was al
most impenetrahle, and the steamer was
moving cautiously. AS 'Flshtown." on
the northern edge OF Alexandria. was
approached, Captain FoIkcs signaied to
the engineer tn slow down, ard rs the
steamer ncarcd the wharf. he says, 1t
was stopped until 1t could be made GER
tain thai the way was clear.
LOOM1ID UP IN THE FOG.
Hardly had tho big side wheels
ceased to rcvolvc when tho CAPTAIN, who
was in the pilothousc. saw the Newport
News loom UP In the fog, hardly twenty
lcet away. Before Captain Folkes could
shout an order, her big lrcrl Prov struck
| thn 4 ~. ~ - =. -
iorward end of the wneelhouse. There
was IL tremendous crashing or timbers
us the large steamer plOwed into the
framework OF the ferry boat fully TWEEN
~ feet.
Captain Folkes was dashed from ono
sidc OF the pilot-housc to the other, and
nLaiiS thrown against Il heavy chair,
Nhich he completely demolished. He
was daZed for n moment, but quickly
recovered. and ran Crl deck to superin.
'shu The clearing away. Engineer Web
stcr was just coming out of the engine
house. after stopping his engines. and
reached tho lower deck Immediately
after the crash. The two horses gttnch-
ca to the brewery wagon were about to
p'unSe overheard, when he caught ccld
restrained them.
James Scott, the Waterman at tho
Terry wharf, was returning to his home
IN Alexandra. He was standing CT,
the lower deck. and when the big steam
rir crashed into tho ferry boat he was
thrown Violently to the floor. Before
nc could set M 4 heavy BARREL OF sand.
used as ballast. was sent whirlinE over
the deck, passing over both his lccs.
They were not broken. but were so badly
Srrarled and confused that he could not
walk.
Scott had both legs crushed in an
accident several years ago. and has been
Il partial cripple ever since.
An unknown scissors grinder. who
WIS on his way to Alexandria with his
grinding machtne. waS'Iarown about tho
deck with considerable violence, and re-
ceived Il numbcr or painful contusions.
lie hurried from the boat as soon as she
was towed into port, however, and nci,h-
or his name nor the extent of his i'll
1uries was learned. Beyond slight shak-
inGs up. the rest OF the crew and pas
sengers escaped without injury.
CAPTAIN STO0DB HIS BOAT.
Under the direction of Captain
Folkcs, who, although seriously hurt,
insisted on remaining Cl deck until
everything hid been cleared away and
made sTti ,. t,c two steamers were sepa-
rated The Newport News was found to
be unlnJurcd. and she proceeded on hcr
way to he wharf IN this city. The Co
lumbia. however, had Jared badly. The
poTt Wnccl was completely demolished,
rs we'll as the whcelhouse; the shaft
WAS broken, and the entire port side
forward Of the w%hcclhouse was smashed
into krdling wood. TIA. part Of the
boat Will have TO he entirely rebuilt.
The damage is estimated At $1,000.
The Columbia was lowed to he,
wharf mt Alexandria ny the steamer
Belle Haven and the tug Pride. She was
made as sound rs possible there, and
In ~ s,fc1t N,.nc n - 90 -.
pairs. All the injured we're taken TO
their homes and received medical at
tcntion. The Columbia was built by
William r. WoodalI & Co. of Palt!-
also of Baltimore. Her first cost was
about SO, 900.
The Newport News was In command
Of Captain G~eoghegan. with Pilot Poscy.
After ne reached the wharf yesterday
morning the Captain made n written re-
port Of the accident to Mr.. Callahan, the
general manager OF the steam boat COM
pany. 1t Is understood that the accident
Is ascribed to the fact OF the heavy fog.
and that no blanc ia attached to any
Of the officers OF either boat. although
Captain Fol;cs claimed that the New
rort News was not or her proper course.
lie saii that he had left his curse
to avoid a collision. and the Norfolk
steamer took n northeas,erly course, IN
stead Of n northeriy course. after lcav-
ing the dock"
If YOU have ever seen a little child in
4 Of whooping cough. or if YOU
have been annoyed by n constant tick
lii, II ~, f1at trnof ",-nt, n n ., , ,Nr,rnni, 4 - a.