Evening star., 1897-06-02
STORY OF THE DISASTER
DR.. Kellogg Tells Of the Hecla- Mississippi
Collision,
He Was a Passenger on the Steamer
Last Named and Speaks From
Personal Experience.

DR.. J. c. Kellogg of New Orleans, who
was a passenger on the Atlantic Trans
portation Lines steamer Mississippi, which
Thursday last collided with the steamship
Hecla of the Thingvalla Lihe on the At
lantic ocean, about 1.OOO miIAs east of New
York, is stopping in Washington for a few
days, en- route to his home, after an alb
sence of five years in Europe, where he
has been pursuing special lines of study
in his profession.
The Hecla was greatly damaged by the
force of the collision, and up to this time
1t is not known whether or not any of her
passengers were lost, her captain has
not as yet reported his arrival at any sea-
port.
At the time of the accident the Missis-
sippi was bound from London to New York,
and the Hecla, which had left New York
three days before. was proceeding toward
her destination, Christiania, Sweden.
DR.. Kellogg's Story.
In conversation today with a Star re-
porter DR.. Kellogg gave thrilling account
of the mishap.
1.-The Mississippi" said he, left London
for New York Thursday afternoon, May 20.
She had but few passengers, as she is prin-
cipally engaged in the transportation of
live stock between New York and London.
We proceeded slowly across the Atlantic.
The weather was beautiful, and for the
first seven days out from London the run
was as delightful as could be wished for.
We had then, as shown by the log taken
at noon of that day. which was Thursday
last reached latitude 43.55 NJ, longitude
"A 90 w.
About an hour previous to noon we en-
countered heavy fog. Capt Cannon of
the Mississippi Immediately ordered the
siren whistle to be blown and the engines
to be run at half speed until the fog should
lift. The blowing of the whistle was kept
up at intervals OF two minutes all the
afternoon. At $50 we heard fog signal
in the distance, but could not distinguish
it's location. second time 1t was heard,
and still we were unable to locate it. When
it was sounded the third time myself and
others, who were standing near the chart
room door, with Capt. Cannon, looked out
into the fog and were Mortified to see
big three-masted steamship, which subse-
quently proved to be the Hecla, bearing
down at full speed.
stood ns Though Pnralyzed.
ut seemed as though the captain of the
Hecla noticed our steamship at the same
time, and ne stood as though paralyzed at
the thought of the possible calamity about
to overtake one or both steamers. Either
this was his physical condition, or, see
ing that a collision was inevitable. he mad
determined to undertake to protect his ves-
sci with its eight or nine hundred passen-
gers, and strike us amfdships, thereby in
curing the least damage possible to his
Cwn vessel.
LAS the Hecla continued to advance to-
ward us Captain Cannon yelled out Go
astern! At once the wheel of the Hecla
was turned, and, in an incredibly short
time, the vessel swung around SO much
that instead of striking us amidship the
Hecla struck the Mississippi in the stern.
The force of the collision broke off almost
n1l,, - ,l;l
SO the foremast came down and fell upon
the deck, which was crowded with passen-
gers. AT the same instant a piercing
moan, which l cannot describe, but shall
never forget, came from the thIoats of the
passengers on the unfortunate Hecla.
AS quickly as possible Captain Cannon
had a boat lowered, and he sent the chief
officer with a crew to see now much dam
age had been done to the Mississippi The
chief officer reported upon his return that
all the damage to the Mississippi
bove the water line and that no imme-
diate danger need be apprehended. He
Eawser rope and portion of her other
equipment had been left on the stern of
the Mississippi. Captain Cannon then turn
ed his attention to ascertain if he could be
of any assistance to the vessel or to the
pas myers of the Hecla, and inquired of
the captain of the Hecla If he could be Of
any service to him.
'The passengers on the Mississippi ex-
pected to hear the reply from the captain
OF the Hecla that he would like to be towed
into New York for repairs, but to their
surprise the answer came back: We ask
for nothing except that you report upon
your arrival at New York the facts of this
collision and also that / have gone into
the nearest port for REPAIRS Fortunately,
although the damages were of the serious
nature described, they were like those of
the MfssissfppiEabovs the water Ene-and
1t is presumed that the captain of the
Hecla felt confident of his ability to reach
the nearest port without further trouble
No Excitement Caused.
There was no excitement whatever on
board the Mississippi, and do not think
that too much praise could be awarded to
captain Cannon, his officers and crew. for
their conduct on the trying occasion. I'M
mediately after recovering from the ef-
fects of the encounter, we resumed our
Journey to New York, where we arrived
yesterday.
1t was somewhat singular incident
mat Just before the collision took place,
Captain Cannon ordered two of the life
boats uncovered. This action caused the
passengers little alarm, but nothing was
said by them During the run across I'D
10 tnls tlme the passengers had engaged
m pitching quoits, and suggested that we
paVe game, remarking that 1t perhaps
Hlght De the last game we would ever
nave. This proved to be literally true,
1or while we were playing the game the
cohislon occurred, causing the game to be
Op."
4 = a Nyuy u