New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-02
A CRASH IN MIDOCEAN.
THE MISSISSIPPI AND THE HEKLA IN
COLLISION.
HOLE TORN IN THE FORMER TWELVE FEET LONG
PANIC AMoNI THE PAssENGERs-BOTH
STEAMERS. HOWEVER. CONTINUE
ON THEIR WAY.

STEAMERS. HON fN 'ONih"SH
ON THEIR WAY.
The Atlantic Transport Line cattle steamer
Mississippi plying between London and New
York, came into port yesterday afternoon WIN
her port quarter almost shapeless mass. In
the wreckage was the kedge anchor 700 feet
of hawser and a twisted hawser pipe of the
Thingvala Line steamship Hekla These two
vessels ran together in midocean on last Thurs
day. May 21 and only good luck pre-
vented their being now at the bottom or the
sea- The Hekla had her bows from foot above
the water line to within g few feet OF her deck
completely stove; parts of her were carried
away by the Mississippi and her fore rigging
and foretopmast were twisted and broken She
Is now steaming slowly for her port of Chris
tiansand which she is expected to reach on
Saturday.
The Mississippi sailed from London for New
York on May 90. with six passengers, twelve
cattlcmen and officers and TO the number
of forty The Heka left this port on May -
with some three hundred passengers and crew
on board AS the two steamers were approach
ing each other last Thursday off the Grand
Banks they ran into one OF those open and
shut fogs which tantaize sea captains.
Both vessels proceeded under half-speed'
sounding foghorns and using every precaution
for safety. Suddenly Captain Cannon, OF the
Mississippi, who on the bridge. heard the
Heka's horn five hundred yards Off his
mort bow. He slowed down still more, and
watched and waited hearing the blasts from the
horn of the approaching steamer at intervals.
In one Of the lifts Of the fog, at 5:45 o'clock in
the afternoon. he caught a momentary glimpse
Of the Heka. which was making directly for
his port bow The perfectly smooth
He threw his wheel over and sheered on TO
starboard and then the mist enveloped nm
again IT, utter blackness. In four minutes the
Hekla was on him, and, before either Vessei
could veer further from its course, the Heklas
how tore into the port quarter Of the Mississippi
rpplng a hole twelve feet long and six feet high
above her water-line. and damaging herself
Instantly there was confusion on both vessels.
wbicb in the case of the Heka, crowded as
she was with passengers. amounted to panic.
Men and women on the latter boat rushed about
the decks clamorn3 for life preserve:s and
boats in which to escape from what they
thought was impending death. The two vessels
backed away, and a glance over the side re-
veaed to both Captain Cannon and Captain
Lamb, of the Hekla that their ships were in
no immediate danger
Within a few minutes boats were lowered from
the steamers to ascertain the 1ull amount u
damage sustained. AS the damage was wholly
above the water-line in both cases. it was seen
that the vessels could proceed on her way
without danger. Captain Lamb swung around
and came back to the Mississippi, and, hahing
Captain Cannon, he asked the latter now tadiy
ne was hurt and, on receiving the reply that
the damage would not prevent his reaching
New-Ycrk in safety, called back; Il am not
hurt below the water-lne. Shall proceed to
port Report me when you arrive In New-York
Thareupon the vessels steamed away on their
courses ,
A closer examination of the hole in the rort
quarter of the Mississippi showed that she car
ried several mementos of the Hekla including
the anchor hawser and the twisted haWser pipe
A survey of her will be made TO-DAY and
Board of Inquiry from the Lloyds will determine
later where the blame for the collision lies Re
pairs will be made on her at her pier, and 1t Is
expected that she will be ready to sail egain by
Sunday ~ - 1000
The Mississippi was built in Belfast IN lo9'
and is of 23SS tons burden. She is ji3o leet
long 4l2 feet beam. and 266 feet deep Inc
Hekla was built in Glasgow in 1881 ana IS OF
o113 tons burden. She is $40 feet long A. feet
beam. and 3OS feet deep Both vessels carrl@d
carpoes of general merchandise.