The times., 1897-09-07

Engineer Webster claims 20 have reversed
/ hisene ne before the crash came. .Ee emerE ed
1 from the engine-rooIn Just in time TO pre-
vent tie two-hnrse team OF the Washington
Brewing Company from plungng into the
river.
| Nj. James Scott. the watchman at the
/ Washington wharf was returning to his
hoJae IL Alexandria. He was throw u to the
( Geek by the collision, and badly injured
! by d ballast borrel rolling across his legs.
The Columbia was towed To her wharf by
the steamer Belle Haven and tugboat Pride.
| and Mr.. Scott was removed to mis- home ag
Z No. 431 South Fairfax street. Alexandria,
where he received medical attention.
Capt. Fow6es, as soon as fcIeCoyered suf-
! ficiently from the shock, returned to
bis ho.le, No. 434 Sixth street southwest.
/ this city.
The Newport News was under command
Of Capt. Gobagen, with Pilot Posey. She
proceeded after the accident TO this city.
The damage to the Columbia is estimated
10y steamboat men at from $40 600 to
! SIP coo, though superintendent Ridley
did not care to make an estimate at this
time of the damage.
The Columbia was built by the Villa m
E. Wcndan Co, of Baltimore, and the
engine by John Cahill. of the same city.
and cost about $40 900.
At the office Of the Norfolk and Wash
ton line no statement could be obtained ,ex-
| cept the bare acknowledgment that the
two boats We're III collision.
Nr John Callahan, the gener al manager
of the company, could not be found, and
the people at the company's office stated
that the captain Of their boat had made
written statement TO Mr.. Callahan, and
that Mr.. Callahan was the only person
who was authorized "a say a word.
Capt. Fowkes, VINO was at the wheel
atthe time IL the collision, was seen in Alex
andria and stated that he had sounded his
whistle fIomthe time the boat left the Wash
ington wharf. When off Shepherds Land
ing lie heard signal from the Newport
News to st5p- He gave the bell which
brought his vessel To full stop.
After having run his boat as near the
Maryland shore as possible without beach
ing the steamer, hardly had his vessel
stopped when he was Mortified at seeing
the Newport News but hundred feet Off,
plowIng toward him, apparently under a
fun head OF steam.
He supposed that the Norfolk steamer
was standing still. and was surprised and
horrihed when he SAW her almost upon
them. Having stopped his engine, heran on
deck and checked a team of horses just
as they We're abouttc gooyerboard.
Il had gone off my course" said the cap
tain, to avoid collision, w hile the New
port News took northeasterly instead of
"A noriEeriy course after leaving her dock
at Alexandria"
TIE Columbia is lying at her dock, foot
OF kirg street Alexandria, in a helpless
condition.
From statements of her officers it an.
pears that She proceeded cautiously down
the river until she had reached a point
opposite Shepherds, when, Capt Fowkes
states, ne heard a blast from the whistle
Of tie Newport News, which caused him
to give s. gnal To his engineer to stop the
boat.
In tie pleantipe lie had steered his boat
as near &c the Maryland bank as safety
would permit, and endeavored to locate
the Newport News, which he thought from
the signal sounded by the vessel was also
at a standStiIl. The next moment he
wah lDrrified TO see the huge steamer
plougning toward the Columbia at what
he considered high rate OF speed Then
the collision came. the Newport News bow
denolishirg the Columhia's wheelhouse.
breaking 'he journal shaft, and bending
a twelve4nch iron shaft.
The Columbia sounded distress whistle.
which was responded to by the steamer