The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-30
ONE CRUISER DISABLED
COLUMBIA IN COLLISION WITH
A BRITISH FREIGHTER
GREAT HOLE STOVE IN THE
SIDE OF THE WARsHIP
BRITIsHER SANK, BUT CAPTAIy
AND CREW WE'RE SAVED

Capt. Evans, of the Wrecked Fos-
cola, Failed to Hear the CoIum-
bias Warning WhistIes-TerriGc
Impact Leaves an Aperture In tho
Cruiser Through Which a Team
OF Horses and Wagon Could Pass
The Columbia Ordered to the
Brooklyn Navy Yard for Repairs,
NEW YORK, May 29.-When the
United States cruiser Columbia, in
command of Capt Sands, anchored off
Tompkinsville, S. l., this afternoon, it
was seen that she had a large jagged
hole stove in her starboard side, abreast
of the mainmast and Immediately for
ward of the rear barbette.
Above the water line the hole extend
ed about ten feet high and six feet
wide. Just how far below the water
line the cruiser was damaged could not
be ascertained, and none of the naval
officers would give any information in
regard to the accident.
IN COLLISION.
AS soon as the vessel came to an
chor, the captain and crew, twenty-one
in ALL Of the British steamer Foscolia,
which left the port yesterday with a
cargo of machinery and general mer-
chandse for Bordeaux, came ashore.
Neither the captain nor any of his crew
would talk when they landed, and they
the agents Of the company to which the
vessel belonged. No one was allowed
tc go on board the Columbia, but to a
reporter of the Associated Press, who
rowed out to the cruiser, the officer of
the deck made the following brief state
ment:
about 7:40 p. m. yesterday the Brit
ish steamship Foscolia, in command Of
Capt. John Evans, collided with our
vessel during a dense fog. We were
then about eight miles southwest of
Fire Island light.
I'VE lowered two lifeboats and res
cued the captain and crew, numbering
| twenty-one all told. We stood by un-
| til the Foscolia sank at o'clock this
morning. AS soon as we arrived here
| We sent the rescued men ashore. Fur
| ther information in reference to the
| accident l cannot give you"
About o'clock one of the heavy
| navy. yard tugs came alongside the
cruiser and delivered some messages
| from Rear Admiral Bunce, command
ant at the navy yard, Brooklyn. A
few minutes later the Columbia head
ed for the Brooklyn navy yard, where
it is supposed she will be dry-docked
III order to ascertain the full extent Of
her injuries.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
Capt. J. Evans, of the Foscolia, after
reaching this city, said regarding the
collision:
The Foscolia cleared from this port
at noon on Saturday with a general
cargo of about 1900 tons. All went we'll
until evening, when a heavy fog set IN.
l was on the bridge and ordered the
lights UP and the fog whistle kept go
ing. AS the fog grew dense the speed
of the Foscolia was reduced to one
half.
About o'clock, Lookouts Johnson,
on the forecastle, and Thompson. on
port bow. Our lights were burning
brightly, and the fog signal was whis-
tling. 1 looked up and saw a big
steamer with four tunnels dead
ahead. AS the steamers were not 200
yards apart, 1 saw that a collision
was inevitable
II blew three whistles, and the ap-
preaching vessel answered with one
blast. That was the first time 1 heard
the Columbia's whistle Instantly L
ordered our engines full speed astern.
THE vessels came together, how
ever, with a terrible crash, and the
bow Of the Foscolia ran upon the
cruisers armor belt and then cut
through her sponsor.
They remained locked for a couple
of seconds, but the backing of the Fos-
colia's engines tore off her bow as far
back as the first water-tight bulk head.
The wreckage stuck in the cruisers side
above and below the water line and
caused the Columbia to list considera-
bly,.
Had it not been for the bulging of
the sponsor from the side of the war;
ship, the Foscolia would only have
struck the Columbia a glancing blow.
The bow of the Foscolia became wedg-
ed between the sponsor and hull of the
cruiser, and the bow of my boat was
completely wrenched off.
SAW HIS SHIP SINK.
'It was dead calm at the time of the
collision. After backing away l saw
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