The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-30

NEW YORK, May 29.-The United
States cruiser Columbia reports that at
I:3o o'clock last night. off Fire island.
during a thick fog. she was run into by
the steamer Foscolia. The Foscolia struck
the Columbia on the sLarboard quarter.
just forward of the after barbette. cutting
clean into the hull, making a large hole
and filling a compartment with water.
The Foscolia sank almost Immediately,
but the Columbia succeeded in rescuing all
OF her crew aud landed them at St.
George.
When the Columbia, in charge CT Capt
Sands. anchored off Tompkinsvile this
afternoon, 1t was seen that sna had Il
large. jagged hole stove In her starboard
side, abreast tha mast, and Immediately
forward OF the after barbette. Above the
water line the hole extended about ten
feet high and six feet wide. Just how
far below the water line the cruiser was
damaged could not TO ascertained. and
none OF the officials would give any in
formation in regard TO the accident
As soon as the vessel came 10 anchor,
II.
OF the British steamer Foscolia. Which
left this port yesterlay with cargo Of
machinery and general merchandise for
Bordeaux. came ashore. Neither captain
nor crew would talk when they landed,
and left at once for New York TO report
to the agents Of the company to which the
vessel belonged. No one was allowed TO
so On board the Columbia, but to a rep
reseatative of the Associated Press who
rowed out 10 the cruiser the officer Of the
deck made the Following brief state
ment:
About 7:io p. n yesterday the British
steamship Fosco.la. in command of Capt
John Evans, co.lded with our vessel dur
ing dense fog. We were then about eight
miles southwest OF Fire Island We low
cred two lfe-boaSs and rescued the cap
tan and crew. numbering twenty-one all
told. We stood by until the Foscolla sank.
at o'clock this morning As soon as we
arrived, we sent The rescued men ashore.
Further information in reference 10 the
accident / cannot give you"
About O'Clock one Of thu, navy ward
tugs steamed alongside the cruiser and
delivered some messages from, Rear Ad-
miral Bunce, commander OF the navy
yard al Brooklyn. a few minutes later
the Columbia headed t0r the Brooklyn
navy yard. where ii ia supposed she VIII
he dry docked IN order 20 ascertain the
ful extent OF her INJURY
Capt. J. Exams, OF the Foscolia. after
reaching this city. said. regarding the
collision:
The Foscolia cleared from tbs port at
neon on Saturday with A general cargo
II about 2.goa tons. All went well 1ntii
evening. when i heavy fog set in. was
op the bridge and ordered the lights I'm
ana the f9g whistles kept going. As the
fog grew deuser the speed Of the ship was
reduced to one-haf
About 5 O'Clock the look johnson.
oa tae fcrecast!e. and Thompson. on the
bridge. sp.cd steamer on the port bow
Cor lights were burning brightly ana the
fog signal was wh,stlsng ] locked up ana
saw biz steamer with four tunnels dead
ahead. As the steamers were not - yards
APART. ] saw THAI 4 collision was incyi-
table, | blow three whistles. and the ap-
preaching vessel answered with one blast.
That was me frs; tiUe / heard the CO.
Iumhia's whistle.
''Iusi3utly I orle~c1 cur engines fun
however. with q terrible cras7, ard the
boVS - the Fosco.ls ran 9Don the cruisers
al Teor bel, and then cut through her sp00-
SCR. They remained locked :or a couple
o. seconds. hl: the backing ot tbs FoSea-
HAS euSlacs tore cf1 her bow "a sur hack
as the first wsyrr~t}sht bu,khtaf. The
wFes l<tge stuck ia the crutsers s3e
ahuvs a@d hacW the water 'ue and
ca8Scf the Cc'umdi& - list considerably,
Had 20 nor bean far the hulgiBS e tae
SForsoa from tae SIDE ~ the warsfip. the
Fosr1l3a wCai only have struck the Co
}ura>.8 u glaar.cS blow TIE bow % the
Foscs3fa became wedEed between tae
SPONSOR and hul - th~ cruiser. ana th@
honr OF ny boat gas completely NTeEcaed
or
y. was deai calm al the time ~ the col
lsian After backing away saw that
tee injury 70 the Fascoi.a vas seristls snsi
insanity ordered tae Efe-bOats launched.
Teev " - In tne water ,n tusc four r7ts-
utes a.7d rs c~cw wer, ordered .rt3 fhen.
remained 451arG :ae wreck w.jh my
five Officers My engineers, after trying
she Fne.nss reported them 10 BE- - hsd.y
davnagea by she collision As % bs lHca p.s 3a
a. WORKING the ship.
The cycaiia vsgs rcw zkias bsd,y.
ard fae pumps were started Tie crew
was sart aboard r4e cruiser w .T1 bad
pole tn htr sttraosra sis.a ht~,s .'so@sa to
drive % t.ss. -~. so a~rss cAs vlcl. The
pumps were bsV, W9Ys s-i.s GrtI 1888 2. -.