New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-29

Aeep their feet on deck The second anchor ran
oo"ut twenty fathoms Of chain and stuck
'"e "s snip stopped. and for a abort time
p'aFeiy the wind and tide. But in n
*" minutes she began to go back slowly. and II
anchors " ZIG
Inc signal was Immediately given 70 pr.nare
W get under way. and In the mean time Il VIA,
n"peu that the anchors would catch and hold
as'er and faster she went back her broadsidc
swinging toward the dangerous ram on the
p''" Vi the Massachusetts. The latter was
s"oiieo 10 pay out her cable and drop away
CIV" .he oid so. In the mean time on the Brook
i!h the men In charge Of the forward comnart-
-"Vh's went 10 their stations. closing the water
"snt compartments and preparing without any
outward evidence Of excitement for the ex-
pected collision
AN EXCITING MOMENT
Inc Massachusetts cleared away her big booms
and prepared for the collision. not daring to
snip the anchor for fear of running herself on
the sandbar, in close proximity. or drifting into
the Texas Faster and faster went the Brooklyn
toward the battle-ship. and the men at the sta
lions on both vessels stood unhnchingly. ready
TO perform the special duties assigned them in
case or collision There was confusion.
On the bridge. with cool heads sharp eyes and
active brains were Captain Cook and his ex
ecutive officer. while on the after bridge, not
interfering with the management Of the officers
OF the ship. stood Commodore Schley and Flag
Lieutenant Sears. watching with interest. but
with as little excitement as they would prac-
tice cruise. the big ships coming together.
conflict Of orders would have meant great dis
aster. but there was none.
An order from the captain. and one Of the big
anchors came rafting up and the ship drifted
on little faster toward its evident fate. Then
in obedience to the helm, the stern now almost
scrapng the Massachusetts bow. swung out
and the head. party controlled by the anchor.
swung in as II to take the blow. It was within
a few yards Of the huge battle-shlp. and ALL
were awaiting the crash. Captain Cook looked
over the port side of the bridge. and then
SHARPLY ordered Full speed astern." There
a cang Of bells. a shiver as the big engines
turned. and then the cruiser slid rapidly clear OF
the Massachusetts. with barely hand TO spare.
"CleVerly DONE" said Commodore Schley as he
went down to breakfast.
Clever seamarship. perfect discipline and cool
headed judgment had averted disaster. This
ship obeys her engines perfectly" said Captain
Cook modest!y after he had anchored further
out.
Toward afternoon the storm cleared of and
the heavy quickly subsidized. Boats began
running from the ships. and communication
with shore resumed. The steamers OF the
Boston and Providence line and OF the OldDomin-
ion Steamship Company. which were detained
yesterday evening. ran as usual tonight Anx-
iety Is felt as 10 large threemasted schooner.
disabled by loss Of her main topmas. part OF
foremost and rails and anchored near Chica-
micomico Life Saving Station. which 10 ninety
miles south Of Virginia Beach and twenty
miles north OF Cape Hatteras The schooner.
whose name not known was anchored TWO
miles north Of the station. and was thought 10
be in danger II the wind continued strong from
the northeast. this last intelligence coming early
yesterday morning
Telegraph and telephone wires from Virginia
Reach 10 the South are many OF them down. as
only Cape Henry and Virginia Beach were
heard from last night. section OF the Virginia
Naval Reserves acting az signal corps IA sta
toned at Cape Henry. and Is having a taste OF
rough weather
CAFE Henry. Va. April 28-The keeper Of the
l,re-saving station at Little Islands reports a
United States lightshp of that station flying
signals Of distress.