The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-05-30
SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT SEA
BRITISH STEAMER SUNK IN COLLINS
 ION WITH U. s. s. COLUMBIA.
Captain and Crew of Twenty Saved by the American Cruisers Men-Jaxged Hole Made in the warship,s Side and the Protected Deck Probably Saved Her From Being Cut in Two-collision Occurred in n Heavy Fog,
Occurred in n Heavy Fog.

"O~NS~NN- N~OO~s
 Her From Being Cut in Two Collision
 Occurred in Heavy Fog,
 New York, May 29.--When the United States cruiser Columbia, in command of Captain Sands, anchored off Tomp- kinsville, s. T., to-day, it was seen that she had a large Jagged hole stove in her starboard side, abreast of the mainmast and just forward of the af- ter barbette. Above the water line the hole extended about ten feet high and six feet wide. Just how far blow the water line the cruiser was damaged it could not be ascertained. As soon as the vessel came to anchor, she lowered couple of boats and several men car rying sailors bags upon their shoulders were put ashore at Tompkinsville These proved to be the captain and crew, twenty one in all, of the British steamer Foscolia, which left this port yesterday with a cargo Of machinery and general merchandise for Bordeaux. The name of the captain is John Evans. but neither he nor any one of his crew would talk when they landed. They left at once for New York to report to Z the agents of the company to which the vessel belonged. No person was allowed to go on board the Columbia, but representative of The Associated Press, who rowed out to the cruiser, talked with the officer of the deck, who gave the following statement:
 About TAO p. m., yesterday, the British steamer Foscolia collided with our vessel during q dense fog. We were then about We lowered two life-boatt and rescued the captain and crew, numbering twenty one all told. We stood by until the Foscolia sunk at oc1oek hna this morning. As soon as we ashore. Further information in reference to the accident l cannot give you.
 About o'clock one of the navy yard tugs steamed up alongside the cruiser and delivered some message from Rear Admiral Bunce, commandant at the navy yard, Brooklyn. A few minutes later the Columbia, accompanied by the tug, headed for the navy yard, where 1t IS expected she will be immediately dry -docked so that the full extent of her injuries can be ascertained.
 From the appearance of the Colum- bia to-day it looked as though the heavy protective deck of the warship saved her from being cut in two. As the Foscolia ran full into the big ship the bow mounted into the air and struck the steel deck which stopped her. The collision occurred just under- meath the sDonsons of a gun and the gun was displaced, but not lost. The cut laid bare the main gangway and exposed to view the room of one of the officers Had he been in it at the time he would have been killd.
 Tn Columbia while lying at the an- chorage at Tompkinsville had all of her men on the port side, their weight aid- ing in keeping her hold as far out of the water as possible. The Columbia was an object of great interest to the crew of the Yankee, which was lying at the anchorage when she came in. They crowded the rails to get a view of her damage. While the Columbia lay at the anchorage the Yankee put to sea to take, it is said, the Colum- bias place on the patrol.