New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-30

near the after sponsor large piece Of can
vas which extended down TO the water hne' CON-
cealing that portion Of the vessel
Later IT was found out that the Columbia had
q large tagged hole stove in her starboard side.
abreast of the mainmast and Immediately for
ward Of the after SPONSOR This hole was about
six feet wide and extended fully ten feet down
to the waterline. Just how far IL extended De
low the waterline could not be ascertained, and
none Of the naval officers would give any lnfo:-
nation in regard 10 the accident
Whep the Columbia came to anchor she low
cred a couple Of boats and a number OF men
carrying sailors bags put ashore at Tomp-
kinsville. 1t was from these men that the first
news Of what had actually occurred was learned
They were the captain and crew twenty-one in
all Of the British tramp steamer Foscolia. which
left this port for Bordeaux on Saturday. The
captain Of the Foscolia was John Evans. and
from MIN was learned the fact that his vessel
had been sunk in collision with the Columbia
and that the cruiser had sustained serious dam
age.
OFFICERS DECLINE TO TALK.
The officers Of the Columbia refused TO say
anything about the accident and positively de-
clneG 10 state the extent OF damage done to the
cruiser Finally. just before the vessel left
Tompknsville for the Navy Yard. the officer OF
the deck said 10 the newspaper men who were
lowering around the cruiser:
about 7:4O =. IN. yesterday Sunday the
British steamship Foscola. in command Of Cap
tain John Evans. collidcd with our vessel dur
ing dense fog. We were then about eight
miles southwest OF Fire Island Light We
lowered two lifeboats and rescued the captain
and crew. numbering twenty-one all told. We
stood by until the Foscola sank. at 3 o'clock
this morning AS soon as We arrived here we
sent the rescued men ashore Further inforna-
ton N reference 70 the accident | cannot give
you"
While nothing official was learned to the
accident from the COlumbia's officers. the fol-
lowing account obtained from one of the
men on the cruiser as to the circumstances con
nected With the collision: The Columbia was
on patrol duty east Of Fire Island at S o'clock
Saturday night. She was lying in the track OF
inward and outward bound vessels from this
port She had spoken a number Of vessels
within an hour She was steamng slowly
Ihe night was thick and foggy. Suddenly the
lookout on the bow reported vessels head
Hsh's appearing through the mist. The vessel
was coming head on the starboard broadside
Inc officer On the bridge realized the danger
OF collision because Of the darkness and the
war paint. and signalled full speed ahead. Be
!ore the ship had gone twenty feet the ap-
preaching steamer crashed into the Columbia
The shock was 70 great that the Columbia
4s'eu ABOUT ~ degrees TO port. knocking down
''e men ~ deck and the man at the wheel
was throw! Nranst the side Of the pilot-house
peaKing Two ianes OF glass, but escaped serious
INJURY hln.scli. The glass Is heavy plate glass.
Inc Coumb!a's engines were stopped. but
ole mad just attained great speed and head
"ay could not be checked at once. The nose Of
'Ae striking vessel was fast in the side Of the
"arship and before the Columbia finally stopped
Die mad dragged the tramp ship around. doing
more damage to herself by pryng the plates
FORWARD Of the point OF contact outward and
'hose aft os 1t inward. The same terrible force
which did this wrenched the stem entirely out
oi the striking ship.
LISTED TO STARBOARD
"hen the stem Of the tramp vessel broke off
"e sihps drifted apart. The striking vessel dis
appeared In the fog, and the Columbia began to
take heavy list TO starboard from the many
IONS OF water which poured into the hold from
the opening. Collision quarters were sounded
almost before the collision occurred As the
striking steamer noated away some one OH board
shouted to send help, as the ship was sinking.
"heh The collision occurred the Columbia had
her water-tight compartments all closed and the
men were quickly available for other duties
captain Sands. who had hurried to the bridge
on The first alarm. ordered a survey made of the
damage. AS the Columbia continued to list to
s'srboard. he ordered that she be weighted on
the port side The guns on that side were run
OUT as though to fire. the boats were swung out
On the davits though to lower. and other
means were taken to trim the ship This threw
'ne centre OF gravity toward the port side. and
w'tnin few minutes after the collision the list
:" starboard caused by the thrush Of the water