The age-herald., 1898-05-30
Although It Is Believed That Some of the
 Crew Were Injured.
BIG HOLE IN cOLuMsIA's SIDE
It Is Thought That the Vessel Will Have To Be Dry Docked Before the Extent of Her Injuries Will Be Defi
 nlteIy Known.

States cruiser Columbia, iu command of Captain Sands, anchored off Tompkinsville, s. l., this afternoon, it was seen that she had a large jagged hole stove in her star board side abreast of the mainmast 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 be ascertained and none of the naval officers would give any information in regard to the accident. As soon as the vessel came to anchor the cap- tain and crew, twenty-one, in all, of the British steamer Foscatia, which left this port yesterday with cargo of machinery and general merchandise for Bordeaux, went ashore. Neither the captain nor any of his 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 go on board the Columbia, but to a repre- sentative of the Associated Press, who rowed out to the cruiser, the officer of the deck made the following brief statement:
 OFFICERS STATEMENT.
 About TAO p. m. yesterday the British steamship Foscotia, in command of John Evans, captain, col'ded with our vessel during dense fog We were then about eight. miles southwest of Fire Island light. We lowered two life boats and rescued the captain and crew, numbering twenty-one all told. We stood by until the Foscotia sank at o'clock this morning. As soon as we arrived here we sent the rescued men ashore Further information in reference to the accident cannot give you"
 About o'clock one of the navy yard tugs steamed alongside the cruiser, and delivered some messages from Rear Ad- mral Bunce commandant at the Brooklyn navy yard few minutes later the Co., lumbia headed for the Brooklyn navy yard, where is is supposed she will be dry-docked in order to ascertain the full extent of her injuries.
 Captain Evans, of the Foscotia af CT reaching this city, said regarding the col lision:
 CAPTAIN EVANS ACCOUNT.
 "The Foscotia cleared from this port at neon on Saturday with a general cargo of 22J0 tons.All went we'll until evening, when a heavy fog set in. I was on the bridge and ordered the lights up ard the fog whistle kept going. As the fog grew denser, the speed of the Foscotia was re- duced one-half "About s o'clock Lookouts Johnson, on the forecastle, and Thompson, on the bridge reported a steamer on the port bow Our lights were burning brightly and the fog signal was whistljsg. l looked up and saw big steamer with four tunnels dead ahead. As the steamers were not 200 yards apart, saw that collision was inevitable. I blew three whistles and the approaching vessel answered with one blast That was the first time heard the Colunbia's whistle. Instantly I ordered our engines on full steam astern. The ves- sels came together, however. with terri ble crash and the bow of the Foscotia ran up on the cruisers armor belt, then cut through her sponsor. They remained locked for a couple of seconds, but the backing of the Foscotia's engines tore off her bow as far back as the first water tight bulkhead. The wreckage stuck in the cruisers side above and below the water line and caused the Columbia to lift considerably. Had it not been for the bulging of the sponsor from the side of the warship the Foscotia would only have struck the Columbia a glancing blow. The bow of the Foscotia became wedged be- tween the sponsor and hull of the cruiser and the bow of my boat was completely wrenched off.
 LIFE BOATS LOWERED.
 
 '1t was dead calm at the time of the collision. After backing off from the cruiser saw that the damage to my ship was serious and ordered my men to lower the life boats.
 ''They were in the water in four minutes and my fifteen seamen were ordered into them. l remained aboard the wreck with my five officers. The engineers after try ing the engines, reported them to be so badly deranged by the collision as to be in- capable of working the ship. The Foscotia was leaking badly, and the pumps were started. The crew were sent aboard the cruiser, which had hole in her starboard side large enough to drive team and carriage through. The pumps were kept working until 19:S0 D. n. but the Foscot was getting lower and lower in the water Two boats from the Columbia were stard- ing by me- and Lieutenant Williams asked me at that hour what Intended doing I replied that would stand by my ship until she went down. Then ordered the officers into the life boat, and I remained at the main. rigging while the ste amship continu q
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