The herald., 1898-05-30
COLLISION DUE TO FOG
CREW OF THE STEAMER SAVED
The Cruiser Headed for Drydock With
Hole Like Barn Door In
Her Bow
Annotated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, May 2s-When the United
States cruiser Columbia, in command of
Captain Sands, anchored off Tompkins-
Vile, s. l., this afternoon, it was seen that
she had a large jagged hole stove in her
starboard side, abreast the mast and i'm
mediately forward of her 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 dam
of the naval officers would give any infor-
nation about the accident. AS soon as the
vessel came to anchor. the captain and
crew, twenty-one in all, Of the British
steamer Foscolia, which left this port yes
terday with cargo Of machinery and
general merchandise for Bordeaux, went
ashore. Neither the captain nor any of
the British crew would talk, and left at
once for New York to report the accident
to their agents. No one was allowed to go
on board the Columbia. but to a reporter
of the Associated Press who rowed out to
the cruiser, the ofkcer of the deck made the
following brief statement:
''About lao p. m. the British ship Fos-
cola, in command of Captain John Evans,
collided with our vessel during a dense
fog. We were then about eight miles
southwest of Fire island. We lowered two
lifeboats and rescued the captain and
crew. numbering twenty-one. all told. We
stood by until the Foscolia sunk, at 8
o'clock this morning. As soon as we ar
rived here we sent the rescued men
ashore"
Further information in reference to the
accident could not be obtained.
About 4 o'clock one of the navy yard tugs
steamed alongside the cruiser and deliv-
cred some messages from Rear Admiral
Bunce, commander Of the navy yard at
Brooklyn. A few minutes later the Co.
lumbia headed from Brooklyn yard. where
1t Is supposed she will be drydocked and the
extent of her injuries ascertained.
Captain ]. Evans Of the Foscolia. after
reaching here, said. regarding the acct
dent:
1.-THE Foscolia cleared from this port at
of about Zoo tons. All went well until
evening, when heavy fog set in. was
on the bridge and ordered the lights up
and the fog whistle kept going. AS the
fog grew denser the speed of the ship was
reduced one-half.
"About clock, the lookout, johnson, on
the forecastle, and Thompson. on the
bridge, reported steamer on the port bow.
Our lights were burning brightly, and the
fog signal was whistling. looked up and
saw a big steamer with four tunnels dead
ahead. AS the steamers were not 200 yards
apart, I saw that collision was inevitable.
/ blew three whistles and the approaching
vessel answered with one blast. That was
the first time heard the Columbias
whistle. Instantly I ordered our engines
full speed astern. The vessels came to-
gether, however, with a terrible crash, and
the bow of the Foscola ran up on the
cruisers armor belt, and then cut through
her sponsors. They remained locked for
q couple of seconds, but the backing of the
Foscolia'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 list considerably. Had it not
been for the bullying of the sponsor from
the side of the warship the F'oscolia would
only have struck the Columbia a gIancing
blow. The bow of the Foscolia became
wedged between the sponsor and the hull
Of the cruiser, and the Dow of my boat was
completely wrenched off.
at was dead calm at the time of the COL
lision. After backing away saw that the
injury to the Foscolia was Serious, and in
stantly ordered the lifeboats launched
They were in the water in just four minutes,
and my crew were ordered into them.
remained aboard the wreck with my five Of
icers. My engineers. after trying the en-
gines. reported them to be SO badly damaged
BY the collision as to be incapable of work
ing the ship. The Foscolia 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 a team and carriage
through. The pumps were kept working
until 1890 p M, but the Foscolia was get
ting lower and lower in the water Two
boats from the Columbia were standing by
me. and Lieutenant Williams asked me at
that hour what intended doing. re-
piled that would stand by my ship until