The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-30

THE FOSCOLlA WAS SUNK
Her Bow Was wrenched on and she
Went Down Head First-No Men
Lost-A Big Hole Punched
in the Columbia

~ SWIM Aest |
ing a thick fog. she was run into by the
steamer Fdscolia, hence for BORDEAUX
grain laden. The Foscolia struck the
Columbia on the ~tarboar quarter. just
forward of the barbette, cutting clean
into the hull, making a hole about TWO
feet, and filling a compartment. the
Foscolia sank almost Immediately, but
the Columbia succeeded In rescuing all
of her crew n landed them at st.
George.
When the United States cruiser Co
lumbia, in command of Captain Sands.
anchored off Tompkinsville. s. L., TINS
afternoon, 1t was seen that she had a
large, jagged hole stove in her star
board side, abreast the mast and I'M
mediately forward of the after barbette.
Above the water line the hole extenoeo
about 10 feet high and six feet VIDE.
Just how far below the water line the
cruiser was damaged could not pe as
certained, and none of the naval ohiceis
would give any information In regard 10
the accident.
As soon as the vessel came to anchor
the captain and crew, II in all. OF the
| British steamer Foscolia, which LETT TINS
port yesterday with a cargo OF ma
chinery and general Iof
bordeaux, went ashore Neither captain
nor crew would talk when they lanoeu,
and left at once for New York TO report
TO the agents of the company to when
the vessel belonged. No one was al
lowed to go on board the Columbia, but
TO a representative Of the associated
press who rowed out to the cruiser the
officer of the deck made the following
brief statement:
About 7:40 p. m. yesterday the BTU
ish steamship Foscolia, commended py
Cantain John Evans, collided with our
vessel during a dense fog. We were
then about eight miles southwest Oh
Fire island. We lowered two Efeboats
and rescued the captain and crew, num-
bering Il all told. We stood by until
the Foscolia sank at 3 o'clock this morn
ing. AS soon as we arrived mere We
sent the rescued men ashore. Further
information in reference 10 the acciuenl
l cannot give you"
About 4 o'clock one of the navy tugs
steamed alongside the cruiser and denV..
cred some messages from Rear Admiral
Bunce. commander of the navy yaid al
BROOKLYN. A few minutes later the Co
lumbia headed for the Brooklyn navy
yards. where it is supposed she VIII DE
drvdocked in order to ascertain the full
extent of her injuries.
CAPTAIN ]. Evans of the Foscolia, after
reaching this city, said regarding the
collision: The Foscolia cleared from
this port at noon on Saturday with q
general cargo of about 300 tons. Al
went well until evening, when a hea.s
fog set in. j was on the bridge n or
dered the lights up and the fog whistles
kept going. As the fog grew denser the
speed of the ship was reduced TO one
half.
About s o'clock the lookout, ms
on the forecastle and Thompson on th'
bridge. spied a steamer on the port DOW
Our lights were burning brightly aht
the fog signal was whistling. 1 locke
up and saw a big steamer with four run
nels dead ahead. AS the steamers wer'
not 200 yards apart, L saw That a COZ
lision was inevitable. i blew three wins
ties and the approaching Vessel an
) swered with one blast. That was IN
first time | heard the Columbia's wills
tie. Instantly / ordered our engines fui
speed astern. The vessels came together
however, with a terrible crash, and tn
bow of the Foscolia ran up on the cruis
er's armor belt and then cut througl
her sponsor. They remained locked 10
? a couple of seconds, but he backing o
: the Foscolia's engines tore OFF her BOY
e as far back as the first water-tight bulk
head. The wreckage stuck in the cruis
er's side above and below the water lin
and caused the Columbia to list consld
erably. Had il not been for the bulg
ing Of the sponsoA from the sid OF IN
e warshIp, the Foscolia would only hav
: struck the Columbia a glancing blow
I The bow of the Foscolia became wedge
4 between the sponsor and hull OF tn
cruiser and the bow of my boat wa
r completely wrenched OFF.
ut was dead calm at the time or tn
collision. After backing away i sa'
that the injury to the Foscolia was ser
Gus and instantly ordered the Ifeboa,
n launched. They were in he water
just o u minutes and my crew wa
ordered into them. / remained aboar
e the wreck with my Ave officers. My Ell
y gineer, after trying the engines. repor
ed them to be so badly damaged by II
n collision as to be incapable or worklr
l. the ship. The Foscolia was leaking ba'
, ly and the pumps were started. II
,e crew was sent aboard the cruiser, whit
n had a hole in her starboard side lar,
enough to drive a team and carriai
through. The pumps were kept wor
Is ing until 1890 p. m, but the Foscol
e. was getting lower and lower In u
" water. Two boats from the Columb
lie were standing by me and Lieutena
:" williams asked me at that hour what
Intended doing. / replied hat I wou
stand by my ship until she went dow
Then ordered the officers into the III
"a boat and / remained at the main riegil
p while the steamship continued to sin
I'd / got into the small boat and remain
). with my officers o so yards from I
In sinking ship. Exactly at 3 a. m. Z
I'd Foscolia went down, head first. in abo
ne 10 fathoms of water. II reappea
again a few minutes later and then d
appeared forever. stern, first. None
my men were hurt.
=. THE Foscolia. which I commanded
II months. was an iron vessel. or
"a tons net and 1885 tons gross. launch
al Low. England. In 1873. and her ha
ing port Is London. She was 252 Il
long. "a feet beam and y feet Incl
~ deem. She was schooner rugged. had q
ne masts. a double deck. four bulkhea'
compound engines and carried wa
ballast"
Compulsory Military Duty.
city OF Mexico. May S.-Congress