The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-05-30
The United States Cruiser Co.
1umbia Comes Into Port
With a Large Jagged Hole in
Her Side.
WAS In A COLLISION
With a British Steamer and
Sank Her.
Her Boats Rescue and Land the
English Crew.

New York, May 30.-The United
States cruiser Columbia, in command of
Captain Sands, anchored off Tompl1ins-
vile, S. l., today. 1t was seen that the
had a large jagged hole stove in her
starboard side, abreast of the main
mast 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 infor-
nation in regard to 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 yesterday with a 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 aboard the
Columbia, but to a representative of the
Associated Press who rowed out to the
cruiser the officers of the deck made
the following statement:
about 7:40 p. m. yesterday the Brit
ish steamship Foscolia, in command of
Captain John Evans, collided with our
vessel during a dense fog. We were
Fire Island. We lowered two life
boats, and rescued the captain and
crew numbering twenty-one all told.
We stood by until the Foscolia sank at
B o'clock this morning. AS soon as we
arrived here we sent the rescued men
ashore. Further information in refer
ence to the accident cannot give you"
Captain ]. E. Evans of the Foscolia,
after reaching this city said regarding
the collision:
THE Foscolia cleared from this port
with general cargo of about 1900 tons.
All went well until heavy fog set in.
l was on the bridge and ordered the
lights up and the fog whistle kept go
ing. AS the fog drew denser the speed
of the ship was reduced to one-half
about o'clock Lookout johnson, on
the forecastIe and Thompson on the
bridge reported steamer on the port
bow. Our lights were burning brightly
and the fog signal was whiSt1ing.
looked up and saw a big steamer with
four tunnels dead ahead. AS the
steamers were not 200 yards apart, I
saw that a collision was inevitable
blew three whistles and the approaching
vessel answered with one blast. That
was the first time L heard the Column
bias whistle. Instantly ordered our
engines full speed astern. The vessels
came together, however, with a terrible
crash and the bow of the Fosco1ia ran
upon the cruisers armor belt and then
cut through her sponsor. They re-
manned locked for couple of seconds
but the backing of the Foscolias en-
gines tore off her bow as far back as
the first water-tight bulkhead. The
above and below the water line and
caused the Columbia to list considera-
bly,. Had it not been for the bullying
of the sponsor from the side of the
warship, the Foscolia would only have
struck the Columbia a glancing blow
The bow of the Foscolia became wedged
between the sponsor and hull of the
cruiser and the bow of the boat was
completely wrenched off.
1T was dead calm at the time of the
collision. After backing away I saw
that the injury to the Foscolia was Sc
rious and instantly ordered the life
boats launched. They were in the water
in just four minutes and my seamen
were ordered in them. I remained
ABOARD the wreck with my five officers.
My engineers after trying the engines
reported them to be so badly damaged
by the collision. as to be incapable of
Working 1eoTl1na tn the ship The Foscolia was
started. The crew was sent aboard
the cruiser which had a hole in her
starboard side large enough to drive a
team and carriage there. The pumps
but the FOscOlfa was getting lower in
the water. The boats from the Column
bia were standing by me and Lieuten-
ant Williams asked me at that hour
what L intended doing. 1 replied that
would stand by my ship until she went
down. Then ordered the officers into
the life boat and 1 remained at the
main rigging while the steamer contin-
ued to sink. I got into the small boat
and remained with my officers about so
yards from the sinking ship. Exactly
at a. m. the Foscolia went down head
first into about nineteen fathoms of
water. 1t reappeared again a few
minutes later and then disappeared for
ever stern first. None of my men were
hurt, but cannot tell if all the men on !
the Columbia escaped injury. I think
not.
1.-THE Foscolia which I commanded for |
twelve months was an iron vessel of
TONS
launched at Low, England, in 1879, and !
her hailing port is London. She was |
252 feet long, "a feet beam and % feet z |
inches deep. She was schooner rugged |
had two masts, a double deck, four |
bulkheads, compound engines and car |
ried water ballast