The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-29
PUT ASHORE BY HER PILOT.
TRANSPORT CHESTER SAVED FROM
COLLISION WITH MANITOBA.


Turn at FOur-MiIe Point at the
same Time-Thc Government
DredEe Alabama Partly Blocked
the Channel and n Collision BE-
tween the Transports Was Only
Avoided by Putting the Chester
AshOre-An Investigation to BE
Held to Fix the Responsibility.
The Chester Uninjurcd and Is EX-
pccted TO Go to Sea This Morning.
Is Drawing 20 Feet of Water.
The government transport Chester
which sailed yesterday morning for Neu-
vitas Cuba, with the Fifteenth United
States Infantry, is ashore at Four-Mile
Point. She was run ashore by her pilot to
avoid collision with the transport Mani
toba.
The two vessels met Unexpectedly at a
point which was already partly
blocked by the government dredge
Alabama, and collision was only
averted by the sudden steering aside of
the Chester and the reversing Of the en-
gines of the Manitoba. The latter was on
her way up the river, having just re-
turned from taking a shipment of troops
from Savannah to Neuvitas, while the
Chester was on her way out, heavily
loaded, and making all speed possible to
get to sea. 1t was an unlucky coincidence
that the two vessels should have met as
they did. Had it not been for the fact
that the channel was already blocked by
could have passed with ease, notwith-
standing the fact that they are two of the
largest of their class. 1t was especially
unfortunate that such an accident should
have occurred to the Chester, as she was
drawing within a fraction of twenty-five
feet of water, the deepest draft Of any
vessel that has ever gone out Of the port
and had on board over 300 soldiers and
q large quantity of army stones.
The Chester had passed down the river
with ease, making good time, and would
easily have cleared che bar before the
turn of the tide had it not been for the
unfortunate combination of circumstances.
Her grounding was an immediate neces-
sity forced upon her pilot and captain.
Had the circumstances been different this
necessity would not have occurred. Had
the dredge been out of the way both YES,
sells could have passed with ease and had
there been no opposing vessel there would
not have been the slightest doubt of the
prompt passage of the Chester. Under
the circumstances, drawing as she did the
greatest draught Of any vessel that had
ever gone down the river and being IN
an important mission, it was supposed
that a clear right-of-way had been OBJ
tanned. The dredge captain had been no
titled by one of the tug captains the night
before to have his dredge out of the way
in the morning as a deep draught shin
would pass down the river in the morning.
Obstruction Point. as the place is called
ntss which the meeting took place. is at
the entrance TO the south channel where a
sharp turn has to be made by
vessels approaching from either d.
rection. The dredge was at work
Ia the river at this point and with
her anchors stretched out in every direc-
ton occupied fully half the channel. In
addition 10 her own bulk there was a light
er alongside.
The Chester got away from her dock
at 40 O'Clock and started down the river
towed by the tugs Cynthia and McCauley
and Cynthia No 2 Although drawing
practically % feet she had no difficulty.
Being In haste to get to sea the Chester
was under her own steam and was max
ing such Roadway that her captain had
decided to dismiss the tugs after passing
the point. Capt J. S. Bliss was the pilot
in charge Of the Chester. and Capt C. A.
Marmelstein was on the Manitoba.
Both are experienced pilots. On making
the turn at the point Capt. Bliss was sur
prised to find the Manitoba also making
the turn from the other side Of the blight
1t was impossible for both vessels to pass
with the dredge in the way. The dredge
was to the west of the Chester which en-
deavored to keep as far as possible on the
other side. With the speed which she was
making 1t was impossible to stop in time
70 avoid a collision. Capt. Bliss exclaimed
10 Capt. Damn, and one or two officers
who were near him that he would have to
run the vessel ashore and promptly or
dered her sheered in. The order was obeyed
just in time to avoid collision, the Mani
toba passing so close TO the Chester that
persons aboard the two vessels could al
most shake hands across the interven-
ing space. The Manitoba passed
between the Chester and the
alongside. 1t was thought that with
the head of steam she had on, the
Chester might overrun the knoll against
which she was directed, but she stuck
fast.
Capt. Bliss, when seen by a Morning
News reporter at the pilots office yester-
day, was not inclined TO talk about the
matter
Just say" he said that two large
vessels met in a narrow part of the chan
mel and that one of them had 20 go
aground in order to avoid collision. That
is all there is to it."
Capt. Bliss has a well-earned reputation
among his colleagues as a man of excel
lent judgment under all circumstances,
and they feel sure that he would not have
run his vessel aground had it been pos
sible to avoid II.
Capt. c. A. Marmestein, the pilot OF
the Manitoba, made a statement in which
he said that he and Capt. Quick of the
Manitoba sighted the Chester when she
was some distance away. Not anticipat-
ing any trouble, they proceeded on their
course, expecting to pass the point before
the Chester reached it. on turning the
blight, Capt. Marmelstein said. the smoke