The evening times., 1899-03-22
COLLISION IN THE CHESAPEAKE
The Steamer baltimore and the
Schooner Meryfn Come Together.

Schooner Neryfn Come Together.
Baltimore, March 22.-Two vessels ar
rived in port yesterday showing the marks
of collision. They were the Chesapeake
Bay Line steamer Baltimore, Captain Ben
nett, from Norfolk with passengers and
freight, and the three-masted schooner
Gen. s. E. Mervin, OF New Haven, Conn,
commanded by Capt. &. H. Smesd
About 3:15 o'clock yesterday morning.
when the vessels were between Cove Point
and Sharp's Island, they came together
with a crash. The schooner claims to have
been sailing down with a fair wind and
did not alter her course, and that ali lights
were burning brightly. She had fore and
mainsafls and three headsaiIs set and the
| spanker slowed. and with the favorable
wind was making great speed. She left
| Baltimore about o'clock the evening be-
fore, bound to Boston with 1,2S6 tons OF
coal.
| AS soon as the Baltimore, which was in
charge OF Mate Short could free herself
from the wreckage of the sailing vessel
! she made turn around the Mervin, and
placing her searchlight upon her saw what
the damage was. Captain Benne t. asked
| captain Smeed if he was leaking, whien
was found to be the case. and then offered
| to tow the schooner back to port The Bal
timore brought the Meryin as far as Sandy
Point. where she was given up to the tug
Maude H. which brought her TO port,
| reaching here about l o'clock p. m Tee
steamer was delayed three hours, arriving
at 10 O'Clock in the morning.
There was but little disorder on the Bal
tlmore among the sixty-three passengers
she had on board, although many for a
while were much scared. Their fear was
soon allayed by Captain Bennett and his
stan. The cook of the Meryin packed his
ciotnes ready for a sudden desertion il
the schooner showed signs of sinking.
! Inc Baltimore's stem was broken down
70 the main deck. On her starboard side
the powsprit OF the Meryin made a sweeI
ior about 10 feet abaft of the pilot
house along the top of the saloon deck
CARRYING away the rail and damaging tht
combing of the saloon deckhouse The
vessel did not leak. A force of men from
"oodalPs shipyard were placed at worI
making temporary repairs to the BaIti-
more, which were completed in time fol
the steamer to sail last night
The Mervin was less fortunate than the
Baltimore. Her damages are considerable
She received the force OF the Baltimore's
stem on her starboard bow about the cat
head The whole of the topgalIant forecas-
| tie deck was turned up. rail smashed an(
| planking opened to the inside. The lib
boom guys. back ropes, starboard fore
rigging and knighthead stays were car.
rled away. The vessel also began TO leak
but could be kept under control by tn,
pumps. The steampipe of the DONKEY
boiler burst and the brick floor in III,
engine room was torn up. Pieces of tim
bers flew as far aft as the main hatch
Captain Smeed had the deck at the timt
of the collision.
A most remarkable feature of the col
iision was the position of the schooner:
starboard anchor after the Baltimore ha(
withdrawn from the Mervin II is {
wooden stock anchor. weighing about
2.S60 pounds. The wrought-iron ring
which held it 10 the cable. was broken
in two pieces and firmly driven into the
wooden side of the schooner When all
was cleared up and the condition of the
schooner was found to be safe the i'm
mense anchor was discovered hanging over
the rail of the sailing vessel by one ot
the iukes and midway between the fore
and main rigging. In its passage to that
point, which was made as the steamer
wore around, il carried away the fore
rigging and was released from its Gaptol
by striking a heavy wooden hawser bit
which it split in half before becoming re-
leased. The mate of the Mervin made il
fast with ffsh-tackie. and the mammoth
mudhook was secured in that position
when the vessel arrived
The Gen. 5. E. Mervin belongs 10 j
Dowell. of New Haven. Conn, and was
built at West Haven in 1854 by Henry
! Sutton She registers 1S9 tons.
The steamer Baltimore is wooden-huI
vessel, built by W. E. Woodall < Co il
1885 for the Baltimore. Chesapeake and
Richmond Steamboat Company. She reg
/ listers 10I3 tons net