The evening times., 1899-03-06
BARK CAPSIZES IN
BALTIMORE HARBOR
Overturned bya Sudden Squall
During a Wind Storm.
SX of the Crew Had Narrow
Escape.
enc of the Vessels Yards Crashes
Into Building on
the Pier.

Baltimore, Nd, March "a violent ani
sudden squall of wind during the heavy
blow yesterday afternoon caused an unu-
sual accident in the harbor about half
past 3 o'clock The large steel Italian
bark Margherita, Captain COlotto, which
had finished discharging marble from
Genoa at the yard of the Evans Marble
Company, off York Street. fell over to port
and remained there, with her keel from
forefoot to heel in full view above the wa
ter. Not since the bark Gray Eagle cap
sized at Chase's wharves. about twenty
years ago, has such an accident occurred
in Baltimore Harbor.
AS the great weight of the unballasted
ship careened the foremast brought up
against the roof of the two-story Office
building of W. S. Petit & Co.'S oyster
packing house. The steel topmast bent
just above the upper topsail yard, and the
topgallant yard crashed into the building
and was splintered, as it was forced by
the weight through the roof
Sixteen of the officers and crew, who
were in the cabin and forecastle, scrambled
out through the companionways with ex-
carnations of dismay and surprise and
to reach the deck. Six of them fell over
board between the wharf and the hull OF
the capsiZed ship. but were helped ashore
in safety, experiencing nothing worse than
a ducking.
When the bark fell over a stove in the
cabin upset and caused a fire. which created
considerable excitement and might have
wound up in a confiagration but for the
timely arrival of Pipeman Charles Rice
of No. truck, who went on board the YES
sci. entered the cabin, and soon eXtn-
guished the flames.
Captain Colotto was not on the ship at
the time of the accident, but was informed
of the disaster To his vessel. Prospero
Schiaffano. the Italian consul. who is also
agent OF the bark, and the master were on
the spot as soon as possible. Representa-
tives of W. S. Petit & Co. entered the
building TO ascertain the extent OF the
damage, which was estimated 10 the build
ing, plant, and stock at not less than 500.
The great fear later was that when the
tide lowered the bark would pull away the
whole roof of the Petit building and that
further serious damage would result. AT
the time the tide was unusually high.
The bark had no ballast except two huge
logs. one on each side Her topgallant
yards were down, which slightly relieved
her of the tophamper, which ultimately
caused her to careen before the violent
wind.
Last night the crew were without any
accommodation on board the vessel. Cap
tain COlotto gave money to them for their
meals and beds, which would be found in
the neighborhOod.
The Margherita arrived here February :
from Genoa having made the voyage in the
smart time of fifty-one days. Today she
was 10 have been towed TO Sparrow's Point
TO load full cargo of steel rails for Mel
bourne. Australia. Until she is raised the
damage 10 the vessel cannot be estimated
She was lying alongside Dodsons wharves
part of which her length overlapped and
caused some damage to tack factory OPP
Grated in the second story of a building in
the ground floor OF which the marble COM
pany has machinery in operation.
The Margherta is a vessel OF fine lines
built of steel, in Genoa in 1880. by E
Cravero Il Co. She is owned by p. Bev-
erino. of the same port. and registers LII
! tons gross and 1.13S tons net. and is 22G
long