Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-11-22
COLLISION ON THE DELAWARE
Schooner Elm City Crashed Into
Steamer WaeSland.
BOTH VESSELS BADLY DAMAGED
Each Blames the Other for the
Accident.


With her bow badly crushed, the
American liner Waesland, Capt. Hans
Doxrud, which left her wharf,
Philadelphia, Saturday afternoon
for Liverpool, returned at noon
Sunday, having been in collision
in the Delaware Bay, between
Ship John and Ben Davis lights, with
the three. mast schooner Elm City, from
Boston, which also arrived Sunday
at Point Breeze. One of the schooner's
sailors, Richard Ghagan. who was look
out at the time Of the collision, was
severely injured. Besides the damage
to the steamers bow, her bowsprit
with its fgurehoad and forward rig
ging and part of the rail we're carried
away. The schooner's bowsprir, for
ward rigging and foretopmast, also,
were carried away, the stem badly
broken and some planks on the deck
raised. Her damage Is estimated at
s., 600. The damage to both vessels is
above the water line.
1t was head-on collision, and how
the schooner, which in 20 years old,
managed to keep afloat, after receiv-
ing the tremendous blow from the big
liner is regarded as marvellous. 1t ia
averred by those on the Waesland that
the schooner did not have her lights
showing, while Capt. U. o. Falkenberg
OF the SCHOONER ard his men claim that
his vessel did display the necessary
lights when the collision occurred.
AS to the weather, however, it was
stated by those on both vessels that 1t
was clear, the stars shining brightly at
the time.
In the charge of Pilot Norman, the
Waesland, carrying 30 cabin and 81
storage passengers. left Washington
avenue wharf, Philadelphia, Saturday
AFTERNOON at S o'clock. She passed
Reedy Island, and two hours and fif-
teen minutes later the collision oc-
CURED. The Waesland was steaming
at n moderate rate, and when the blow
was struck some Of the passengers were
eating or had just finished supper.
while some had retired. As far as
could be learned, there was no commo-
tion on board. Those In charge of the
Waesland claim that after the collision
the schooner disappeared, and nothing
more was seen of her by them.
Those who were on the deck of The
sch oner claim that they could see the
Waesland coming down stream two
miles distant Capt, o. G, Falkenbere
was in charge, and on the lookout was
sailor Richard Ghagan, while two other
seamen wete keeping watch. Mate
benjamin y. Meuse and three other
men we're below. There was at the time
a fuur-knUt breeze blowing, and the
Elm City was coming up under sail.
As the sohooner's lights were showing
they claim they profess their inability
to understand how the Waesland could
run into the Elm City. Lookout
Ghagan was knocked down by the fall.
ing rigging aud severely cut on the
head aud body, ard it is feared he is
injured internally, The three sailors
in the forecaste were hurlad from theil
hunks, hut they sustained no seriou.
injuries About 7 O'Clock Sunday
morning, when the schooner was of
Wilmington, she was taken in tow by
the tug Bristol. which reached Point
Breeze about noon. The Elm City
which halls from Havre, and has ca
pacity of about 1000 tons, was built Al
Bath, Me.