Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-07-18
BOW SLICED OFF.
Yacht Wild Duck Carves the
Steamer fremont.
latter's Passengers Taken Off,
Steamer lowed 10 New London.
Yacht Also maged..Was Running in Thick
Fog. Two Stories.

fremont of the Joy Line. which left
Boston. Tuesday, for New York, with
300 passengers, was towed into New
London, Wednesday morning. in a
sinking condition and beached. All
her passengers had been transferred to
other steamers in the Sound and con
tinued their trip to New York.
The Tremont's injury is due to a col
lision i'll the Sound at midnight last
night with the steam yacht Wild Duck
Capt. Wilcox Of the fremont says the
night was perfectly clear and the
steamer was proceeding on her usual
course when about L. miles west of
cornfield light. schooner -rigged
steam yacht was made out on the port
bow The officers of the fremont sup
posed that the yacht would pass
astern of their vessel as her course
seemed to be on a line diagonal to that
of the fremont. No danger was
thought of until the yacht had appear
ed to within a quarter Of a mile when
no answer was received When too
late the fremont attempted to change
her course to avoid the impending col
hsion.
The sharp PROV Of the yacht struck
her about 30 feet back of the port bow
ana sncered diagonally across, coming
out on the starboard side. The force
of the impact was sufficient to throw
passengers from their hunks and caus-
ed the greatest excitement among
them for time but the officers Of the
fremont with admirable coolness main
tanned discipline and aid was quickly
al hand. The steamer City of Worces-
ter and the City of Lowell were both
near by and promptly went to the as
sistance of the fremont.
AS soon as the extent Of the Ire
mont's injury was known the City Of
Lowell ran alongside and the transfer
of passengers was quickly affected. Tho
City of Lowell was bound to New
York and resumed her trip as soon as
it was seen that the fremont had all
, the assistance necessary. The crew of
the fremont remained on board their
vessel and accepted an offer of the
New Hampshire. one of the New York.
New Haven and Hartford steamers. for
assistance to New London. In tow Of
|, that steamer the fremont reached
here this morning.
Immediately after the accident the
steam yacht backed away from the
fremont ard left Immediately, coming
to New London. 1t appeared that she
had sustained considerable injury to
her stem Capt. Wilcox insists that it
was Il fairly clear night and that if
proper lookout had been kept on the
yacht the collision would not have oc-
Cured.
The cargo Of the fremont will he
removed. She now lies on the flats near
the dock If Capt. 7. A. Scott, who has
charge of the work of taking out the
cargo. A steam pump was put TO work
W edn"Sday forenoon. and the water
which completely filed the hold Of the
steamer was taken out rapidly. After
she is lightened Of her cargo. the bow
ill lie patched and she will he taken
elsewhere probably for repairs.
The accident to the fremont is the
second misfortune that has come to the
Joy Line fleet within three weeks. the
steamer Old Dominion Of that line be-
me now on the ricks off Rye Beach. n.
u. where she struck on q foggy night.
ne schooner TlEStu steam ydtul
Wild Duck is an iron vessel built by
thu late John NJ. Forbes Of Boston, and
now owned by Francis V. Greene Of
New York. Since the first of July the
Yacht has been chartered to United
States Senator n. w. AldriCh Of War
wick. r. L.. who with his wife and
daughter was on board last night,
making a trip from New York to Mar
ragansett bay. MIR. Aldrich said he and
his family were asleep in the cabin
when the collision occurred and were
awakened by the crash. although they
did not feel the shock of the impact.
The men of the crew sleeping in the
forccas stlc. however. were thrown from
their hunks.
The plates Of the yachts stem are
indented and bent to one side badly.
The bowsprit. which was carried away.
was afterward picked up and was tow
ed here astern Of the yacht. Repairs
on the yacht will probably be made
here.
Capt G.. r. Strahan of the yacht
Wild Duck this noon. filed his protest
to the local custom house. In his sworn
statement Capt. Strahan says that the
yacht left New York. yesterday at 4.2O
r. NJ. proceeding eastward through
Hell Gate. When about one-quarter of
Il mile east of Cornfield light vessel a
thick fog shut in. Capt. Strahan i'm
mediately slowed down to half speed
and kept the whistle blowing every
minute.
When % miles east of Cornfield light
the lookout reported a white light one
quarter point off the starDoard bow.
Hearing no answer to the blasts Of the
whistle. Capt. Strahan signalled to the
engine room to back full speed
astern.' Before the Roadway of the
yacht could be stopped, however. she
crashed into the Approaching vessel,
which it was afterward learned was
the steamer fremont.
The Wild Duck carried away her
headgear and smashed seteral feet of
her plate. The impact carried away the
starboard anchor with so fathoms of
chain The yacht was held fast and
was unable to go to the ASST tance of
the other vessel. Capt. StraharS ordered
the boats cleared away and II 4 pumps