The Topeka state journal., 1901-07-17
Steamer fremont Loses Forty
Feet of Her Bow
In Collision With the Steam
Yacht Wild Duck.
HAD 800 PASSENGERS.
She Was Bound From Boston to
New York.
All on Board Safely Transferred
TO Other Steamers.

New London, Conn.,, July 17.-Wfth
40 feet Of her bow cut clean of in a
collision with the steam yacht Wild
Duck at midnight, the steamer Tre-
mont, of the Joy line, which left Bos-
ton yesterday for New York with 300
passengers. was towed into New Lon
don ana beached today. All her pass
engers had been transferred to other
steamers in the sound, and continued
their trip to New York.
Captain Wilcox. of the fremont says
the night was perfectly clear and the
steane er was proceeding on her usual
course, when about u miles west OF
Cornfield Lighta schooner rugged stenm
yacht was made out Off the bow. The
officers of the fremont supposed that
the yacht would pass astern OF the
vessels, as her course seemed to lie
on line diagonal to that of the Tre-
mont No danger was thought Of until
Nthe yacht had approached to within a
quarter of a mile, when she was hailed
from the fremont and no answer was
received. When too late the fremont
attempted to change her course to
avoid the impending collision. The
sharp Prov Of the yacht struck her
about 30 feet back of the port bow.
and sheered diagonauy across, coming
out on the starboard side.
The force of the impact was sufii-
cient to throw passengers from their
hunks and caused the greatest excite
ment among them for a time but the
officers of the fremont maintained dis
ciplfne and aid quickly at hand
Ine steamer city OF Worcester and the
City of Lowell were both nearby. and
promptly went to the assistance of the
fremont. As soon as the extent Of the
TreTn0fst's injury was known. the City
of Lowell ran alongside and the trans
fer Of passengers from the disabled
boat was quickly effected. The City OF
Lowell was bound to New York and
resumed her trip as soon as IT was seen
tnat the fremont had all the assist
ance necessary. The crew of the Ire
mont remained on board their vessel
and accepted an offer Of the steamer
New Hampshire for assistance into New
London. In tow of that steamer the
fremont reached here today.
INN ediately after the accident the
steam yacht backed away from the
fremont and left Immediately. coming
into New London harbor early today.
From the shore 1t appeared that she
had sustained considerable injury to
her stem Captain Wilcox insists that
if proper lookout had been kept on the
yacht the collision would not have
occurred.
The cargo of the fremont win be re-
moved during the day.
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-
ing now on the rocks off Rye Beach.
night.
Boston, July 1.-THE side wheel
steamer fremont which was damaged
In collision in Long Island sound last
night is the property of the Boston &
Portland Steamship company and was
under charter to the JOY Steamship
company. The fremont was for years
on the route between this city and
Portland and was accounted a strong
and able craft She was built at Green
Point, N. Y, in 1883 for the Portland
company. She is 1.023 net tons burden.
260 feet in length and 81 net beam.
The schooner rugged steam yacht
Wild Duck IS an iron vessel. built by
the late John Forbes Of Boston and
now owned by General Francis ".
Greene of New York. The yacht has
been chartered to United States Sem
ator Aldrich of Rhode Island who. witH
his wife and daughter. was on board
last night, making a trip from New
York to Narrangansett Bay. Mr AID
rich said he and his family We're asleep
in the cabin when the collision occurred
and were awakened by the crash and
the men of the crew sleeping IN the
forecastle were thrown from their
bunks-
The plates OF the yachts stem were
indented and bent to one side badly.