New-York tribune., 1901-09-29
VESSELS In COLLISION.
ERIN AND GRESHAM HAVE
MARROW ESCAPE.
CRASHES BETWEEN THE STEAMER
NORTH STAR AND COLONEL ASTOR's
NOURMAHAL AND MR. BENE-
Diets ONEIDA AND THE
SHINNECOCK


the Long Island side. into collision just
| after the yachts turned the mark for the run
home A couple of the Erin's plates just aft OF
amidships were bent by the contact with one OF
the Gresham's torpedo tube covers but no seri-
Gus injury TO either boat followed the occur
renee.
The accident took place while most of the
spectators eagerly watching for spin
makers and balloon jibs TO be shaken out on the
yachts on the run home.
Those on the forward deck OF the Gresham
heard the signal "Slow down." and then Full
speed astern.' and almost as the bells sounded
the bow of the Erin loomed up directly in front
OF the Gresham. A collision inevttable-l
The Gresham. heavy boat. though fast. struck
the Erin abaft the gangway toward the stern.
indenting a couple of plates and bending ons
OF the steel deck supports.
The order Hold fastp' was given 10 thes
Gresharns guests just before the shock. though;
1t was not likely that any except those on the
forward deck heard it All hands there srasped
the railing. guns stanchions. while women
sought a refuge on the lower deck The shock
came. and a sigh OF relief went up when IL
was found that both boats had escaped serious
damage
A sailor at was lowered over the Erin'sf
side to ascertain the injuries to her plates
They were apparently trifing.
The Gresham crossed the course of the yachts
as they came down before the wind, spInnakers.
balloon jibs mainsails and topsaiIs drawing
well. The sight was which those who
know little about the technical side of yachting
will not forget.
Making a wide sweep around the yachts
they raced toward Scotland Light. the Gresham.
bore down on the Erin. In answer to Captain
Thomas d. Walkers question whether the Erin
seriously injured. and whether she needed
assistance. Sir Thomas Upton replied through
a megaphone from the bridge OF the Erin:
Last thing in the world I would have hap
pen Nobody's fault Not a cents worth OF
damage done. Thank you, Captain Walker
SIR THOMAS ON THE BRIDGE
Sir Thomas Upton was on the bridge when
the Gresham bore down the E,rin's port quar-
ter. He had been watching the defender and
challenger turn the outer mark and throw out
sails for the home. He saw the rev.
cutter coming. and realized ar once that a
collision could not be avoided. His first thought
was for the hundred guests who had boarded his
floating palace early in the morning
Look out aft Look out aft"' he cried
The men and women on the Erin braced them
selves for the shock which they knew was com
ing 1t looked as if the cutter would strike the
yacht amidships. perhaps cut her through for
all the people her decks knew
Yet not a woman shrieked- They were too
good yachtswonnen for that. They braced for
the blow and watched for it as one does for the
climax Of an exciting play at the theatre. Peo-
pie on the surrounding yachts we're more ex-
cited than those on the Erin. After sounding
warning TO those near the stern. Sir Thomas
ordered the watertight bulkheads closed Not
a sailor hesitated. but every whose duty
called dived down into the hold Then the men
below were ordered TO their places in the boats
II was not minute until every one OF the
Erin's many lifeboats, including the big steam
launch, was swung outward In some half
dressed coal beavers. with faces streaked
with dust we're ready for the signal 70 lower
away Even Sir Thomas's Indian servants who
had been serving refreshments the bridge
deck forward were at their appointed places.
II was wonderful exhibition of crews dis,
cipline.
Mrs Jamison and Mrs. Keppel. both Of Lon
don. were the only persons the Erin who were
injured They were on the main deck. near
where the Gresham struck, and both were
knocked down. They were badly bruised. but
we're able TO be about before the Erin reached
Sandy Hook
Regarding the accident Sir Thomas said to a.
Tribune reporter:
''It was a close call for us. and no mistake. A
little further forward. and no one knows what
damage might not have been done II was
fortunate, too that the Erin on the down
roll and received the blow above her waterline.
There is not better man in the service than
Captain Walker of the Gresham. and I'm sure
no one regrets the accident more AS it is do
not believe much damage has been done will
have the Erin examined tomorrow and per-
haps put her in drydock- hope We will not find
it necessary to make repairs until the races are
over"
NOURMAHAL AND NORTH STAR
The magnificent 522-ton steam yacht Nour.
mahaL owned by John Jacob Astor. and the new
Company's fleet. while returning from the yacht
race yesterday afternoon at 4:1O o'clock were
in collision. Both vessels were damaged. but
neither to a dangerous extent. For few mo-
rnents the guests board Mr.. Astor's yacht
were in a situation that scared them badly. The
Nourrnahal lost her bowsprit from her clipper
bow and four plates on the port side of the
North Star were bent inward so far that the
rfvets were sheared off and twenty feet of rail.
was torn away.
j. F. Brown pilot of the North Star. told the
following story:
I'VE were in the North Side Channel, half way
between the monument and the buoy of the
Middle Channel. steering directly in the ranges
northwest. One-half north Just before the accf-
dent the City of Lowell had been running paraI-
lei on the port side. and beyond her was the
Nour1nahaI. The City of Lowell dropped astern
and pulled up on the starboard side leaving the
Nourmahal alone the port side The Nour-
mahal also fell back. and drew near astsrn.
Suddenly she veered in, and her bow struck
the port side. Just abaft the waist above the
guard rail- Four plates were bent in. tearing
the rivets out. so that you could see daylight
through the holes The engines OF the North