The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-08-06
A COLLISION ON THE ELBE
Excursion Steamer Cut in Two and
Sunk by a Tug.
SCORES OF PERSONS DROWNED

the Shock Of Disaster Overlook Them
.rhs Boiler Exploded. Adding to the
Horrors OF tho Midnight seene-Msny
Exeur sicnists saved.
Hamburg. Germany.-The steamship
Primus, of Hamburg. with 1S5 passen.
gers on board. was cut In two and sunk
by the tug Hansa In the Elbe at 12.30
o'clock q. m. So far as Is ascertain
able between ffty and sixty persons
were drowned.
The Primus was an excursion steam.
yer from Buxtehude province Of Han
over. PrussIaJ. Among her passen-
gers were the members Of the EilhecS
Male Choral Society.
At the time Of the accident the Pri-
mus was crossing the river channel
near Blankenese from the southern
into the northern fairway. According
to witnesses aboard the Hansa the
movement was made too precipitately.
The Hansa endeavored to push the
Primus ashore. but the tug soon
grounded and the ships parted. The
Primus then sank.
The terrible panic that occurred on
the Primus when the HanSa struck
her rendered the efforts to save the
passengers almost useless. Fortunate
IL the steamer Dolphin came up imme.
dIately. and succeeded in saving sixty
OF those on board the sinking steamer.
while other boats assisted In the work
of rescue. a number OF persons were
saved by means of boats and ladders
from the Hansa.
Some Of the survivors furnish sra.
phic descriptions Of the awful sudden.
ness Of the disaster. According to
their story the band was playing and
many couples We're dancing on deck
when the crash Of the collision came
like thunderbolt.
The vessel gave great list. her deck
taking such an agile that II was impos.
sIble for the passengers to keep their
feet. Those below scrambled up the
but most Of the per.
sons In the saloon were drowned. Men
fought for their own safety regardless
Of others. In the midst Of the confu.
sion the boilers exploded. adding to the
horrors Of the scene. and many per-
SONS are said to have been injured by
flying splinters and metal. More Of
the Primus's passengers would have
been saved by the ropes thrown from
the Hansa had 1t not been that before
those who seized the ropes could be
hauled on board they were pulled on
from the lines they had grasped by
other persons struggling In the water.
and all were drowned In the hideous
confusion.
In the morning enormous crowds
poured ont from Hamburg to the scene
Of the collision. and the shore was
thronged with thousands OF friends
and relatives Of those who had been
on board the sunken steamer. who had
come In heartrending anxiety to learn
the fate of their friends. Many sad
scenes were Witnessed as the bodies Of
those lost were washed upon the beach
or brought ashore by divers. An at
tempt will Immediately be made to
noat the vessel. and when this Is done
1t Is believed that more bodies will be
found.
A large number Of the survivors were
injured though not seriously.
The disaster has caused deep gloom
here. Many children lost both their
parents. The Choral Society. which
was on board the excursion steamer.
consisted mainly Of workmen. There
were no foreign passengers.
Captain Petersen. Of the Primus.
swan ashore here and gave himself up
to the police. Captain Sachs. Of the
Hansa. also surrendered.
The Primus was the oldest boat on
the Elbe. She was built In England In
1874. and had never before met with an
accident