New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-28

The Italian Line steamer Liguria. Captain
Paolo Montana which arrived here yesterday
from Genoa and Naples, while in charge OF
Frederick Cramer. a pilot came into collision
with the steamer PeConc. of the Mediterranean
Line in moving the Narrows at 4: 40 p m.
The hull IF the Liguria was pierced in four
places. and only by the prompt action of the
officers and crew was serious panic among the
steerage passengers averted. The bow of the
Peconic was badly smashed that her agents.
Phelps Brothers & Co. said she looked if she
had run into a stone wall The chief hole in the
Iigrria was that about twelve feet abaft of the
how on the port side. This was described as
large enough TO admit horse and wagon. 1t
extended within a foot of the waterline- Near
this hole a smaller one These two holes
we're covered with a collision mat As the bow
Of the Peconic scraped along the side of the
Iigurfa she tore two other holes amidships, each
about two feet square. One OF these was below
the waterline. As it tore open only one COM
partment the doors were instantly closed, and
no water made in any other part of the ship.
At the time of the collision large number
Of the steera &c passengers. of which there were
p5a on board. were crowded in the forward
Part Of the ship When they saw the Peconlc
bearing down on the Liguria they became panic
stricken. Almost at the instant Of the COLLISION
the officers and crew. observing the effect on
these steerage passengers. jumped in among
them. pushed them all over to the starboaro
side and within the space Of few minutes had
them ouieted The water ballast was immedi-
ately shifted to the same side. which gave the
ship list thereby lifting the damaged side from
the water. The cabin passengers who witnessed
The action of the officers and crew, who were
ali Italians were universal in their praise OF
the manner in which the steerage passengers
and the vessel had been handled
Captain Montana described the accident as
follows: The Peconic was entering the Mar
rows from the upper bay and was passing out
on the port side of the Liguria- On the star
board side Of the Liguria an excursion steamer
VAS also passing out 1t was evident that it
would he necessary for the Liguria TO pass UP
between the two outgoing vessels. One blast
WAS blown to indicate that the Liguria would
mass 10 the starboard Of the PecOnic The
Pecouic did not answer Immediately When she
did reply she sounded two blasts indicating
that she would cross the Lisuria's bows The
I-ig1iria Immediately replied with three blasts.
indicating that she would reverse her engines.
BY this time the Peconc was almost upon the
Iiguria The engines of the Liguria had been
Immediately reversed. but not in time to prevent
= collision. The Peconic struck the port bow
of the Liguria twelve feet abaft, cutting a
large hole in the hull and smashing many of the
bunkers in the steerage.
eRfTIcfsEs PECoNIC's OFFICERS.
The people the Peconic must have COM
rletely lost their heads, for they directly dis
oheyed all signals and violated the marine law
of signalling by whistles My ship. in blowing
her whistle first. really gave the orders ana,
ANYWAY showed what she going to do The
Feconic had plenty Of room to pass on the other
side Of us, and whatever possessed ner captain
10 do what she did 7 cannot tell.
That : number Of people were not killed L
consider almost miraculous. If il had been in
the night time. when the steerage passengers
would have been below. great loss OF life would
have undoubtedly resulted As soon as could
I investigated our damage. and / find that
the Iisuria has been injured in four distinct
places This is the large hole forward, a smaller
one directly behind the large opening ana the
Two holes arn;dship OF course the pilot being