New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-08-28
OCEAN STEAMSHIPS IN CRASH
STAMPEDE AMONG $50 S7EERAGE PASSENGERS AVERTED BY
CREWS AC7ION-FOUR HOLES KNOCKED IN LIGURLA.


in charge relieves of all responsibility but it
was the Peconic. not us. that is to blame.
The bow of the Peconic was twisted about
toward the starhoard. She then scraped along
the Ligurias hull. tearing off the companion
way and puncturing the white side amidships
in two places. The black paint of the Peconic
ives visible along the entire side.
The Peconc turned back to port for repairs,
going TO her dock in Brooklyn.
DR.. George R Van De Water. rector of ST.
Andrews Church. who passenger the
Liguria. standing in the front Of the ship
on the promenade deck when the accident
Cured.
Il heard our ship blow her whistle" said the
clergyman. but heard no answering reply. /
saw that a collision inevitable. and braced
myself a against the rail for the shock The noise
made when the two vessels came together was
terrific The bows of the Peconc seemed to col
lapse like paper. and the side of our ship was
crushed in in the way ! was looking
down on the immigrants herded together in the
we'll and the panic that followed the collision
is sight that 1 never wish to witness again.
Il saw men and women rushing around like
mad pushing and crowding each other like so
many beasts. Men had consideration for the
women whatever and seemed only TO think of
themselves. Suddenly / saw the crew OF the
steamship pushing their way through the crowd,
grabbing excited men and thrusting them to one
side all the time talking and shouting at the
top Of their voices. At the end OF perhaps
twenty minutes these had quieted the
panicstricken immigrants and all was peaceful
again I never saw anything like the work OF
those sailors
.'Thev seemed to know exactly what to do. In
a very short space of time the water ballast OF
the shin had been shifted and the steerage pas
sengers ordered on the staTboard side
This raised the damaged portion of the steam
ship clear Of the water, and the storm canvas
nl-ad a
the end of half an hour at the immigrants, but
all excitement seemed to have left them, except
for a few women, who were still crying hysteri-
csIlv | cannot say too much of the efficient
way in which the officers and crew OF the steam
ship handled that mass of fear stricken human
ity. 1t was wonderful
HE THOUGHT IT WAS USUAL.
There was an amusing side TO the collision.
Thomas Rodriguez, of the Augustinlan Order
was one of the passengers. When number
Of Augustinian fathers boarded the Liguria
from the health officers boat and rushed up to
him to ask him if he had been frightened at
the collision. he said, in Italian: why no.
doesn't this happen every day? | was told that
sixty vessels went in and out every day, ana
with all these little boats going back ana 1orth
I thought it not unusual took II as d
matter of course
The Peconic left the Mediterranean Stores.
Furman-st-, Brooklyn, about noon yesterday
bound for Palermo with cargo of flour, To-
bacco and cotton Last night she was aedlh
living at her pier. with her stern entirely gone
and the bow plates torn away on either saae Las
for a distance of fourteen feet AS soon as her
cargo has been taken out she will be sent to
drydock
Captain John Mills of the Peconic when seen
last night. gave this version OF the colls1oh;
The Anita preceding US down the Mar
rows and she grazed me Liguria, which was
coming in and threw the latter somewhat out
of her course We commented on the close
shave she had We signalled to her that we
would keep our course. and she replied that she
would go to starboard. Suddenly she swerVeo
in and before could stop the engines @ oI
nbanqe our course she struck bows. our
stem is gone down TO two feet above the
Uaterline and the side plates are gone me
collision buIkhead held, however. and preNenteo
any water getting into the centre OF the s,ip: @
The Peconic is iron vessel 20 feet fdo lone,
he owned nv Phelps Brothers. Captain NILS
| has been in their employ for fifteen years:
II will take d month TO make the repairs rs on Oh
| were 1850 passengers on board the NesseI.