Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-07-08
STRUCK IN FOG.
Steamers Cumberland and Ad-
miraI Farragut Collide
In Boston Harbor in Thick Fog
Former Fills and Sinks.
Latter Not So Badly Damaeed-No
One Injured.

Boston, July Tn thick fog, the
Eastern Steamboat Cos. steamer Cum
berland and the United Fruit Co.'S
steamer Admiral Farragut We're in col
lision over Boston light in the harbor,
Monday and the Cumberland in sink
ing condition put back to her dock and
landed safely the passengers with
whom she had started for Maine ports
and st. John, n. B., only an hour be-
fore. The Admiral Farragut with bent
stern and beam, managed to work up
to her berth.
After her passengers had been landed.
the Cumberland staggered across the
channel to the Atlantic works where
she will be repaired
Efforts We're made to stop the hole in
the CumberlandS side with bedding
and other material and it was hoped to
patch her UP so that she could go on
the ways at high tide. The plans
adopted, however, did not work sue
cessfully and when the tide came in the
steamer filed rapidly and tugs could
not float her. At high tide only two
feet of her paddlebox were visible.
The damage to the cargo will be heavy.
The St. CroiX will make the Cumber-
lands return trip from St. John,
Wednesday, stopping only at Eastport.
One of the other big boats, probably
the Penobscot will be assigned to the
Cumberlands route while she is under
going repairs. 1t will be five or six
weeks before the Cumberland can be
ready for service.
Surveys will be made on both steam
nd nf will OF
mine the responsibility for the accident.
The loss to the Eastern Steamship
Co., including repairs, loss of revenue
and other expenses will approach $780,
900. The Farragut vii require a few
thousand dollars for repairs.
The Cumberland with 300 or 400 pas
sengers on board, left her dock at $50
o'clock this morning, bound for Port
land and Eastport, Me-, and. st. John.
n. Il. 1t was very foggy and so dense
that the captain proceeded with great
caution
Just after the Cumberland had passed
Boston light, the Admiral Farragut
loomed up in the mist, close in board.
Before either captain could change his
course to avert an accident the Farra
CUTS bow struck the Cumberland on
the starboard side. 1t was a powerful
blow, well forward and penetrated the
heavy guard and extended into the
berth deck for a distance of l. feet,
cutting down well below the water line.
Through the mole the water rushed in
great volume and the forward part of
the vessel began to fill rapidly. The
donkey engine was set TO work and the
disabled steamer was Immediately
turned back up the harbOr.
The water gained rapidly on the
pumps and the steamer settled slowly,
but she made her landing and put
ashore all her passengers in safety.
Seeing the vessels danger. two tugs
which were going down the channel,
turned and stood by to render assist
ance in case Of emergency.
Having landed all her passengers, the
Cumberland made her way across to
the East Boston side of the harbor. She
was down nearly to the guards and as
the tide was unfavorabe for her to go
on the ways at the Atlantic works, she
was run onto the flats.
The officers Of the Cumberland say
that the passengers behaved splendldly,
the seriousness of the ac-
cident and the imminent danger of the
sinking. There was no very
great excitement although more or less
alarm was felt by all on board.
The Admiral Farragut reached her
berth at Long wharf shortly after 10
o'clock with her stem crushed in and
stem plates buckled. The damage to
the fruiter. however, is all forward of
the collision bulkhead and consequently
no water gained access to the cargo of
fruit in the holds. The officers of the
Farragut place the entire responsibility
for the collision upon the steamer Cum
berland.
CAPTAIN w. Long. who is temporarily
in command of the vessel during the
absence of Captain Hopkins. the regu
lar captain, stated that owning to =
lense fog she anchored below Boston
light at 3.13 A. NJ. About 9 o'clock the
steamer started at a slow speed. OF
the light. Captain Long descerned
about 100 feet away, the Cumberland
approaching. apparently at full speed
The latter vessel blew two blasts of her
whistle and Captain Long states that
his steamer was sounding one blast at
frequent intervals, which is customary
n case of fog.
AS soon as the Cumberland was OBJ
served, Captain Long signalled the
engineer for fun speed astern and the
Farragut was moving slightly in that
direction when the Cumberland rushed
Ioxn on her. her starboard side hitting
the fruiter's bow. Captain Long i'm
nediateIy rang for speed ahead. in or
le1- to keep the bow in the great hole
made in the Cumberland's side. This
he succeeded in doing until the Cumber-
and swung off and after describing a
ong circle started off for her berth.
Canfain Long offered assistance but |