The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1902-07-12
BIG STEAMERS COLLIDE,
Priscilla Almost Sunk by Having
Her Bow Nearly Cut Off by
the Powhatton.
MEMBER OF THE CREW IS KILLED.
Lille Preservers Passed Out to Ter
ror-stricken Passengers by Candle
Ltght-Disabled Boat Is Towed In
to Newport and Passengers Land.
ed Safely.

Newport, r. L, July 1o.-The. Fall
River line steamer Priscilla, is at her
pier in this city with big hole in her
port bow, and one of her crew dead
ana wedged in by wreckage, so that his
body will be e&tricated only with great
difficulty, as result of collision with
the Merchants and Miners Trans
portation company's steamer Powhat-
tan, in Narragansett bay, Tuesday
night.
The Priscilla was bound out for
New York. 1t was very foggy at the
time, and she was proceeding slowly.
Of Point Judith another steamer
struck her on the port bow, cutting a
hole which ran below the water line.
Finding herself seriously damaged,
the Priscilla whistled for assistance.
and soon afterwards tugs arrived, and
she was towed back to her dock in this
city.
Member of Crew Killed.
While an examination was being
made of the Aperture in the Priscilla's
hull, it was found that one of the crew
had been caught in his bunk by the
wreckage. He was dead, but his body
was securely wedged in between iron
rods and beams in such way as to
prevent its being extricated' at once.
The victim was John Muniz. Portu-
guese deckhand. Besides him, no one
was injured.
Boats PerilOas Condition
The Priscilla was struck fair by the
Powhattan. and her bow was nearly
cut off. The stem of the latter pene-
trated fully 20 feet into the hull of
the Priscilla. The Mushroom on the
main deck. and the sleeping quarters
and steering engine compartment be-
low. were wrecked, and thesteel plates
OF the bow were torn away we'll below
the water line. The forward bulkhead
was broken through, thus placing two
compartments out of condition. and
rapidly sending the steamer down bv
the head. so that her stern came out
and the rudder was rendered useless.
The inflow of water very soon extin-
guished the electric lights. the dynamo
room being in the vicinity of the dam
Passengers Tcrror-strickcn,
mus the passengers. most of whom
were in bed. turned out of their rooms
IN darkness. and their nervousness
and excitement was intensified as they
found the men nn the ship passing out
life preservers Ivy candle light. There
was no panic. although no help was
near. and the steamer was apparently
in great need.
1t was the sister ship of the Priscilla.
the Puritan. which came at first to the
rescue. She was on her way from New
York when she heard the signals of
distress. Putting a line on board. she
took the Priscilla in tow, stern fore
most. for Newport. The vessels ar
rived here without further misbap.
and the passengers were landed safe
ly. They were sent on to New York by
rail. Their baggage was saved in good
order.
Powhattnn Badly Damaged.
Providence, R. l., July TO- The
steamer Powha ttan, Capt. A. L. Hud-
gins, bound for Baltimore, via Nor
folk, for this port, arrived here
Wednesday afternoon and reported
having been collision with Fall River
line steamer Priscilla Tuesday night,
Her bow was badly damaged, and a
great hole stove in the port side five
feet below the water line. The for
ward compartment was flooded, but no
water reached the other bulkheads of
the ship, and no damage was done to
the freight.
There was not the slightest show of
disorder with the 131 passengers of
the Powhattan. among whom was a
delegation to the convention of the
Baptist Young Peoples union from
Maryland. A vote of thanks was ten
dered Capt. Hudgins by the passengers
for his prompt action during the try
ing moments following the collision.
The Powhattan has been placed in