Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-09
Steamer Priscilla Collided
With the Powhattan
IN NARRAGANSETT BAY
TOWED TO NEWPORT BY SISTER
SHIP PURITAN.
One Man, Deck Hand, Killed in the
Accident-Pinioned in
Wreckage.

NEWPORT. r. l.. July 9-The Fall River
Line steamer Priscilla is at her pier in this
city with a big hole in her port bow and
one of her crew uead and wedged in by
wreckage so that his body will be extri-
Gated only with great difficulty as a result
of a collision with the Merchants and
Miners Transportation Company's steamer
Powhattan. in Narragansett bay last night.
The Priscilla was bound out for New
York. 1t was very foggy at the time and
she was proceeding slowly. Off Point Ju-
dith another steamer struck her on the port
bow, cutting hole which ran down below
the water line. Finding herself seriously
damaged, the Priscilla whistled for assist
anCe, and soon afterward tugs arrived and
she was towed back to her dock in this
city.
| While an examination 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 it's being extricated at
once. AT daylight t was found that me-
chanical appliances would be necessary be-
fore the body could be released.
Victim Named Muniz.
The victim was John Muniz, Portu-
guese deckhand. Beside him, no one was
injured. The Priscilla was struck fair by
| the Powhattan and her bow was nearly
cut off. The stem of the latter penetrated
fully twenty feet into the hull of the Pris-
ella. The Mushroom on the main deck,
and the sleeping quarters and steering en-
CINE compartment below, were wrecked,
and the steel plates Of the bow were torn
away well below the water line. The for
ward bulkhead was broken through thus
placing two compartments out of condi-
ton and rapidly sending the steamer down
by the mead, So that her stern came out
and the rudder was rendered useless. The
inflow of water very soon eXtingushed the
electric lights. the dynamo room being in
| tne vicinity OF the damaged part of the
ship
Thus the passengers, most of whom were
In bed, were turned out of their rooms in
darkness and their nervousness and ex-
cltement was intensified as they found the
men on the ship passing out life preservers
by candle light. There was no panic al
though no help was near and the steamer
was apparently in great need.
Rescued by Puritan.
1t was the sister ship of the Priscilla the
| Puritan, which came first to the rescue
She was on her way from New York when
she heard the signals of distress Putting
| a line board she took the Priscilla In
tow, stern foremost, for Newport The ves-
sells arrived here without further mishap
+ diid Inc passengers were landed SafelV,
/ Ihey were sent on to New York by rail.
Their baggage was saved in good order
Promptly on the arrival of the steamer
at her dock careful inspection of her
! Muniz. the ueekhand, had lost his life. He
was the only one of the crew in his berth
| at the time.
| Damage to the Powhattan
| PROVIDENCE, R. l.. July 9.-The steam
| er Powhattan, Captain A. T Hudgins.
| bound for Baltimore via Norfolk for this
! port, arrived here this afternoon and re-
! ported having been IN collision with Fall
| River Line steamer Priscilla last night
| Her bow was badly damaged and a great
! mole was stove in the port side five feet
| below the water line. The forward COM
/ partment was flooded but no water reach
| ed the other bulkheads of the ship and
| no damage was done to the freight
! captain Hudgins reports that at II :O5
/ last night While between Point Judith and
| Beaver Tail lghtship the Priscilla came
| suddenly out of a bank of fog and that
| the ships came together after an exchange
| or signals before anything could be done
to avoid a collision
| The Powhatan was coming in from sea
| Inc Priscilla on her way from Newport for
| New York was about to emerge into the
| clear when the sharp blast of the Powhat-
tans whistle gave the first warning of the
| danger. The craft were then so close tho :
| collision was inevitable and with en-
| gines reversed the heavy steel prov of the
Powhattan crashed into the timbers on the
| Priscillas bows.
Boats Ready to Be Lowered.
Boats were Immediately made ready and
| offer of assistance was made to the dis
| abled Priscilla, but this was refused when
| 1t was found there was immediate dan
ger. The Priscilla was taken in tow by one
of two other steamers which came up soon
after the accident. and the Powhattan pro-
ceeded
| There was not the slightest show of dis
order with the 131 passengers of the Pow
haitian, among whom was a delegation to
! the convention of the Baptist Young Peo-
| pies Union from Maryland vote of
| thanks was rendered Capt. Hudgins by the
passengers for his prompt action during the
| trying moments following the collision
The Powhattan will be placed in dry
dock, where extensive repairs will be made