New-York tribune., 1903-04-09
STEAMER RAMMED IN BAY
LIFEBOATS FOR RESCUE.
The Sinking Aleghany Taken on
Shoals Other Vessel Blamed.

obliged 10 use her lifebOats a means OF res
cue for her passengers while in Nev-York Har-
bor- The steamer Allegheny. OF the Atlas
vice of the Hamburg-American Line. Captain
Haase. from Port Lirnon. with thirty-four pas
sengers and cargo of bananas coffee. hides
and rubber. lies the Red Hook fats. of
Ffftieth-st Brooklyn as a result Of a collision
II 80 a m. erday with the British tramp
steamship Joseph Merryweather. Captain BuI-
mer bound out in ballast for Baltimore. In
way. possibly through mistake in the
signals the latter steamer while passing the
former off Robbins Reef was turned into the
starboard side of the Allegheny and punched a
hole in her side large enough to sink the
steamer.
The lifeboats lowered. in one OF which
were placed eight women and child who were
among the passengers. Fortunately, by means
Of the watertight compartments the vessel was
enabled TO remain aflaat for more than two
hours and until she could be beached the
flats in twenty-five feet of water There was
no great excitement and It possible to land
the passengers and their baggage without dam
age
The passengers of the Allegheny were just con-
graduating themselves that uncomfortable
voyage was almost ended when the collision
occurred. Most Of them deck. anxious
to get a glimpse of lower New-York and the
towering buildings. The ship had a heavy list
to port. owing to the manner in which her
cargo had been slowed. and the decks were at
an uncomfortable angle. She had travelled az
this angle from Port Limon. and for this rea-
son, among others. the passengers were glad
to reach port. This list also contributed to the
sinking of the steamer after she had been
struck.
WOMAN DREAMED OF TROUBLE
One of the women had had a dream in which
from hrIrVY
building At the breakfast table yesterday
morning she told of her dream. and wondered
if this portended trouble the ship. The other
passengers laughed at her and assured her that
1t referred TO herself alone. She remembered
her dream later, when she being landed at
Pier No. 1 from tug, after being taken on
board from a nfeboat the waters of the Bay
The steamer left Quarantine at u:1O a m
Nearly all the passengers had made their dec
larations and deck watching for a
glimpse of the high buildings. They saw the
steamer Merryweather which had left Pier No.
3 Jersey City. at IL a. m. bound out The hull
of the steamer lowered out of the water. Tor
she was light She was coming down on the
starboard side of the Allegheny. Suddenly. on
Robbins Reef. she swerved in toward the Al
leghany and struck the hull OF the latter Op-
posite Hatch No. . cutting into the hull at the
waterline and bending a part of her stem in
\ and back toward the port SAucs UuL Hoe DAOe~N-
| ing any OF the plates Rebounding from the
/ fmpact the Merryweather left the Allegheny.
and then, still under headway. struck the YES
sci a second blow, fortunately only slancins
blow and slid off
The bow of the Merryweather did not pierce
the side of the Allegheny Ip to the deck owing
to the list of the latter. but for the same reason
she cut below the waterline. So far as could
be observed the hole was only about five feet
fr1~ ~fai Z
rfzing that the break was a dangerous one or
dared the compartments closed. and went below
10 examine the rent. Finding that the ship Was
making water rapidly. he went on deck ana an
nounced that the ship sinking Chief ON
Ger WoIpert called down the companionWay 70
have all the women come on deck Orders were
given to lower the Iifeboats. and boat on the
starboard side and another on the port side were
dropped Into the frst were placed the
aigbt women the child Sarah Harrison. the
woman immigration inspector. and three OF the
men whose wives were among those In the boat
There was little excitement. but the women ~
their hurry and inexperience. ranged themselves
on one side Of the boat. with the result that as
they lowered the boat it was nearly upset They
were persuaded 10 change their seats and trim
ship
wHISTLED FOR ASSISTANCE
All this time the whistle Of the Allegheny was
{
touched the water when the tug Coastwise.
which had been lying nearby with barSes. left
the barges and hurried toward the Allegheny.
She picked up the women in the Hfebodt and ran
alongside the sinking steamer. She was made
fast and gangpIank run out from -he
steamers rail the roof OF the tug pilot
house BY this means the remainder az The pas
sengers and the baggage were transferred 70
the tug. and all were brought to the city. where
they were landed at Pier L.
In the mean time the tug r c. Barrett ran
alongside and aided the steamer 20 reach the
Red Hook flats where she settled on the
bottom.
The Merryweather. apparently. was not seri-
ors1v damaged. She anchored below the Ale
ghany and sent a boat to inquire 20 the
damage. Later the Merryweather was taken to
Erie Basin for a survey and repairs. She IS
vessel of 1 1861 tons net. She was built at West
HartIepool in 1895 and is owned by w s Merry
weather
The accident happened in this wise. according
IN Captafn Haase II was on the bridge he
said. proceeding slowly up the bay because Of
the fog when I saw. half mile ahead on the
starboard bow. the steamer Merryweather COM
ing down the bay. I siSnalled with two whis-
ties which meant that he steering his
course TO port and would pass on the starboars
side I heard no whistle in reply One OF tho
men on the deck said that he thought he heard
one whistle I paid little attention 70 the other
boat as I was watching other vessels. When
the Merrvweather got near by she seemed
swerve IN toward the Allegheny We we're go
ing under very slow speed
Captain Haase added that. so far as he could
see the blame was on the otner O'stt. nut ne uld
not wish To commit himself
The Allegheny in charge OF Jeremiah
Riordan and the Merryweatner in charge or
George Berry. as pilot Neither OF 'he pi''s
could be found last night