Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-28
LIGHTHOUSE TENDER IVY TO RESCUE
Chief Executive and Companions Removed
After Short Delay.
COLLISION DUE 10 CONFUSION OF SIGNALS
Party Boards Cruiser west virginia
shortly Before 10 O'Clock and
at Once Proceeds
to Sea.

to Sea.
NEW ORLEANS Oct. 27-After an early
morning collision in which the lighthouse
tender Magnolia, on which he was travelling,
was so much damaged that he had TO
abandon IT, President Roosevelt on board
the lighthouse tender Ivy was carried
down the Mississippi to the armored cruiser
West Virginia Neither the president nor
any member Of his party was injured in
the accident
The first news OF the accident reached
New Orleans by telephone at an early hour
this morning coming i'm the shape of an
appeal Tor help from Captain Ross of the
United Fruit company's steamer Esparatu
which was the vessel reported In collision
with the Magnolia. Captain Rose gave NJ
details except that the boats had struck
each other; that the president was unin-
Jured and that the Esparata might have
to take him on board and carry him 10
I the mouth Of the river. The message
came from Nairn, La near which point
the accident occurred
Weather is Good.
The Magnolia left here at 6S last night
and the Esparata was due 20 arrive TODAY
at Chalmette. The weather was fine. with
comparatively little wind on the river In
MS report Captain Rose gave no details
OF the accident but said that the Magnolia
was ashore. Immediately upon the recent
OF the news communication was opened
with tug owners here and the powerful
tugs r. Wilmot and b. d. Wood, left New
orleans shortly aiter o'clock this morn
ing, with orders to go at full speed To the
scene of the accident Meantime however
the presidents party had managed to get
IN communication with the lower part OF
the river, where it was known that the
lighthouse tender Ivy was lying At 1
O'Clock the operator at Piottown was rung
up by Major Craighill. the government en-
gineer, with orders that the Ivy should
be sent to Sixty-Mile Point with all possi-
BILE speed. The Ivy Immediately got under
way and covered the forty miles in rapid
time.
President Roosevelt. Secretary Loeb and
Surgeon Rixey. with their baggage. were
at once transferred. and the Ivy pro
ceeded down the river. At S:I5 the IVY
passed Piottown its way down, signal
ing that the president and party were on
board and that all were well.
Boards the warship.
AT o'clock the Ivy reached Port Eads
President Roosevelt and his party were ON
deck. The tender did not stop. but i'm,
mediately passed out into the gulf The
West Virginia was in plain sight The ten
ger quickly covered the distance separating
the two vessels, and as the Ivy appeared
a presidential salute sounded from the
warship, The transfer, after the Ivy
reached the big ships side, was a matter
OF but a few minutes, the weather being
hne and clear, with "a small sea runnine
AT 9:4O the president stepped on board
the West Virginia safe and sound after
his exciting experiences here and on his
trip down the river.
The West Virginia had already lifted it's
anchors and before 10 o'clock it started on
its journey up the coast.
Report of Commander.
The lighthouse Office here mas receiver
the following dispatch from Commandor
James II. Sears, u. 5. N. dated at Nairu.
La:
The lighthouse tender Magnolia was
stIuck on Jhe port side at il D. m, OctobAr
~, by the steamer Esparta near Sixty
Mile Point. NO one was injured. The
ana party were transferred TO tho
lighthouse tender Ivy, which was ac-
ceSHInP3pS!hg Tie Magnolia and proceeded to
the west Virginia on unie. the master
officers and pllot were on duty on board
I the Magnolia at the time of the collision.
II is beleyed the Magnolia can make the
necessary repairs to return TO New ORLEANS
under its own steam.
Immediately upon hearing of the accident
and escape of the president Mayor Behrman
sent the following dispatch by wireless to
the president:
NEW ORLEANS 80 President Roosevait
Aboard the Cruser West Virginia at Sea:
New Orleans is overioyed TO learn that Won
and your party escaped without injury and
regret ineXpressibly the discomfort the ac-
cident occasioned. We pray that YOUR yov
age home will be safe and delightful.
Governor Blanchard sent the following:
People Of Louisiana regret accident OF
last night. Rejoice II had no serious conse-
quences, Trust your voyage to Washing
ton Will be pleasant and devoid OF further
mishaps.
BInmes Pilot of Magnolia.
The captain OF the Esparta refused 70
make any statement to the public as his
vessel is under a British flag and he must
submit his report 20 the British consul. Tho
United Fruit company, 20 which the vessel
is chartered, however, tonight issued the
following statement:
The Esparta sighted vessel. afterward
found TO be the Magnolia. The Magnolia
blew two whistles signifying its Intention
answered by the Esparta. While the lattsT
vessel continued up the river and at the
time of such signal II was within 100 feet
of the west bank of the river About two
minutes after the Magnolia blew the first
Intention OF changing its course and cross
ing to the inside OF the Esparta. The pilot
Of the Esparta seeing danger In such action
OF three whistles signifying the danger OF
such move on the part Of the Magnolia
as the pilot OF the Esparta was aware there
was not enough room between that vessel
and the bank for the other vessel, as he
had taken his ship in close so as 10 leave
plenty OF room in the middle OF the river
for the Magnolia and had the Magnolia
adhered 70 its original signal and intention
OF passing 20 starbnard, would have passed
clear. as the river was over half a mile
wide at that point, Instead OF this the
Ma -rolia hauled TO port and the two
vessels colided. The Esparta struck the
Magnolia on the port side about twenty
feet abaft the bows and considerable dam
age was done 20 the Magnolia.
Report from WaFshIp.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP WEST
VIRGINIA. oct 2.-Via New Orleans, By
yVireless.)-At II O'Clock last evening,