The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-11-03
CLOSE CALL.
President Roosevelt in Danger
by the Collision of His
SHIP WITH ANOTHER

dent and Delay the President was
Unmoyed by the Mishap, and
Returned His Voyage
Aboard Another
Vessel.
A dispatch from Now Orleans saws
at II o'clock Thurdny evening, through
confusion OF signals, the fruit steam.
er Esparta collided with the light.
house tender Magnolia, which was
conveying the President, Secretary
Loeb and DR.. Rixey to the cruiser,
West Virginia. Tho rail aud port
bow of the Magnolia were damaged
n Two or three holes made In the
hull below the water line. No one
was hurt, The magnolia Immediate.
~ on being struck was beachcd, her
bow beiag high and dry. After a
careful examination Of the damage to
the vessel, 1T was evident there was
no danger and the president and his
party went to bed.
MAJ Craighill Of the United States
engineers was aboard the Magnolia.
His ship, the Ivy. a sister ship of the
Magnolia, had preceded the Magnol-
La and was some distance ahead. A
boat was Immediately put CIR for the
nearest telephone, about q mile and a.
half away, and the order given to
head the Ivy of at Pilot station and
nave her return for the president and
his party. The transfer was made at
8 O'Clock Friday morning. The yes-
sci got under way immediately and
the West Virginia was boarded on
schedule time.
The first news Of the accident reach
ed New Orleans by telephone early
Friday morning In an appeal for help
from Capt. Rose Of the United Fruit
company's steamer Esparta, which
came from Marin, La, near where
the accident occurred. His report gave
no details The Magnolia left New Or.
leans att 80 Thursday night and the
f3parta was due TO arrive Friday at
Chalmette. The weather was hno,
with comparatively little wind on the
river. Immediately upon the receipt
OF The noHs communication was open.
ed With$t Y owners here and the pow.
erful, tnsgsS II. Wilmot and b. D. Wood
left NSW9sleans shortly after o'clock
Friday morning with orders to 20 at
full speed t the scone Of the accident.
MeanuhS anYgeyer, the presidents
PpsYsy Hau mSnaReo 'doReG inC6Tnmnn.
ication with the lower part of the
river where 1t vas known that the
lighthouse tender Ivy way lying. At
l O'Clock the operator at Pilot Town
was rung up by Mai. Cralghill, the
go yernment engineer, with orders that
the Ivy should be sent to 60. rnile point
with all possible speed. The Ivy i'm
mediately got under way and covered
the 40 miles in rapid time. President
Roosevelt. Secretary Lob and Surgeon
Rixey, With their baggage, were at
once transferred and the Ivy proceed
ed down the river. At &.15 the wv
passed Pilot Town on her way down,
signalling that the president and party
were on board and that all were we'll.
TIE Ivy reached the West Virginia
at 8 40 and the president at once
went aboard. The lighthouse tender
Ivy returned from sea after putting
President Roosevelt On board and
stopped at Pilot Town. Those aboard
reported that the West Virginia had
sailed at Jos. They said that the
president was in eXcollant spirits and
unshaken by the accident. At the
time Of the accident at II o'clock the
president, absolutely worn out by
his strenuous experience In New
Orleans, was fast asleep. He had
turned / n shortly after the vessel left
New O.ieans. The two ships were
near the west shore when they came
In contact in an effort to avoid run.
ming into each other. The Prov OF the
Esparta struck the Magnolia on tho
port bow.
1t was not known to what extent
the Magnolia NIL lit have baan Injured
and there Was great nasto In pushing
her ashore. Both vessels grounded
but the ESparta got Off under her owr
steam and was found not to have sui
fercd any damage. The president
showed no excitement when informed
OF the extent OF the disaster, though
he was somewhat annoyed by the prob
ability Of a delay because it was evil
dent that the Magnolia could not pro
coed on the way. lie dressed immedi
atcly and these CT bis party hurriedl,
made arrangements for his transfer tt
the Ivy, which was intercepted an(
brought back to the scene Of the acct
dent. Except for the loss OF som,
sleep, the president suffered nothing
by the collision. With the Who'll,
party transferred to the Ivy, that YES
sci was spceded down the river, meet
ing with no further mishap.
The United Fruit Company, b,
which the E,parta is chartered issued
the following statement Friday night
'The Esparta sighted 8 vessel
afterward found to be tho Magnolia
The Magnolia blew two whistles, sig
nifying her intention Of passing Il
Starboard, which was answered by tn,
E}parta, which latter vessel continued
on up the river and at the time O.
such signal was within 100 feet OF thu
west bank Of the river. About two
minutes after the Magnolia blew tin,
first signal, she blew one whistle, sig
nifying her intention OF changing he
course and crossing to the inside o
the Esparta. The pilot OF Esparta
seeing the danger in such action, blew
whistles and also the danger signal 0
t1ree whistles, signifying the DANCE
OF such a nov on the part OF tht
Magnolia, as the pilot OF the E,part;
wac aware of the fact that +ho.n ,nn.