The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-01
CLOSE CALL
President Roosevelt in Danger
by the Collision OF His
SHIP WITH ANOTHER
Although IRconvenienced by the Acc;.
dent and Delay the President was
Uumoved by the Mishap, a1d
Re: umed His Voyage
Aboard Another
Vessel.


Aboard Another
Vessel.
A dispatch from New Orleans says
at II O'Clock Thurday 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.. R!xsy to the cfuiaer,
West Virginia. The rail and port
bow OF the Magnolia we're damaged
aud two or three holes made In the
hull below the water line. No one
vas hurt. The magnolia Immediate
ly on being struck was be.ched, her
bow being higa and dry. After a
careful examination Of tine damage to
the vessel, it was evident there was
no danger and the president and his
party went to bed.
Maj Ccajghill OF the United States
engineers was aboard the Magnolia.
His ship, the IvS, a sister ship Of the
Magnolia, had preceded the Magnol-
Ia and was some distance ahead. A
boat was Immediately put IF for the
nearest telephone, about mile and a
half away, and the order given to
head the Ivy ef1 at Pilot station and
have her return for the president and
his party. The transfer was made at
o'clock Friday morning. The ves'
sci got under way Immediately and
the West Virginia was boarded on
schedule time.
The fist news Of tne accident reach
ed New Orleans by telephone early
Friday morning in an appeal for help
from Capt. Rose OF the United Fruit
conpany's steamer Esparta, which
came from Nairn, Ls., near where
the accident occurred. His report gave
no details. The Magnolia left New Or
leans at 30 Thursday night and the
FSparta was due to arrive Friday at
Chalnette. The weather was fne,
with comparatively little wind on the
river. Immediately upon the receipt
of the news communication was open.
ed with tug owners here and the pow
erful tugs r Wilmot and 3. D Wood
left New Orleans shortly after o'clock
Friday morning with orders to 60 at
full speed to the scene Of tn accident.
Meantime, however, the presidents
party had managed to get in commun
;cation with the lower part OF the
river where it was known Gha5 the
lighthouse tender I7y way lying. A5
1 o'clock the operator at Pilot Town
vas rung up by Maj. Craighiil, the
government engineer, with orders that
the Ivy should be sent to 60 mile point
with all possible speed. The Ivy i'm
medlately got urder way and covered
the 40 miles in rapid time. Ptesiden,
Roosevelt. Secretary Lo b md Surge n
Rixey, WITH their bagI.i wee at
once transferred and the Ivy proceed
Cd down the river. At e15 the Ivy
passed Pilot Town on her way down,
signalling that the president and party
were on board and that all were well.
TIE Ivy reached the West Virginia
at 9 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. These aboard
reported that the West Virginia had
sailed at 1905. They said chat the
president was in excellant spirits and
u2shaken 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 IN shortly after the vessel lett
New O :ieans. The two ships were
near tie west shore when they came
in contact in sn effort to avoid run
ming into each other. The Prov Of the
Esparta struck tie Magnolia on the
port bow,
was cot known to what extent
tie Magnolia mi. hit have b:en injured
and there was great oa:te il pushing
her ashore. Both vessels grounded
but tne E,parsa go5 of under her own
sUeam and was found rot to have SUI.
fered 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 delay because it was evil
dent that the Magnolia could not pro-
ceed on the way. he dressed in medi-
ately and those CT his party hurriedly
made arrangements for his transfer to
the Ivy, which was intercepted ard
brought back to the scene OF tee acct
dent. Except for the loss OF some
sleep, the president suffered nothing
BY the collision. With the whole
party transferred to the Ivy, that yes.
sci was speeded down the river, meet
ing with no further m!shap.
The United Fruit Company, by
which the E ,parta IS chartered issued
the following statement Friday nlght:
''The Esparta sighted a vessel,
afterward found to be the Magnolia.
The Magnolia blew two whistles, sig
nifying her intention Of passing to
starboard, which was answered by the
E ,parta, which latter vessel continues
OF up the river and at the time OF
a..oL ,;o,o1 ,,,c within ION feat of the