The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-27
TARANTULA in COLLISION.
TURBINE Yacht HITS OR rs HIT
ny YACHT NORMAN.
MIR. T1Iford Very Clear That the Vanderbilt
Boat Han Into Him Objects TO Her
Pace Of 2B Miles an Hour-BOth Lose
Small Boats and Both Are Laid Up.

Small Boats and Both Are Laid Up.
William X. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s, turbine
yacht Tarantula and the steam yacht Nor
man, owned by Frank Tilford, coliided In tho
Sound yesterday afternoon near the Stop
ping Stones lighthouse. The Tarantula
had taken Mr.. Vanderbilt to Great Nook
and was bound across the Sound to, City
Island. The Norman had on board Mr..
Tilford and a party on their way to Green
wich.
The Tarantula was making for Jacobs
shipyard. TIE weather was hazy, and It
was difficult to judge distances. The
crew Of the turbine flyer say they made out
the Norman OF the port quarter as they
got near the Stepping Stones
She did not seem to be coming along at
any great speed, and 1t seemed az though
the Tarantula would have little trouble In
crossing her bows, and she sgnaled that
she would, so the Tarantula's crew say.
They say also the Norman skipper did not
seem to see the Tarantula until the two
boats were close together. 1t was thought
on board that the Norman mistook the
signals as those Of another steam yacht;
which was near the lighthouse. At any
rate. as the Norman came out Of the mist
II was seen that the two boats would hit.
Both reversed engines.
The Norman, according TO those on the
Vanderbilt boat. struck the Tarantula
slantwise on the port bow, about five feet
from the stem. made a big dent In some
Of her plates, knocked yawl overheard and
shook UP the yacht. Most OF the Tarantula's
crew were below. They rushed up on
deck, but found that all Of the injury was
above the water line. Second Mate Behren
was struck by splinter and hurt quite
badly.
The Norman saw that the Tarantula was
not disabled. and turned around and
cams back to this city, landed Mr.. Til
ford. and then proceeded to the Fletcher
Iron Works at Hoboken. where she was
laid up for repairs. The Tarantula went
into dry dock at City Island. 1t was said
that it would take several days to make
repairs on each boat.
Mr.. Tiford said last night that it was ono
Of the queerest experiences he had ever had
In his seven wears as a yachtsman.
Il was going up the Sound in my boat with
my secretary about 4S0 O'clock he said.
when, the Tarantula, going in the same
direction, passed by me swiftly. l thought
nothing more about it, About an hour
later, perhaps $50 in the afternoon / WAS
still going up in the same direction, when
suddenly the Tarantula. looming black and
large. cut right into my boat amidships
at an angle OF about IS degrees. She seemed
to be going in my direction. She had not
signaled in any manner whatsoever.
",fhe shock threw me from my chair.
under the awning clean across hatch
way. 1t threw my secretary, Mr.. c. @.
Matchett, several feet, and destroyed
the entire awning | thought we were
sinking, and ordered lower the lifeboats
at once
Every man Jack of my crew was at his
post, and tho three port lifeboats were
lowered away in moment. The star
board lifeSoa and the launchwere smashed.
The Normal seemed to squat for moment
under the impact of the shock, while the
other loaf reversed her engines and then
dashed on ahead. We soon found that the
damage to the Norman herself WAS mainly
In a deep dent on the starboard side. The
reason we were not cut in two was because
the water tanks were ON that side and the
steel gave under the blow
an the meanwhile the Tarantua turned
about came back, and Capt. Kirby from her
bridge hailed us with the cry: It's all my
fault and then he steamed away. heard
him say so distinctly myself, and my secre-
tary and my captain, Carl Jacuson, were
with me at the time.
Il believe" Mr.. Tilford went on to say,
shat they ought not to allow those turbines
on the Sound. Mr.. Vanderbilt's yacht was
going about twenty-five miles an hour.
Now what chance has any one to get out of
the way of yacht going like that?'
Mr. Vanderbilt il very fond of racing
with any boat that has speed. He uses the
IarantMa each day 10 come 10 town FROM.
his country place at Great Neck.
The Norman, since she won a race for
steam yachts two years ago, has been going
around looking for scalps, and Mr.. Tilford,
her owner, is not opposed to his skipper
trying to beat anything that comes his way.
CosO.n(EO FILTER STEAL