The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-11-01
CLOSE CALL.
President Roosevelt in Danger
by the Collision Of His
SHIP WITH ANOTHER

|SHIP WITH ANOTHER
Although Inconvenience by the Acct.
dent and Delay the President was
Uumoved by the Mishap, and
Refumed His Voyage
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.. Rixey to the cruiser,
West Virginia. The rail and port
bow of the Magnolia were damaged
and two or three holes made In the
hull below the water line. NJ one
was hurt. The magnolia Immediate.
ly on being struck was beached, her
bow being high and dry. After q
careful examination Of the damage to
the vessel, it was evident there was
no danger and the president and his
party went to bed.
Mai Craighill Of the United States
engineers was aboard the Magnolia.
His ship, the Ivy, 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 a mile and a
half away, and the order given to
head the Ivy eff at Pilot station and
have her return for the president and
his party. The transfer was made at
3 O'Clock Friday morning. The yes
sci got under way Immediately and
the West Virginia was boarded on
schedule time.
The fl tst 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
compaHy's steamer Esparta, which
came from Marin, La, near where
the accident occurred. His report gave
no details. The Magnolia left New Or.
leans at 6 80 Thursday night and the
Fsparta was due to arrive Friday at
Ohalmette. The weather was fine,
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 z. Wilmot and B. D. Wood
left New Orleans shortly after 4 O'Clock
Friday morning with orders to go at
full speed to the scene of tn accident.
Meantime, however, the presidents
party had managed to get in commun.
ication with the lower part Of the
river where it was known that the
lighthouse tender Ivy way lying. AT
l o'clock the operator at Pilot Town
was rung up by Maj. Craigbill, the
government engineer, with orders that
the Ivy should be sent to 60-mile point
with all possible speed. The Ivy i'm
me dlately got under way and covered
the 40 miles in rapid time. President
Roosevelt. Secretary Lo b md Surgeon
Rixey, with their bag as o, we e at
once transferred and the Ivy proceed.
ed down the river. At ELS 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. Those aboard
reported that the West Virginia had
sailed at 10. 05. They said that the
president was in excallant 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 in shortly after the vessel left
New O:leans. The two ships were
near the west shore when they came
in conta ct in an effort to avoid run
ming into each other: The PROV of the
Esparta struck the Magnolia on the
port bow,
1t was not known to what extent
the Magnolia might have b,en injured
and there was great naSte In pushing
her ashore. Both vessels grounded
but the E'parta got of under her oVn
steam and was found not 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 a delay because it was evil
dent that the Magnolia could not pro-
coed on the way. BE dressed immedi.
ately and these Of bis party hurriedly
made arrangements for his transfer to
the Ivy, which was inteic d and
brought back to the scene Of the 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 mishap.
Drunken Conductor.
At Savannah Ca, E. A, Moore, q
street car conductor Thursday after.
noon In an alteration with passen.
ger, drew a heavy revolver and fired
thrae shots. the first; shot went wild