The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-04
RAMS BATTLESHIP VIRGINIA.
OLD DOMINION LINER HITS HER
FROM BEHIND.
Wsrshlp LOses q Gun and Has Two Boats
smashed TIT Liners Prov Crushed In
and she's Leaking Badly Collision Dc
Cured In Hampton Roads in Daylight.

NORFOLK, Va, Nov. 3.-The United States
battleship Virginia was rammed this morn
ing by the Old Dominion Line steamer
Monroe. The big liner hit the armor clad
vessel a heavy blow on the port quarter.
The collision occurred in Hampton
Roads. The Virginia was bound from of
Old Point Comfort for the Norfolk Navy
Yard and was proceeding smoothly when
the biggest al the Old Dominion feet came
in from New York and was following the
battleship.
About two miles this side OF Old Point
Comfort the battleship seemed to slow
down. The liner, following Immediately,
slowed down but could not stop in time to
prevent ramming the battIeship.
As a result of the collision the Virginia
is reported leaking tonight INC the old
Dominion liners pumps are going to keep
that vessel aioat. Both vessels will have TO
be d~rydocked and surveyed before the
extent OF the damage can be definitely
told.
The battleship lost a three-inch gun over
board, had two of her boats shattered and
s~tanchions and rails bent and twisted or
the port quarter of the vessel.
The PROV of the Monroe is crushed in,
the heavy stem being twisted in two places.
The collision occurred about 10 O'Clock,
and before the Monroe could get to its
lock a half hour later there was fourteen
feet of water in her bilges and the vessels
pumps were being worked to their full
capacity.
No one was hurt on either ship.
The unofficial statements as to the cause
of the collision differ. According to those
aboard the Virginia the Monroe, in an effort
to get ahead of the Virginia, discovered
that she was running in shoal water, and
in regaining the channel fOuled the battle
ship. the suction Of the propellers of the
Virginia drawing the MonrOe OH, although
her engines nae been reversed.
1t is declared by those who Witnessed the
from the deck OF the Monroe that
the Virginia was pursuing a zigzag course
across the channel and suddenly almost
came to a ~standstill, not giving the Monroe
time TO avoid the collision.
The Virginia arrived at the navy yard at
noon. Her commanding officer, Capt.
Seaton Schroeder, Immediately made a
' erbal report to Rear Admiral Robert NJ.
Berry, cOmmandant Of the station. Later
Capt. Schroeder was seen in his cabin
aboard the Virginia by a SUN reporter.
He was writing his Official report of the
accident for Transmission to the Navy
Department.
Luckily no one was hurt. " said the Cap
tain. "In advance Of the fling of my
official report j can only summa rizs the
TO my ship az the smashing Of the
Captains gig, a whaleboat, the davits and
tackle and the carrying away of a small
3 inch gun. The hull OF the Virginia was,
a matter OF course, not damaged beyond
the scraping Of the paint.
THE Old Dominion ship was o~vertaking
lis from astern and the rule of the road is
that the overtaking ship must look out for |
herself. She sought 10 pass the Virginia
and her bow was caught in the enormous
Of our screws and she was drawn
in toward the battleship."