The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-27
SEVERE BLOW TO
BRITISH NAVY
Discipline on the Warship Was
Magnificent, the Officers and
Men Remaining at Their
Posts as Though No
Tragedy Was
at Hand.
oNDoN, April 2s.-The total
number Of dead and missing OF
the Gladiator's crew as a re-
\ suit OF the collision between

II lio .CIeW ds re-.
- suit OF the collision between
the American liner st. Paul and
the British cruiser off the Isle OF
Wight Is twenty-eight
Divers to-day searched part of the
sunken cruiser for bodies, but were
not successful in finding any
The opinion among shipping men
and naval officers and officials appears
to be unanimous that the accident
was unavoidable, being one OF the
chances OF the sea which all seamen
must risk. There will be the usual
naval court and an inquiry by the
board OF trade. The officers OF both
ships refuse to discuss the affair until
they have given their testimony off,
cally.
All witnesses Of the disaster agree
practically that both crews behaved as
well as possible.
Coming SO soon after the loss of the
torpedo-boat destroyer Tiger, which
was sunk by the cruiser Berwick off
the Isle of Wight on April Cd last,
thirty-six men being drowned, the sink
Ing OF the Gladiator is severe blow
to the British navy.
Discipline Splendid.
Interesting details concerning the
collision and the rescue OF the men OF
the British cruiser were told to-day by
various passengers on the liner. j. T.
Hills. Of London. speaking OF the de-
lay in lowering boats from the st. Paul
said:
IN response to our offer of assist
ance. the captain of the Gladiator re-
piled that it was not needed. That ac-
counts for the fact that some time-it
seemed to me about twenty minutes
elapsed after the collision before the
st. Paui's boats were put in the water.
At that time the cruiser was turning
turtle.
OF her cried. lower your boats As
the vessel heeled over we could see
the blueJackets climbing to the upper
most side and. those who failed to get
secure hold slipped into the water.
The discipline on the Gladiator was
magnificent. We could see every man
at his post. There was no excitement
on either ship One would have thought
that 1t was moving picture instead
OF real disaster"
Penetrated Twenty Feet.
The passengers on the ST. Paul. who
acted so coolly during the trying few
minutes following the collision. could
hardly have realized the danger in
which they stood. They were assured
by the officers. who hurried among
them directly the boats came together
that there was no danger, but the con-
dition of the steamers bows. as she
lies at the dock shows that she had
narrow escape from meeting the same
fate as the Gladiator. AS 1t was. the
st. Paul war more seriously damaged
than at first supposed. She shipped a
great quantity of water through her
broken plates, and from the moment
she backed away from the wrecked
cruiser until she reached her wharf
all her pumps were kept going to their
full capacity
The damaged bows of the st. Paul
indicate that she forced her nose at
least twenty feet through the cruisers
side, but fortunately the greatest dam
age she received was above the water
line. The bow post was buckled. while
the plates on both the port and star
board bows were crushed In and gaping
cracks extend along the side.
First Serious Accident.
his officers would discuss the accident,
nit their reports to the proper officials.
II is learned, however. that Captain
Passow is sorely grieved at the disas-
ter, this being his first serious nishap.
Had The cruiser been painted any
other color than slate she might have
been seen earlier and the collision
avoided, but Great Britain has decided
that her warships attract less attention
when thus painted, and what is com
sidered the necessity of war purposes
has contributed to serious accid ent.