The Washington herald., 1908-04-26

Southampton. April 25.-The American
Line steamship st. Paul, which cut dewn
the British cruiser Gladiator in the solent
at o'clock this afternoon. arrived at
her dock here at $50 o'clock tonight.
bringing some of the survivors Of tbe
Gladiator who had been picked I'd bv
her boats.
The liners bows are badly stove in. She
viii go into dFydock Immediately and the
repairs to her will require several weeks.
An eyewitness Of the collision saws the
crash came without scarcely moments
warning. The liner was proceeding at
half speed. in a binding snowstorm, in
the Solent. The pilot was stil in charge.
The slate-colored hull Of war ship sud
denly looned up less than a ships length
ahead. There was just time 10 signal 10
the engine room. Full speed asternu
when the crash came. The shock 10 tba
steamship was severe. but no one was
injured
The blow to the cruiser. however. was
terrific. It's force was so great that II
threw her instantly almost on her beam
ends About 80 Of her crew were on
deck and fully a score. were pitched over
board By the shock. and many were in.
jured- Those in the water tried to scram-
bic up the sides Of the sinking shin. The
St Pauls boats. which had been lowered
with considerable promptness. reseued
some Of these also picked up others who
were attempting to swim ashore from the
sinking war ship
No Time TO Lower Boats.
The Gladiator had no time to lower her
boats. as her disablement was oomnla.a
from the moment the 81 Paul str,,ct-
her.
one Of the St Paurs passengers said
ne, with a party of friends. was sitting
IN the smoking room when suddenly a
tremendous crash shook the vessel An
| the passengers hurried on deck. rlIDnjr,
exeitedly to and fro as il was feared
/ that the liner was sinking. order was
/ quickly restored. and boats were lower
/ ed. The Gladiator could be seen lust
| ahead She was already heeled over and
there was a tremendous cash amidsbip
where the st. Pauls bow had cut half
/ through her.
| One Of the ST. Paurs boats sank dur
/ ing the hfe-saying efforts. but the crew
was Immediately picked up.
The St. Paul's passengers who were
! close witnesses Of the thrilling scene say.
/ there was perfect discipline aboard the
/ laundering cruiser Many Of the crew
who were awaiting rescue Joined in lust
1 ily singing Rule Britannia"
The St. Paul stood by until all the men
! Of the cruiser who had been thrown
/ overheard and who could be found. had
been rescued The liners own condition
at that time was such that she could
return TO her dock at once.
! The official account Of the disaster is
sued by the admiralty today says the
Gladiator was beached. All the officers
except Lieut.. Graves were saved Three
members OF the crew were drowned. The
cruiser now lies a hundred yards off
shore.
Commander Last to Leave.
/ The commander Of the Gladiator was
the last person to leave the vessel He
was taken off in one OF the St Paurs
| llifeboats. AfterwaTd. he sent a message
to Capt. Passow. of the liner thanking
him and praising the splendid efforts OF
the St. Pauls crew.
Wild stories in regard to the sinking Of
the Gladiator by the st. Paul alarmed
London and Southampton tonight for,
owing TO the damaged wires by the bliz-
zard. the facts of the accident were not
known until nearly midnight. Crowds
besieged the gates at the docks at South
ampton, awaiting the arrival Of the dam
aged liner.
The st, PauFs passengers win sail BY
the Teutonie. which sails from Southamp-
ton next Wednesday.
Tho admiralty report makes no men
ton OF any missing members Of the crew
A dispatch from Yarmouth, however,
says that at roll call Of the survivors at
Fort Victoria, at $50 tonight. thirty were
missing
It is believed they are aboard the ST.
Paul
The Gladiator left Portland at 10 o'clock
WIS AiNtilttlb ANt EbAk0HtbNAIl fJUt WIS
running at a speed OF S knots an hour
at the time Of the collision.
Capt Lunsden was on the bridge No
one aboard the war ship had q glimpse
Of the liner until she crashed into the
Gladiators side. Two or three of the
war ships crew climbed aboard the liner
before she backed away.
When the steamer struck the Gladiator,
one Of the latters boilers bursted. injur-
ing a number Of men in stokehole
One of the st. Pauls crew, noticing a
bluejacket in great distress in the water.
jumped overheard fully clothed and
rescued him. When the man-o' .Warsman
was brought aboard the St Paul it was
found that both Of his legs were broken.