The sun., 1908-04-26

work Rescuing Man.O'.War'S Men-sh,
puts Back Into POrt-WreCk Beached
Special cabh DslpateA 10 TIE sun.
SOUTHAMPTON. April 16.-The American
Line steamship St. Paul, which out down
The British cruiser Gladiator in the solent
At o'clock this afternoon. arrived at heI
dock here at $50 o'clock tonight, bringing
soms OF the survivors OF the Gladiator's
crew, who had been picked up by her boats
The official account Of the disaster issued
BY the Admiralty In London says the
Gladiator was beached after the collision,
All the officers except Lieut.. Graves were
ayed. Three members Of the crew were
drowned The cruiser now lies hundred
Yards ofshore. Only her keel ls visible.
The st. Paul's bows are badly stove in.
She will 20 into dry dock Immediately and
the repairs necessary will require several
weeks. No one was injured on board her.
Her passengers viii sail on the Teutonic
on Wednesday, the 2Oth.
The st. Paul sailed from this port for New
York at noon to-day. She had only twenty
one first cabin passengers, with fair list
in the second cabin. As she proceeded
down the solent the thick weather developed
INTO a dense snowstorm, amounting 10 q
blizzard.
The Gladiator LETT Portland at 10 O'Clock
this morning for Portsmouth. She was
running at a speed Of eight knots an hour.
Capt Lumsden was on the bridge
The liner was forging ahead At a low
rate Of speed, making for the Channel,
when at 2 O'Clock In the afternoon, between
Yarmouth, Isle OF Wight and the Needles,
she struck the Gladiator,
No one on board the warship had glimpse
Of the liner until she crashed into the Gladi-
ators side. Two or three OF the warships
crew climbed on board the liner before she
lacked away.
The Gladiator began 70 sink rapidly,
She was hit almost amldships and out far
below the wstsr line. The 81, Paul, stand
ing by. launched her boats at onoe. There
was a very light sea running and the thick
weather was the only embarrassment 10
'he work OF rescue. Several OF the men
swan ashore TO Yarmouth Beach.
An eyewitness Of The oollislon says the
crash came with scarcely moments warn
ns The liner was. proceeding at half
speed In binding snowstorm In the Solent.
The pilot WAR atill In charm
The slate oolored hull Of the warship
suddenly Ioomed up less thap a ships
ength ahead. There was Just time to
= sinal TO the engine room Full speed
astsrn' when the crash came.
The shock 10 the 81. Paul was severe,
but no one was injured. The Watertight
Compartments we're closed inStantaneously.
The blow 10 the cruiser was terrific. Its
force wsa 30 great that Il threw her In
stsntly almost on her beam ends. About
$50 Of her Grew were on deck. and fully q
score we're pitched overheard by the shock
and many wers injured
Those in the water tried 10 scramble
up the sides OF the sinking ship. The st.
Paul's boats, which were lowered with
considerable promptness, rescued some
Of these and also picked UP others who
we're attempting 10 swim ashore. The
Gladiator had no time 70 lower her boats
as her disablement was complete from
the moment the st. Paul struck her.
One Of the st. Paurs passengers said
that he and . party Of friends were sitting
in the smoking room when suddenly a
tremendous crash SHOOK the vessel. All
the passengers hurried on deck, running
sIctedIy to and fro, as II was feared that
the liner was sinking.
Order was quickly restored and boats
we're lowered The Gladiator could be seen
Just ahead. She was already heeled over
and there was a tremendous cash amidships
where the st. Pauls bow had out half
through her. One Of the st. Paul's boats
sank during the life saving efforts. but the
crew was Immediately picked up,
The St. Paul's passengersl who we're close
witnesses Of the thrilling scene, say there
was perfect discipline on. board the founder.
ing cruiser Many Of the crew who were
awaiting rescue joined In lustily 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 waS obliged 10 return to her
dock at once.
When the ct. Paul struck TIE Gladiator
one Of the atter's boilers burst, injuring
number Of men In the stokehole.
One Of the 81. Pauls Grew noticing blue
Jacket In great distress In the water jumped
overheard fully clothed and rescued him.
When the man-o'- -warsmAn was brought
aboard the ST. Paul 1t was found that both
Of bis legs were broken.
The commander OF the Gladiator was the
ast person 10 leave the vessel. He was
taken Of in one Of the g. Paufs meboats.
Mterward he sent a message TO Capt.
Passov Of the liner thanking him and prais-
ng the splendid efforts Of the st. Paurs
crew.
Wild stories in regard 10 the sinking OF
ne Gladiator by the 81, Paul alarmed
london and Southampton all day. for
owing to the damage TO the wires by the
blizzard the facts Of the accident were
not known until nearly midnight Crowds
oeseged the gates at the dock at South
anpton awaiting the arrival Of the dam
aged liner,
The battleship Prince George has been |
ordered to proceed with two other war
saips and two tugs TO the scene Of the
dSaster
The St. Paul Of the American Line used |
% be one Of the fistest Of Transatlantic
ooats She was built in 1895 at the Cramps
Yards in Philadelphia. She made a record |