Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-04-30
Collision between the American
Liner St. Paul and British
Cruiser Gladiator.
CRASH CAME IN DENSE FOG
The Gladiator Damaged So Badly IN
Sunk in n short Timc--Thc ST. y'nul
Shipped Consitic rubIe Wntcr be-
fore Reaching Dock-Bad
Weather Prevails.

London, April oG.-Thc total number of
as Il result of the collision between the
American liner 81. Paul and the British
cruiser off the Isle of Wight is 2S The
Admiralty late tonight issued n revised
list of the names of the Gladiator victims,
which includes an additional death in
the hospital. bringing the total of deaths
known up to five Twcnty-threc men are
missing, according to the list, and six
are suffering severe injuries. The sccrc-
tary of the Admiralty expresses fear
that there are still eight othcs missing,
but unable to give the names yet.
Divers to-day searched part Of the
Hunken cruiser for bodies but were not
successful n finding any.
The opinion among shipping men and
naval officers and officials appears to be
unanimous that the accident was I'M
avodahle, being one Of the chances OF the
sea which all seamen must risk.
There will he the usual naval court
and an inquiry by tho board of trade.
The officers of both ships refuse to
discuss the affair. All witnesses of
the disaster agree practically That both
crews behaved rs we'll 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 last.
thirty-six mon being drowned the sink
ing Of the Gladiator is a severe blow
to the British navy
Rough weather prevails in the chan
mel to-day and many of the channel
steamers are unable to make their us
ual trips to the continent.
The st. Paul left southampton at
1890 o'clock. She was an hour be
hind her usual time of sailing, the
delay being due to the belatcd arri-
val of the passenger train. which was
blocked by snowdrifts on the trip
from London. The weather was COM
paratively clear in Southampton wat
ers, but when the st. Paul turned in
to the Solent. which runs parallel to
the Isle of Wight, she encountered a
fierce blizzard.
Capt. Passow and his chief officer
with the American lines regular pilot
were on the bridge. and n lookout
was posted in the bows Suddenly a
ship appeared Immediately in fr'Hlt
of them. 1t was the Gladiator at
anchor. Instantly full speed astcrn"
was ordered in an endcnvor to clear
the cruiser, but 1t was too late
The ST Pauls sharp stem rammed the
anchored vessel amidshps; the liner
quvered and reeled, and her passengers
rushed on deck In great alarm, the
women on the verge of a panic. The
officers and crew acted with the great
est GOODNESS and allayed the terror with
fine a display Of discipline as though
she We're the nest trained man of war
all five life boats were lowered within
few minutes to rescue the crew of the
Gladiator, which had sustained a death
blow. The cruiser began to sink almost
at once. Her men gave a magnificent de-
monstration Of discipline. At the cap
tains command they formed in line on
the deck and stood in ranks while the
cruiser settled down. In obedience to or
ders successive patches marched to the
grangways and entered the St. Paul's
boats until practically the whole crew
had beeen taken off and landed at
Yarmouth, on the isle of Wight.