The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-04-26

bumped overheard after the cruiser had
sRrOunded and swan ashore 10 tie
beach. but many OF them stuck 10 the
vessel when they saw that she was IN
mo danger o. sinking. Many Of the
icruiser's CT "ere injured in the col
lision. some II them badly
Assistance Quickly Sent.
Word OF the collision was wired to
Portsmouth. and warships and tugs
were hurried to the scene by the agents
of the ST. Paul and the commandant Of
the navy yard. The captain Of the
fGladiator in an official report sent here
ssays:
Gladiator completely wrecked in col
Vision steamer St Paul Lieutenant
Graves, three seamen missing. Cruiser
Is a total wreck"
Wonder Any Escaped.
One of the petty officers Of the Glad
liator told the following story of the
wreck:
There we're three hundred OF us on
board when the collision took place
NEARLY all of us were thrown into the
water and II is a miracle that anyone
ESCAPED. We sailed in a fog. and when
we reached the Isle Of Wight we ran
into a snow storm which thickened
and made navigation very difficult.
Suddenly We were alarmed by a ter
rifle crash and the whole crew run
ming on deck found that the St. Paul
had rammed us amidships. Many Of US
lwere hurt, some seriously. but in ODE
hdience TO orders the wheelsman headed
the cruiser ashore. 1t was a wise pre-
caution, as we sank within twenty
minutes Of the time we were hit. the
warship heeling over. As she did so
I'VE, under orders. clambered onto her
fside and stayed there until we were
taken of. The St. PauTs boats rescued
q good portion of our crew"
Passenger Describes Wreck.
Frank Spreadourvy. of London. a pas
eenger on the St. Paul. told a graphic
Estory of the wreck
II was sitting with others in tho
Fsn1oking-roOm," he said, when I heard
ia sudden crash and received a shock
THAT threw ME out of my chair I rush
Ted on deck and saw that our steamer
had torn through the side Of the Glad
iator. Our two forward ufeboats We're
sent overheard with rescue crews.
The St. Paul glided slowly backward.
while the Gladiator, catching the full
3orce OF the storm. swung broadsIde
ecross the narrow channel, gradually
turning to starboa~L One man was kill
ed in the wardroom when the St. Paul S
bows entered or those thrown into the
water nearly all swan back and climbed
pon ths overturned keel. As they did so
fhey began singing Sons of the Brave.
and continued to do so until taken off
10y the boats"
Clears Both Captains.
AT the Portsmouth navy yard tonight
st is believed the responsibility for the
wreck can hardly be laid at the door Of
either captain Rather it was due 70
the weather, which ordinarily would
nave compelled both ships to remain in
port.
The officials Of the American Line an
rounced that the passengers would be
( forwarded to New York. either on
Wednesday or Saturday. In the mean
( while they will be cared for at the eX-
pense of the company
When the word of the accident to the
liner reached here relatives of the pas
sengers hocked to the docks and de-
rnanded admission. Although assured
that no one had been injured. they re-
fused TO believe it until the vessel
finally returned 10 port.
The Gladiator is a second-class cruiser
of $50 tons, and was built in 1896. She
IS attached to the Portsmouth division
of the home feet. and is commanded by
Capt Walter Lunsden- Commodore
Reginald E Carr is in command Of the
division. The warship draws twenty
four feet OF watrr, her beam is nifty
seven feet six inches, and her length
go feet.
Owing to her shortness she quickly
falls of in SCI way and is conse-
quently difficult TO handle in anything
but good weather. Like the three other
vessels Of her type. she was designed
( 70 act as a ram. Her engines are OF
10.000-horsepower. She was attached to
the coast survey service.