New-York tribune., 1908-12-19
FREIGHTER SUNKIN FOG
CREW SAVED BY TRAMP
STEINER CATALONE.
aDaghestan Goes Do1cn Near the
Hook-Crash Similar to Fatal
accident to the GeOrgic.

A collision not unlike the Thanksgiv-
ing which resulted fatally when the White Star
liner Georgia rammed the Panama steamer
Finance and sent her to the bottom of the Main
Ship Channel occurred yesterday about five
hundred yards south of the Gedney Channel,
between the outbound freighter Daghestan and
the inbound tramp Catalone. from Boston, the
former vessel sinking twenty minutes after the
crash
thick fog prevailed at the time, but the
sea was fairly calm the Catalone. which was
only slightly damaged. managed to stand by
and take off the crew of the rapidly sinking
steamer
The Daghestan. which bound for Mar
seflles cleared port in the morning, but was de-
tained by the fog. In the afternoon. during
brief lift of the mist she attempted to pick
her way out to sea. There was not much traffic
in the Main Ship Channel. and she got by safely
She made the turn into Gedney Channel With
out encountering any craft. and was about five
hundred wards south of its entrance, when the
incoming Catalone was sighted hundred yards
ahead Both vessels lcomed up suddenly
that II was impossible to avert collision.
The pilots realizing that there bare
chance of passing. signalled and man9uvred'
but without avail. Both steamers we're going
at nearly half speed Although the propellers
of both vessels churned the sea at full speed
aStern,
steel bow of the 37SS-ton Catalone ploughed
into the port quarter of the Daghestan. There
was sharp crash as steel shivered steel The
fremen on the Daghestan scampered up from
the stoke hole like many rats,
The chief engineer and his assistants remained
at their posts on the Daghestan. obeying signals
from the bridge until the Catalone backed away.
Then tons of water poured into the big hole in
her port side. AS she began to settle the men
from the engine room hurried up quickly to the
deck and were taken aboard a lifeboat which
had been lowered from the Catalones davlts
soon after the vessels came together. While
tha how OF the Catalone wedged into the
Daehestan half score of her crew were hauled
aboard the CatalOne.
The plot boat New York which heard the
footing of the Catalone's whistle for assistance,
came alongside as the Daghestan sank and took
off the crew from the Catalone
The Daghestan lies submerged almost to her
bridge. Part of her house is above water. and
had not the crew been taken aboard the Catalone
the men could have been rescued by the New
York.
Late last night a heavy wind came up
from the west. and a choppy sea was break
ing over the sunken steamer. If the gale con-
tinues to-day it is probable that the Daghestan
will share the fate of the Panama liner Finance
which is breaking up IN the Main Ship Channel
The collision, the sinking OF the Daslestdil
and the subsequent rescue of the ere" occurred
in fog blanket which shut out all help from
shore The news of the accident was brought
up TO Quarantine late last night by the Ward
liners Rayamo md Esperanza, which arrived
from Mexico and Havana and had taken advan-
tage of a lift in the fog to come up the NarrsWs
According to Captain Rogers, of the Espe-
ranza. no lives were lost on either the Daghestan
or the Cataone. The crew of the former will
remain aboard che pilot boat New York FOR the
night and will be sent up to this city to-day
Although the Daghestan lies south OF the en-
trance to the Gedney Channel she is a menace
to navigation, and with signal lights on board
she is a bad obstacle for incoming coastwise
vessels.
The Catalone which came To Boston from
Touishurg G B. is bound for Philadelphia and
Teith. The Daghestan loaded with miscel-
lsneous cargo for Marseilles.