Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-04-05
ANOTHER COLLISION.


A dispatch from Newport News says
t,:t while inward bound from Wash
iogtln the Norfolk and Washing IN
Gamer Newport News ramned .be
Merchants and Miner ttsamer Iadisn,
from Baltimore to Newport News and
Boston, in Hampton Roads yesterday
morning at 9 O'Clock. For short time
there vas almost panic among the
passengers of both steamers, bat order
was soou retired. No one was in
jared. The Newport News hao hes bow
t1lsted and several plates damaged,
while the Indian hsd several plates on
her hull above the water lice stove in,
and shs proceeded to Newport News Tor
repairs.
When the accident occurred the IT,
dian wss at anchor near the Atlantic
batslesbip feet. several hundreds yards
west of Old Point. The Newport News
had iust left Old Point for Norfolk and
was proceeding q! q slow rate OF speed.
a thick hazs prevailed and tbs collision
Ia attributed to this canse, but passeu-
gers aboard the Iadian declare they saw
the Newport News when che was 100
yards away and say there was no excuse
for the collision.
Immediately after the ships came TO-.
pe,her nearly half hundred launches
tut ont from the battleships and were on
The scene of the accident in few mir
utes. The sailors on the worship, rolled
over The sides OF the lighters, hsIf.dress.
ed, some of them having only trousers
On. All OF the battleships had launches
overheard and they were gotten under
wsy within less than minute after the
crash occurred. The Newport News left
on her regular tip to Washington last
night and will return to NeRpoit News
for repairs.
A passenger on the Newport News
gives the following version of the acct.
dent: "We had just left Old Point
Comfort about $50 o'clock yesterday
morning and were proceeding at about
Quarter speed through fog that seemed
to lift at interyals aud then fall sudden
" ahead. l WAS on the forward deck
with a member of tut company when
the latter gu idenly saw the form OF
great ship ahead. The ship seemed to
be almost directly across our bow and
for a minute it looked as though we
would cut through her. The captain OF
our steamer, however, acted quickly and,
as;it was, the:Newpor' News struck the
Iodian With less force than at frst ap-
pssred unsuitable. A hole large enough
for two men to pass was GU Into the
larger ship. We could all see II as the
Newport News backed off. There WAS
great excitement on the Newport News
and many people were thrown down.
Oas of tkoss thrown from their births
va, Has:;s Vokes, bat be Vas not hurt
at al. One lady lad her wrist spta'nea
and others in the dining roop at break
fast when the crash came had their
clothes ruined by the orerturning OF
coffee, etc."
Only few weeks ago the Newport
News colided with the British steamer
Lord Roberts, of Wolf Trap Light, and
VAS badly damaged. The Lord Roberts,
1t sss clsimed, vas anchored In the path
of navigation and the collision resulted
from heavy fog that prevailed. Dap.
tain Phillips, Of the Newport News, also
alleges that the Indian vas anchored In
the path of navigation.
The Newport News WAS eus at this
port at $50 this morning, bat che did
not arrive Until 9:45. Hsr stem Is
slightly twittsd aud some of her plates
on the bow bent. She is not seriously
damaged.
Captain Phillips said that after leav-
log Old Point the Newport News picked
her way through the bstlleships anchored
In Hampton Roads. The fog having
tbickeued, the Newport News was being
run at reduced speed with sharp look
ont when the steamer Indian, lying trans
verse the channel and about TO be anchor
ed, suddenly appeared about fifty yards
ahead. Captain Phillips sigualed for foil
speed astern and attempted 10 change
his course in order to avoid collision.
His efforts we're fruitless aud the New
port News struck the Indian near the
after gapgHsy. Captain Philips says toe
r,dio, ia MT oor;npplv danaopf