Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-03-02
THE ACCIDENT TO TIE NEW
PORT NEWS.


As was stat ID 10 the Gazette, the
Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Oompany's steamer NeWpot News,
commanded by Osp!. Frank NJ Phillips,
colllded with the Bdtish steamer Lord
Z ,beit, at an early hour yesterday
"a rning 10 Chesapeake Bay, about 20
miles north Of Old Point. The New
port Eews sustained serious irjary, bat
fortunately no one was tut'.
The accident occurred of the Wolf
Trap Lighthouse at 6:12 O'Clock. The
Newport N VS. stiu,k the tramp steamer
sheering blow at poiut just on the
outer side of her forward wstn tight
steel comp ariments. Hsd the blow been
some twelve feet further smldstips the
staterooms on the ttssmer's port sioe
would have been rsked, with many ia
talities. -
The impact, which came With t'rritic
force, was followed by a general panic
among the rs passengers on the New
port News. Women and cniiofen
shrIeked aud men, like the others, lu'h-
cd from their slat.srOoms 10 great slarm.
The NespOIt News was brought to .
q uick stop and life-Sost being lowered
from the Lord Roberts vas sent out to
investigate conditions. A quick exami.
nation of the Newport News revealed
the fact that The steamers watertlght
compartments had not been pu1ctured
and thst there was no immediate danger.
The Consolidated Goal Oonpanj's tug
Georges Greek, dropping q tow which
she had for Baltimore, came to the assls.
lance of the Newport News and conveyed
her to Old Point Comfort.
The damage will amount to several
thousand dollars and the damaged stssmer
has been sent to the Newport News ship
yard for repairs.
Captain Phillips Of the Newport News
and others on the boat attribute the
accident to the fact that the Lord Roberts
failed to ring her fog bell while lying at
anchor. No statement has been made as
vet from the master of the Lord Roberts.
The fat that no one was Injured as 0
result OF the accident Is considered
10 be marvellous. The narrOwest escape
was by Express Messenger E. s. Potts,
who. at the time, was In room sdjoiu-
ing bis own and being csught In the
wrscksge bad to crawl to safety after
losing his watch and coat.
The express MESSENGERS room was
completely wrecked and one oil the safes
therein went overheard, but larger safe
belonging to the government was saved.
This. instead of going outside, was, by
the force OF collision sent through 8
wooden partition aud fell over on the
deck of the steamer on the other side OF
this partition.
There was only one case of money In
the safe that went overheard.
Second Officer NOVEL; of the Newport
News, who was at the wheel when the
crash came, was thrown all the way
across the pilot house, which was also
forced partly ont OF position.
The hole that was stove 10 the steam
or extended all the way from the door
way on the port side Of the main cabin
| for some Fenty Eve or thirty felt towards
the bow, the opening becoming some-
what smaller as it reached tae water
line.
Several of The passengers were thrown
| from their beiths as result OF the col
lision, but no one was hurt.
Many of the Tensile passengers were
40 uustrung nervouslg that they had mol
recovered from the shock when the New
po,t News reached her Norfolk pier.
The Lord Roberts was bound from
Baltimore TO Bslfatt.
Capt. Phillips wac In the pilot house al
the lime ofthe collision. So was Sacont
lOAlcer GeoIge NOVEL; and the quarter
master. The first intimstion OF dspgel
that the officers had Was The breaking
| through the fog st close range OF mas
headlight. The engines we're reversed
and, although the NeWport News ~a'
proceeding at greatly reduced speed, sh'
was too near the Lord Roberts for col
sion TO be averted.
Those In the pilot house narrowly es
capped death, as the PROV of the Lore
Roberts almost reached them. OipialI
Phillips left Second Officer Novel; II
charge above and himself went below t
ascertain the extent of the dsmsge. H'
found that there was no danger of Ib'
NeWport News going down, the water
tight comp ,rtments holding firmly, ant
he quickly assured the passengers tina
there was no need for alarm.
The crew of the Newport News pro
ceeded t. Washington via Baltimore lss
uight to bring ut The steamer Washing
ton in place OF the Newport News