New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-03
SHIPS CRASH IN FOG
WIRELESS IS. O. S."
CALL INTERRUPTED.
1'sco Vessels Limp in scith
Broken Boscs-Tagus and
Schooner Needed No Help.

Schooner Needed No Help.
There was thinning out Of the fog
yesterday-the fog that for three days
has throttled traffic and shipping in
this port. and with the brief lift came
the first news Of accidents that the thick
blanket had been shutting off from land
When the first suggestion Of a clear
ing came in the early morning score
OF steamers. transatlantic and coast
wise. came an in single file through the
%arrovrS Among them were the Sidra
end the Minnesota. badly battered after
having come together head-on in the fog
on Tuesday. Through the aid of their
pumps both vessels managed TO keep the
water out and get'to a safe berth in
port.
As the Sidra was steaming To an
snchorag aud the Minnesota was warp
ing into a pier in Brooklyn a wireless
message came ont of the fog to the
south Of Rarnegat from the steamship
Tagus. Of the ROYAL Mail Steam Packet
Line. saving that she had rammed
6sn-ton schooner called the Republic
and that she wanted assistance at once.
This news came at 9 a. m, clear and
distinct. from the operator on the Tagus
to the office Of the United Wireless
Company. at No. ~ Broadway. It was
the s O. 8 cali for assistance that the
operator heard. and after receiving il he
sent a reply Of assurance and asked for
details
Then came what is known in wireless
psrlanCe as the siren spark q current
O. interruption that was able TO cut out
eil communication between the Tagus
and this city. According. TO the United
Wireless Company their land operators
here were unable 10 get the Tagus again
although the first message was strong
and distinct
interruption Causes Suspense.
There was considers8 BILE suspense at the
office Of the ROYAL Mail Steam Packet
Company and at the office of the United
Wireless Company for some time. The
first brief message said nothing of dam
age to the Tagus, and the agents here
were anxious TO know if her passengers
had TO be transferred.
Nothing more came out of the fog
until noon, when the Tagus sent her
second message and got it through 1t
stated that the Tagus was in no danger
and that the schooner had been only
slightly damaged on the starboerd quar-
ter. The Tegus. according TO the mes
sssA was then twenty-five miles south
east O. Barnegat, in seventeen fathoms
and was standing by the schooner, which
was making repairs.
4: At that time the message said the car
Ipenter, chief officer and boat crew from
The TeEus were aboard the Republic
making repairs to keep the water out in
the etarboard quarter. II was also stated
that the schooner was in no immediate
Hangar unless bad weather came up sud
denly.
May Ask Investigation.
The failure to get the Tagus after the
first message sent out at 9 a. m. angered
the officials Of the United Wireless Com
pany, who were Of the opinion that
rival company was blocking their ser
vice by the use Of the siren spark" s.
:. Bossrt. vice-president of the company,
said the interference would be reported
30 Washington and federal inyestiga-
ton asked for.
company yesterday that the Marconi in
struments were not tuned to receive
messages from the TagUs and the oper-
ators we're unable to detect any inter
ference
II was said yesterday by an official Of
wireless company in this city that the
concern referred 10 by innuendo in the
complaint Of the United Wireless Com
rany WAS not equipped here sufficiently
t. confuse 1il@ messages from the TagHs.
II was explained that the roofs of Brook
iyn are covered with amateur wireless
equipment and that interference might
ne had from some of the private plants.
\ representative of the United Wire
lezs COMPANY went 70 Washington on q
late train last night to make d complaint
against the company alleged TO have in
1erfered with the messages from the
Tagus.
The news OF the mshap 10 the Tasus
erreed over the waterfront, and when
the hig Cunarder Mauretania left her
Tier her wireless operator Was instructed
- keep g close watch on news from the
Tagus. whose plight at that time was
rot actually known When the Maure-
tanis got ley Sandy Hook she started
on her course for Liverpool. which took
her rapidly away from the Tagus in an
opposite direction
The Mallory liners BTazos. for Gal
weston. and Lampasas, for Tampa. were
ordered to lie 10 near the Tagus and
give assistance if needed.
After standing by the schooner Repub- /
lie throughout the day the Tagus started |
north late i'm the afternoon. and anchored |
last night al 9:15 O'Clock off the Scot /
land lightship.
Both Ships Badly Smashed.
Captain JaGga, cf the Sdra, which /
Vas in collision with the Minnesota. said /
that the collision occurred at > O'Clock /
Tuesday afternoon. The Minnesota /
icomed oUt Of the fog without warming /
going Il about twelve knots. Both /
ships tried to sheer off. but were so /
close that they met squarely. The /
Sidra's stem was bent 20 port and .
orumpied up for several feet. and the |
Ninnesota's nose also was pushed III :
rather aNbWardiy-
Two g i:ors were asleep in rie cGra & ,
0Nu0IvNG6D<DD ~ -