Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-22
VESSEL BADLY DAMAGED,
PROBABLY TOTAL LOSS
Vessels Going to Rescue Forced to
Sea by Heavy Weather.
STRUCK DURING SPEED TRIAL
Bedford Was Of $500 Tons and Was
Built in 1908 at Cost OF $3,-
$50, ,OOO-Like Montagu Wreck.

LONDON, August 22.-Eighteen lives
ford ran ashore on the rocks of Quelp-
art Island. Korea, yesterday, according
"a the report received here by the ad-
miralty. The men were members of the
engine room staff.
The vessel lies in such a desperate po-
sition that there is practically no possi-
bility OF saving her.
The hull is full OF water up to the
engine room bulkhead. the water pouring
in through gaping holes punched by the
sunken rocks, and the officers and crew
have been taken off. The sister warships
M!notaur and Monmouth of the British
squadron, which anchored near the wreck
to render any assistance possible. Were
obliged to put to sea last night. owing to
the heavy weather which prevails.
Occurred During Speed Trials.
The accident occurred during the full
speed trials of the vessel. and the cruiser
was evidently badly hoied, since the
deaths are stated officially to have been
due to 1.-The thrush of water
The scene Of the wreck is the Samarang
rocks, a group Of rocks about two miles
to the west of Barlow Islard, which Is OF
the southwestern point of Quelpart Island.
Many sunken rocks are charted In this
vicinity and navigation In the passage be-
tween Barlow Island and Giftard Island.
its neighbor. is not recommended for this
reason.
The Bedford is an armored cruiser OF
the so-called county class Of $500 tons
completed in I9Gi. az a cost of $353O,Up0
She was armed with fourteen 6-inch guns,
has q rated speed OF nearly twenty-three
knots and carries a normal complement Of
J37 men.
Japan Asked to Aid.
The japanese government has been re-
quested to furnish any assistance posi-
BILE. 49, .e-,.se -. :, ,s-ss -
The wreck resembles In. many respects
that OF the battleship Montagu. which
cost the British navy one OF its first
class battleships in 1906. The Montagu
struck on the rocks at Lundy Island. In
Bristol channel, during a heavy fog May
3d. 1906 the sharp lodges tearing. great
holes in her bottom: A. period OF calm
weather ensued after the battleship
grounded and salvage operations were un-
dertaken, but 1t was found impossible to
float the vessel and she was ultimately
abandoned. a total loss.
Lies In Bad Position.
TOXIC, August 22.-Further details of
the grounding Of the British cruiser Bed
ford, which ran ashore on the western
portion of Quelpart Island Sunday. show
that the vessel Is seriously damaged and
lies in a bad position. Only meager re-
ports by wireless have been received,
but according to these 1t appears that
the Bedford struck the rocks two miles
west Of Quelpart Island. lying about fifty
miles south Of Korea or the entrance to
the straits OF Korea, during a thick fog
at O'Clock Sunday morning. The cruiser
was then sailing with a British squadron
from Wei-Ha.-W Wei. China, for Nagasaki.
The bottom section Of the ship and the
machinery, according to wireless reports,
suffered serious damage from the rocks
! and the cruiser is pounding badly in the
high seas. A number Of Japanese war
ships, accompanied by lighters and sal
wage vessels. were dispatched from the
! nearest japanese station immediately
upon receipt of the news of the disaster,
but whether the ship can be salvaged Is
| doubtful.