New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-11
FRU|TER HITS COLLIER
Crash Occurred OFF Cape Henry
Early Last Tuesday Morning.
SHIPPERS TALES CONFLICT
Rosario Certainly in Collision
with Either the Marcellus
or the Vacilla.

The little Atlantic Fruit steamship Ro-
sario di Giorgio limped into port at half
speed yesterday with both starboard and
port bows stove in to within fourteen
inches of the water line. Captain Larsen
said with evident reluctance, that his boat
had been in collision with the United States
collier Marcelius at 2:30 a. on Tuesday
off Cape Henry in latitude 80, longitude
74:0S The night was clear though dark, the
captain said. The collier was struck in the
side, and both vessels stood by five hours.
Captain Larsen explained that the collier
Leonidas. with two barges in tow. like the
Marcelus, was standing by, both bound
for the naval station al Guantanamo. Cuba.
The captain of the Marcellus intended to
put into Hampton Roads to ascertain the
amount of damage done his craft, according
to the Rosario's skipper.
And then on top of this story Of the col
lsion the United Fruit liner Frutera ar
rived here in the afternoon, after having
fallen in with the I,eonidas sixty miles
OF Cape Hatteras. Captain Danielson re-
ported that the Leonidas was towing four
lighters, and that the last in the string
was in sinking condition.
The captain of the Leonidas signalled the
Frutera that this lighter, the Vacilla, had
been in collision with the Rosario di
Giorgio, and that he was doing his best to
tow it into Hampton Roads. according to
Captain Danelson. He asked Captain Dan
ielson to send wireless message ashore
requesting the naval authorities to dispatch
tug to assist him.
This was done. but Captain Danielson
said that he was leaving the Leonidas
at noon the Vacilla sank the GOLFERS crew
evidently finding the task OF keeping her
af1oat too much for them.
Carl Hansen. a seaman. was lookout on
the Rosario's bow when the collision oc-
Cured. He explained that both bows
were smashed down fifteen feet because
the other vessel, which he thought was
the Marcellus, rebounded from the first
impact on the. starboard side and came
on again. striking the fruit steamers port
bow. The damage done to the Rosario's
bow was about even each side, and
would have made the steamer unseawor-
thy had the weather been at all rough
Just before the collision Hansen saw
the big hulk Of the collier or the lighter
looming up. and ran backward toward the
bridge. giving the alarm. The collision
followed Immediately. both boats be g
under full Roadway.
"A Sleei mast on the conner or lgnteT
was broken off by the force Of the impact
and fell forward. hitting the deck of the
Rosario on the exact spot where second
before Hansen had been standing.
The fruiter's starboard anchor was
ripped out and a large hole appeared where
it had rested. After the collision whistles
were exchanged. Hansen Id he could
see no lights on the other vessel
The Rosario di Giorgio is 619 ton Nor
wegian steamer. She cleared from Port
Antonio on August with a cargo of ba-
nanas, and carried only one passenger
Adieno Sylvaro, a Jamaican negro woman
who became hysterical after the collision
and had to be treated by the ships doctor
by Telegraph to The Tribune.l
Norfolk, Va, Aug 1o.-The United States
collier Marceilus, which was rammed by
| the Norwegian fruit steamer Rosario al
Giorgio at $50 o'clock yesterday morning
about seventy-fve miles southeast of Cape
Henry. went down at 1215 o'clock yester-
day afternoon. No lives We're lost Captain
Carver and his crew taking refuge aboard
the collier Leonidas
Both Golfers were bound for Guantanamo
Cuba. loaded with coal. The night was
very dark when the collision occurred.
The crews of both collerS tried hard to
keep the Marcellus afioat long enough to
get the vessel into Hampton Roads, and
IT was due to their efforts that the vessel
kept afioat long. The Leonidas returned
to Hampton Roads towing the four barges
Navy Yard tonight and reported the loss
of his vessel to Admiral Marshall He