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

PORT NEWS.
As vas stat ID in the Gazette, The
Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Oompany's steamer Newport News
commanded by Osps. Frank Nj. Phillips.
collided with the British steamer Lore
& ,be,t, at an early hour yesterday
mt rning ia Chesapeake Bay, about 2t
miles north of Old Point. The New
port News sustained serious Iii 7ry, bn
fortunately no one was tutf.
The accident occurred of the VOL
Trap Lighthouse at 6:12 O'Clock. The
Newport N:ws stiu,k the tramp steamer
q steering blow at poiat just on TIE
outer side of her forward wat,r tight
steel compartments. Hsd the blow been
some twelve feet further amidships the
stateroomB on the ttssmer's port side
would have been raked, With many fa'
talites.
The impact, which came with terrific
force, was followed BY general panic
among the rs passengers on the New
port News. Women and children
shrieked aud men, like the others, lu'h-
ed from their stat.srooms in great alarm.
The NeSpoyt News was brought to Q
ouIck stop and life-soat being lowered
from the Lord Roberts vas sent out tn
investigate conditions. A quick examl.
nation of the Nswport News revealed
the fact that the steamers watertlght
compartments had not been pu1ctured
and that there was no immediate danger.
The, Consolidated Ooal Oompsny's tug
Gsorgs's Greek, dropping tow which
she had for Baltimore, came to the assis.
tsnce Of the Newport News and conveyed
her to Old Poirt Comfort.
The damage will amount to severe
thousand dollars aud the damaged steamer
has been sent to the Newport News shif-
yard for repsira.
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 st
anchor. No statement has been made as
vet from the master of the Lord Roberts.
The fat that no one was injured as q
result OF the accident is considered
to be marvellous. The narrDwest escape
was By Express Messenger E. s. Potts,
Who, oil tie time, was in a room sdjoiu-
Ing bis own and being csughs in the
wreckage bad to crawl to safety after
losing bis watch and coat.
The express messengers room was
completely wrecked and one oil the ssfeS
therein went overheard, but a larger safe
belonging to the government was saved.
This, instead of going ont'ide, was, by
the force OF collision sent through q
wooden partition aud fell over on the
deck of the steamer on the other side OF
this partition.
There VAS 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 In the steam
or extended all the way from the door
way on the port eide of the main cabin
for some genty -6vs or thirty felt towards
the bow, the opening becoming some
what smaller as it reached the water
line.
Several of The passengers we're thrown
from their be-, tbs as q result Of the col
l;sjon hDt no 0ne Wes hurt,
Many OF the femsle passengers were
80 uustrung nervously that they had not
recovered from the shock when the New
port News reached her Norfolk pier.
The Lord Roberts was bound from
Baltimore to B.lfast.
Capt. Phillips was in the pilot house at
the sime of the collision. So was Second
Officer Geolge NOVEL; and the quarter
master. The first in.imation of danger
that the ofictr, had was The breaking
through the fog 81 close range of q mast
headlight. The engines were reversed
and, although tie Newport News WGs
proceeding at greatly reduced speed, she
was too near the Lord Roberts for a COL
l!sion to be averted.
Those in the pilot house narrowly es.
capped death, as the Prov of the Lord
Roberts almost reached them. C,psain
Phillips LETT Second Officer Novel; In
charge above and himself went below to
ascertain the extent OF the damsge. lie
found ira! there vas no danger of The
Newport News going down, the water.
tight compartments holding firmly, and
he quickly assured the passengers that
there was no need for alarm.
The crew of the Newport News pro:
ceeded t, Washington via Baltimore las
oight to bring ut the steamer Washing
ton in place Of the Newport News.