Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-13
Ward Line Steamer Merida Rammed by a
 Fruiter, Sinking Five Hours Later
A CATS LIFE THE ONLY ONE LOST
Passengers and Transferred Old Dominion Steam er, Many of the Former in scanty Attire Mexican Refugees Among the Passengers, One of Whom Was Badly Injured-Woman Lost S1OOO.

Norfolk, Va, May 12.--An incident at. sea which came near being a trag- edy and was filled with many thrilling narratives of human rescue and es= cape, occurred off this coast early to- day when the Ward line steamer Mer- ida. bound from Havana for New Y ork with 319 souls on board, was rammed by the fruit steamer Admiral Farra- guet. bound from Philadelphia for Port Antonio, and sank in 35 fathoms. 55 miles northeast of Cape Charles.
 A Mexican Woman Injured.
 Every person aboard the Merida was rescued, and but one was seriously in iured, the wife. of A Peon, a landed proprietor of Progreso. Mexico He and his family were bound for Paris te await the end of Mexican troubles. Mrs. Peon, occupying a stateroom i'm struck the Merida, was hurt, perhaps internally.
 Was Struck During Fog.
 The Merida was struck by the Ad- miral Farraguet during a dense fog at f2.30 a, m.. after the Merida had had a delightful trip from Havana with fine weather and smooth sea.
 Sank Five; Hours Later.
 In five hours she was at the bot tom of the ocean, but her. passengers and crew were safely aboard her small destroyer, the Farragut
 Steamer Summoned to Take Passen-
 gers.
 By wireless telegraphy. the Old Do- minton Steamship company steamer Hamilton, bound from New York to Norfolk, was summoned by the Farra gut, and took aboard the rescued pas 1 fI,~ ,.. Norfolk at seven o'clock tonight The Admiral Farragut. which carried but one passenger, an unknown Philadel- phian, proceeded for the Delaware breakWater, under convoy of the bat tleship Iowa. which answered the wireless appeals for assistance. The Iowa was standing by the Farragut when .he steamer Hamilton left with the rescued passengers and crew for Norfolk.
 Farragut Also in Danger of Sinking.
 After ramming the Merida. which was several times her size, the Farra- gut staggered away with a bad hole m her [ ort bow. and it was feared she toe would sink. The collision disabled the Nfcrida's engines, wrecked her dy- name and wireless apparatus and left her helpless and in total darkness.
 Engineer Benton Hero of the Hour.
 Wireless Operator Leach of the Far ragut tried to call assistance but found his appeal could not be heard. Meanwhile passenger and crew were being transferred 4s1g the Farragut One of the passengers was Perry E. Ben ton, an expert engineer. and he was the hero of the hour. It was largely through Benton's assistance that the Farraguts wireless was repaired and Operator Leach's first call for aid at 5.30 o'clock was made responsible.
 The Race to Save Lives.
 From the Hamilton and the Iowa both 55 miles away, came quick re- sponses. We will reach you by 8 o'clock" read the Hamilton's mes- sage Then the Iowa and the Hamil- ton raced to save lives. The Hamilton won Just a few minutes after eight o'clock the Hamilton sighted the Ear "a gut and in half an hour she had her lifeboats out. Within two hours, three hundred and twenty nine passengers were transferred from the sinking steamer to the Hamilton.