Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-21

| Southampton, Eng. Sept 20.-The
Star Line. which left Southampton
| shortly before noon today with a great
crowd of returning American tourists
| lies off Galshot Castle at the entrance
70 southampton water, tonight. with
Il gaping hole in her side as the re-
| suit Of collision with the British
protected cruiser Hawke Fortunately
NJ lives were lost and of the 2000 or
| more passe myers and crews Of the yes
| sells not enc was even injured
Ehe accident occurred a few miles
| from the spot where the American
Liner St Paul ana the British cruiser
| Gladiator collided nearly four yeas
| ago, and, as ia the previous case, the
| warship came eff second best. so FAR
| az can be ascertained tonight The eK-
! teat of the damage to the liner cannot
| be determined until she is locked and
| an examination is made Of the rent
Which the cruisers ram cut in her
| side
The Olympic left her dock promptly
at ll25 o'clock this morning, steaming
| AZ nnoderate speed eastward on her
way te Cherboarg to pick up the con-
tinental passengers. She already had
ing the crew, these being composed
| OF $50 in the first cabin, ace in the sec
ord and $50 in the third The first cab
IN passengers were just answering the
call "a lunch when attention vas at
| tf3eted To the Hawke. which was un-
derg0ing steam trials.
The Warship, moving at great speed,
followed the liner but apparently was
quite clear of her. Suddenly the oruis-
er swerved in and struck the liner on
TIE starbeard quarter near the stern.
tearing through section about 40
feet in extent The miracle is that the
olympic was not sunk, as the Hawke
is fitted with ram especially designed
TO sink vessel in spite of its water
tight compartments, The liners frame
stood the shock well and tho water
tight doors. which automatically clos
ed. held the compartments hermetirai
Is sealed.
The Olympic listed slightly to star
board, but nor 70 a sufficient angle to
cause any serious alarm. and tie IL
ficers quickly reassured the nervous
passengers. The rent in the Olympic
was of such a size, however. that the
passengers on a smaller steamer pass
ing ut the time could see into the III
terror OF the vessel.
So far as can be learned the Hawke
suffered more severely. CuriousIy
enough, u feet Of her upper, deck was
twisted out of all recognition. The
stem appears to be completely gone
The plating was ripped open, exposing
the forward torpedo tube. and the fore
compartment filled with water. Both
ships crews acted with GOODNESS and
even among the passengers of the
Olympic there was no panic. The en-
gines Of both ships were stopped inn
lmediately and as soon as the water
tight doors were secured the engines
were set astern and the vessels drew
apart
The Hawke sent wireless messages
for tugs and remained alongside the
liner until they arrived 70 convoy her
to southampton water. where she
dropped anchor to await the turn Of
the tide TO enable her to proceed to
her dock. The cruiser proceeded To
Portsmouth under her own steam.
The White Star Co. dispatched ten
ders for the passengers desiring TO
land. hut only 30 took advantage OF
this The only other passenger who
landed was Thomas Magee of San
Francisco, who, when the collision oe-
CURED, clambered out OF the rent in
the liners side into a row boat which
landed him at Cowes. He was the first
to send out, the news of the accident.
Many theories are advanced as 10
the cause of the collision, but general
" the warship is blamed. 1t is sug-
gested that the cruisers steering gear
failed 70 act The naval officers and
the officers OF the Olympic are with
holding comment until after the in
curry, which the admiralty VIII lnsti-
tute immediately, is held.
The Olympic's American mails VIII
be taken by the Mauritania, sailing
Sept. %
Directly after the collision occurred,
Thoues Magee. who found himself close
to the water line gazing through the
rent in the Olympic's side, hailed a
boatman and offered him three soVer-
eigns to be rowed ashore. In explaining
the incident of his leaving the vessel
So hurriedly. he said
Il realized that the Olympic would
be laid up for some time, ana my Wlie
and We're in great hurry TO return
home to see our 3-year-old baby, | OBJ
served rope coiled up by port mole
and throwing it over the ship side
clambered down hand over hand, For
five minutes | hung there until the
boat could reach me. The hoatman
made three attempts to get alongside
before he succeeded and there was
nearly two feet Of water iii the boat.
We had a hard row against the wind
AMI tide to Cowes.
directly / got ashore ] rang up the
White Star office at southampton and
gave them the first tidings of the COLI
sion. They were so astonshed that they
refused ut first to credit my story. 1