Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-13
WERE TWICE TRANSFERRED
First Taken on the Farragut, Then
on the Hamilton.
AID BROUGHT BY WIRELESS
Eight Hours After the Accident Res.
cuing Vessel Appeared-Black
Cat Goes Down With Wreck.

were landed here safely at : O'Clock last
night
The rescue, which followed the ram
ming of the Merida in a heavy fog by
the steamship Admiral Farragut of the
American Mail Steamship line, was con-
sldered remarkable in that while it was
necessary twice to transship the 327 per-
sons. including many women, the best OF
order prevailed and not a life was lost
The Merida soon sank. frightful hole
having been gashed in her side by the
iron stem of the Farragut
The wireless played again a most i'm
pOrtant part in the rescue, summoning
both the battleship Iowa and the Old Do
mlnlon liner Hamilton, the latter Of
which eventually brought the ship
wrecked passengers and crew to land.
Without the wireless there Is some Ques-
ton whether the lives Of any would have
been saved.
Throag Greets Rescued.
When the Hamilton, bearing the res
cued. reached here last night a crowd Of
several thousand was gathered at the
Wharfs. Many of the passengers on
board the Merida were immigrants, and
for that reason Inspector ". r. Morton,
in charge Of the Norfolk immigration Of
flee. and his inspectors were at the docks
to see that none of the aliens were land
ed In violation of the federal laws.
The officers of the Merida and the first
class passengers left for New York via
the Princess Anne Of the Old Dominion
line, which is due there late this after
noon. The other passengers and the
crew Will go north today or tonight. In
the meantime they are being cared for by
the Ward line.
Several hours hafora tho Hamilton mt
in at Old Point yesterday afternoon tele-
grams were sent from there to clothing
and other dealers in Norfolk asking that
representatives be at the pier on the ar
furnishing them with wearing apparel.
Most of them lost all their baggage.
Wireless Apparatus Wrecked.
The Merida had been making splendid
progress on her trip to New York, having
enjoyed good weather and splendid seas.
According to the passengers, the acci-
dent occurred during a dense fog, but
quiet sea- Out of the pail Of mist came
the Farragut. There was no time to
avert the collision. Almost as soon as
the engine room bells had Changed their
signals from the bridge the little Farra-
Backing of. she then stood by
The force of the collision wrecked the
wireless apparatus of both vessels, and
for time 1t seemed that a frightful loss
Of life could not be averted. The fate
Of the Merida was seen from the first.
A jagged hole in her port bow let in tons
of water, and she began to list as soon
as the Admiral Farragut backed away
from her. The Admiral Farragut's port
bow was crumpled up and she began to
Appeals for Help Sent Out.
Wireless Operator Leech of the Farra-
desperately to rig up his aerials and send
out a call for aid. To his assistance
came Benson, the operator of the Merida.
Soon after Benson had been brought
aboard the Farragut the operators had
the wireless working satisfactorily.
Then Leech stabbed the sky with calls
the Hamilton and the Iowa, and they
began wild race for the scene.
The collision occurred at thirty min
utes after midnight, and 1t was not until
. o'clock that the Hamilton got the first
signal. Two hours and a half later the
Iowa heard 1t.
Transfer Of Passengers.
In the meantime the passengers had
been transhipped to the Farragut. After
the crash both ships lowered away their
lifeboats. and when the extent of the
Meridas wound was seen Capt. Robert
son gave the word to abandon ship with
the women and children first
Capt. Nader of the Farragut signaled
to the Merida that his ship could take
vessels were manned for the transfer.
Fortunately the sea was calm. In just
two hours the 327 passengers and crew
of the Merida were safely aboard the
Admiral Farragut.
Three hours later the Merida careened
and then. just fifteen minutes before
his ship plunged to the bottom, Capt
Robertson and five of his crew who had
stayed by him. climbed over the rail into
the last boat and pulled away for the
Farragut. Before he had reached the
deck OF the other ship his own vessel
had disappeared.
Appearance Of the Hamilton.
1t was o'clock in the morning when
the Hamilton appeared on the scene
Then the Admiral Farragut was in a bad
way. Listing heavily to port, she was
kept afioat only by a few watertight bulk
heads. Capt. Boas Of the Hamilton saw
the danger. and volunteered to take
aboard the Merida's passengers and crew.
So the second transfer was made without
accident. While it was going on the
Iowa steamed up and stood by, but was
not needed.
After the last person had been landed
safely upon the Hamilton that vessel
headed for Norfolk and the Farragut put
out for Delaware breakwater.
Black Cat Goes Down.
According to the purser. the only death
that resulted from the accident was that
Of a cat, the mascot Of the ship. No one
thought Of the feline, which had been
aboard the Merida since 1t was first COM
missioned. five years ago. According to
several passengers, as they were leaving
the wreck in lifeboats they saw the black
cat climb on the upper deck.
Farragut Reaches Brooklyn.
NEW YORK, May 13.-'rhe Admiral
Farragut passed Sandy Hook shortly
after IL o'clock and proceeded up to a
Brooklyn dry dock, where she will make
repairs.
Wreck of the Merida Will
Cause Loss of $4,000, 900
NORFOLK. Va. May 1s.-The sinking
Of the steamer Merida early yesterday
off the Virginia capes viii cause q loss
of approximately 100000, according to
an estimate made today by H. e. Cebaud.
general agent Of the owning company,
who arrived here from New Yorl, TODAY