New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-07
The Columbia Here Safely After
Smash. with Fears fer cn
Unknown Vessel.
WARNED RY THE WIRELESS
Five Hurt or Anchor Liner IS
She Plunged Bow IL Feet Into
Ice Hidden by Fog, but
Panic Was Averted.

| Cood scamanship were reasons the pas
sengers gave for the safe Homecoming
yesterday of the Anchor liner Columbia.
The wireless told three DAYS ago how
she hit an iceberg on "Wednesday when
northeast OF Cape Race. but tho brief
message that came out of the air was
| rot even a mere suggestion OF the close
call the Columbia had when she hit tho
ice mountain in the fog Of Wednesday
| evening.
Nor did il tell Of another steamer tho
! identity Of which has not been disclosed.
which the Couu bia saw heading for the
same iceberg ana disappear after failing
10 answer or apparently heed tho Colum-
| bias warning Of danger some Of those
on the Columbia said last night IL looked
to them as if the stranger ran into the
mountain Of ice and sank.
Captain George Mitchell a grizzlcd
/ Scotch mariner Of some sixty Years Who
| has been master for twenty. Was IN
/ q large measure responsible for the safe
return Of tho Columbia from the 500.
! He was on tho bridge when she hit the
| berg, and TO his seamanship before the
collision. during the collision and after
the collision may be credited tho fact
that the Columbia with all hands on
board is not at the bottom of the NJ
| lautic.
on the afternoon OF Wednesday about
| 3 O'Clock the Columbia encountered foe.
the chilling sort that radiatcs from ice
bergs. and practically every one on
board knew that the liner was running
close 10 ice As soon as the Columbia
poked her nose into the mist Captain
Mitchell went up on the bridge
About $50 .. m. the fog got thicker
and the air colder. Captain Mitchell
some three hours before had cut hts
speed down from fifteen knots to eight.
He sounded his fog signal at the regu-
lar intervals and proceeded carefully
knowing he was close TO Ice.
Report Steamer Ahead.
Thomas Murray, the lookout on the
forecastle head. reported 10 the bridge.
as did the man in the crows nest, that
n steamship was most likely dead ahead.
as they could see at times through tn
fog patches a wake such as was MADE
by a steamship.
on learning this Captain Mitchell cut
the liner down knot or two more, ana
kept close watch for the vessel ahead
Suddenly after he had blown a long
blast on his whistle. he heard what he
thought was the reply Of steamship on
his starboard bow He sounded again,
and she replied again. He was confident
there was a liner 10 the northwest.
The veteran Of the sea was deceived.
The blast he heard was the echo OF ms
own whistle hurled back Al him by tho
big berg dead ahead. The dangerous
ice was in a dense fog cushion that hid
il completely from view. and the Colum-
bia was doomed TO hit il. The Iceberg
was drifting in the direction for which
the Columbia was heading, and escape
from collision was impossible
When the echo Of his siren came back
to him Captain Mitchell came TO dead
il was too late. Carried by the impetus
of his previous speed, he hit the great
wall of ice a terrific blow. driving ms
how twelve feet into its green SIDES
Everything movable on board the snip
plunged forward.
Passengers tottered; some Of them
fell. The men on the bridge we're forced
against the rail. and all except thosf
WHO saw tons of green ice fallins Ike
an avalanche on the bow believed thi
Columbia had hit another liner.
The blow drove the Columbia back
and as her engines were already reyers-
ing she soon cleared the dreaded lcs
monster. the menace Of the transatlantic
lanes.
Crushed Ice Buries Lookout
Murray. the lookout, could not be seen.
The man in the crows nest thought MS
manCled form had been gorged into the
iceberg. but his guess was wrong. Aur-
raw was on the forepeak, on top Vt
,uis,ed steel and anchor chain and
buried under some three feet OF crushed
ice
The sea was like a sheet Of glass. ana
as the Columbia backed of the subdue'
clamor Of the passengers was heard on
tho bridge. Captain Mitchell sent an
officer below 10 assure them all was
well. although at that time he did not
know how badly his vessel had been hit
The passengers. who had about nm
ished eating dinner, left their ice cream
such of IL as had not been hurled 10 the
Aoor and in various groups came up
on deck 10 see the ship that had MI
them A man in the dining saloon
r,oment after the reverberations OF the
crash died away shouted the one Woru'
"Icer but somehow the pdssehsVrS
failed TO grasp his meaning.
! The passengers declared there was no
manic. Those facing the stern had their
/ laps filed with broken dishes ana taple-
rare Those who sat facing the bow
stared AZ the empty tables. one OF the
stewards. walking forward with tray
~ dishes, was thrown against post
and stunned. His head was badly cut
and he was removed to t'ie ships nos
rital
The majority OF the passengers were
frightened, but there was no hysteria'
no shouting. no rushing. Pale faces
were plentiful and a sort OF groan IN
unison Was heard but that was all.
lanes Nelson, an importer of this city.
sang a Scotch song and laughed loudly,
| IA hi. hah a soothing effect ON thnSe