Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-13
Liner MERIDA !,
SINKS AT SEA,
207 ARE SAVED
Boat Is Rammed by Steamer
Admiral Farragut, Which
Has Trouble After Saving
Other Boats Passengers.

New York, May 12.-The steamship
Merida of the Ward line, with 2O7 pas
sengers from Havana for this city, was
rammed by the steamer Admiral Farra
gut from Philadelphia for Port Antonio,
off Cape Charles, shortly after mid
night The Merida's passengers and
crew were transferred to the Admiral
Farragut. Water poured through the
gaping break in the Merida's side and
five hours after the collision the steam
ship settled beneath the waves.
Wireless distress signals were
flashed, in every direction and the
United States battleship Iowa hurried
to the Merida's assistance. The Old
Dominion line steamship Hamilton
came alongside the Admiral Farragut,
according to wireless dispatch re-
ceived here at 10 o'clock this morning,
and took the Merida's passengers and
crew of the Farragut. The Hamilton
will arrive at Norfolk late today.
Whether the Admiral Farragut then
returned to Philadelphia or proceeded
on her course to Port Antonio is not
known.
The Hamilton left New York for Nor
folk yesterday afternoon. The Merida.
under the command OF Captain Robert
son, left Vera Cruz on May 1, and Ha-
vana on May 8. The Admiral Farragut,
commanded by Captain Nader, left
Philadelphia for Port Antonio yester.
day.
About -2::30 o'clock this morning.
about 55 miles easht of Cape Charles
light ship, the Admiral Farragut
crashed into the Merida. An examina-
ton of the Merida showed that she
was taking water fast The transfer of
passengers to the Farragut was af-
fected in life boats. A wireless dispatch
stated that the Merida sank at $3.50
o'clock this morning ~ 80. ].
ss The Merida was built III Philadel-
6207. The Admiral Farragut. owned by
the American Mail Steamship Co., Is
in the service of the United Fruit Co,
between Philadelphia and Port An
tonic. The Admiral Farragut has q
tonnage Of 1900.
"A later wireless message from Capt.
Nader of the Admiral Farragut stated:
"Farragut floating on fore collision
bulkheads. U. S. s. Iowa and Hamilton
coming to our assistance"
This wireless message led to the be-
lief that the Farragut had been dam
aged, possibly seriously, In the col
lision with the Merida.
Iowa Rushes to Aid Boats.
Washington, D. c., May 12-Wireless
from Commander B. F..
Hutchinson OF the. battleship Iowa re-
ceived this morning direct at the Wash
ington navy yard and also from the
yard at Norfolk, Va, stated that he
was rushing the big battleship at full
speed toward the scene Of the col
lision Commander Hutchinson said his
wireless operators had picked up the
wireless signals for assistance sent
from the Merida and the Admiral Far
ragut when the Iowa was 55 miles
northeast of Cape Charles.
AS soon as word Of the collision
reached the navy department orders
we're rushed to Norfolk instructing the
torpedo boat destroyers Bailey and
to hasten to the scene and
render all possible assistance.
Few Americans on Boat
Havana, May 12-The only Ameri-
cans on the passenger list of Ward line
steamer Merida which sailed from
here Tuesday for New York and Is
in collision with Admiral Far
ragut this morning, are Philip Lynch,
Robert Wright, Mrs. Wright. Anna
Wright and William White, the latter
a Canadian.