New-York tribune., 1911-09-21
r. he Assnclates Press.

Bs -he Associated Press
southampton, England Sept. 20.-The
great steamship olympic, of the White
star Line. which left Southampton
shortly before noon to-day with a great
crowd Of returning American tourists,
lies of Calshot Castle, at the entrance to
southampton Water. tonight with a
gaping hole in her side, as the result Of a
collision with the British protected
cruiser Hawke. Fortunately, no lives
were lost. and Of the two thousand or
more passengers and crews Of the yes
sells not one was even injured.
The accident occurred a few miles
from the spot where the American liner
s. Pau and the British cruiser Gladia-
Tor We're IN collision nearly four years
ago and. as in the previous case. the
varship came off second best, SO far as
can be ascertained tonight The ex-
tent of the damage TO the liner. however
canno, be decided until She is docked and
an examination is made Cf the rent
which the cruisers ram cut in her side
The olympic. under command Of Cap
tain 2 j. smith. left her dock promptly
at ll.-5 O. M. steaming at 4 moderate
speed eastward on her way 20 Cher
b0urg 90 pick UP the Continental pas
sengers She already had on board
rfarlr LOO persons. excluding the crew,
these being composed Of GO in the first
cabin. 4GO in the second and $50 in the
third The first cabin passengers were
just answering the call % luncheon
when attention was attracted 20 the
Hawke. which. after being overhauled
a. Portsmouth. was undergoing steam
trials
Warship Follows the Liner.
The uarsh.p. moving at great speed,
followed The liner but apparently was
quite clear Jt her. Suddenly she
sweryed iu and before the passengers
could realize what was happening the
cruiser struck the liner in the starboard
quarter near the stern, tearing through
section about forty feet in extent. The
miracle is that the olympic was not
sunk, as the Hawke is fitted with
ram specially designed 20 sink a vessel
ln spite of its water tight compartments.
The liners frame stood the shock we'll
and tho water tight doors, which auto
maticaIIy closed. held the compartments
bermeicauy sealed.
The olympic listed slightly TO star
board, bgt not 10 u sufficient angle TO
cause any serious alarm, and the ofh-
'Is quickly reassured the more nervous
passengers. The rent in the olympic
was OF such a size, however that the
ldsseng RS On smaller steamer pass
Ing az ,ne time could see right into the
interior Oi the vessel
81 far as can bc learned the HAWKE
suffered more severely. CurlOusly
enough twelve feet Of her upper deck
was twisted out Of all recognition. The
stem appears 10 be completely gone.
The plating was ripped open, exposing
lhe forward torpedo tube. and the fore
impairment filed with water. Both
shJs crews acted with cOOlness, and
even among the passengers Of the
osmtic there was no panic. he en-
snes Of both ships were stopped immedi-
eIeIE and as soon as the Watertight
'Oors were secured the engines were set
e-iern and the vessels drew apart.
Ty,s so.,o,.d ~ w,r.l.ss
o..
to. ''' -
e4 ana remained alongside the HHei
Until they arrived 10 convoy her 20
Soutbsr,..,.. -. -. sro,re5
',o" "''''' "H'ie 9N0 U'
enable bc- -. - - h.. dock The
proceeded 70 Portsmou'H uiu7i
The White Star coc-rapy dispatched
tenders for the passengers desiring to