The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-21
OLYMPIC RAMMED
YCRU|SER HAWKE
e igantic Lin r and Brit
ish w arship in
Collision.
BOTH VESSELS
BADLY DAMAGED
OF More Than 1000 Passengers
and Crews Not One Is Injured,
and There Is No Panic.
Miracle That Olyn-
pic Was Not
Sunk.

southampton, England, Septem Der
2o-The great steamship Olympic. OF
the White Star Line. which left South
ampton shortly before noon to-day
with large crowd OF returning
American tourists. lies tonight on
Calshot Castle, at the entrance 10
Southampton Water. with a gaping
hole in her side. az the result of 4
collision with the British protected
cruiser Hawke. Fortunately no lives
were lost. and OF the 1000 or more
passengers and crew of the vessel not
one was even injured. There also was
no panic.
The accident occurred a few miles
from the spot whore the American
liner st. Paul and the British cruiser
Gladiator collided. nearly four years
ago. and, as in the previous case, the
warship came off second best, SO far
as can be ascertained tonight. The
extent OF the damage to the liner,
however. cannot be decided 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 l1:25 o'clock this morning steam :
Ing at moderate speed eastward on
her way to Cherbourg. to pick up the
continental passengers. She already
had on board nearly LOO persons, ex-
Guiding the crew. The first cabin pas
sengers were just answering the call
10 lunch when attention was attracted
TO the Hawke. which was undergoing
steam trials.
Comes Without Warming.
The warship. moving at great speed,
followed the liner. but apparently was
quite clear of her Suddenly she
swerved in. and before the passengers
could realize what was happening
struck the liner on the starboard
quarter, near the stern. tearing
through a section about forty feet in
extent
The miracle is that the Olympic was
not sunk, as the Hawke Is fitted with
ram specially designed to sink a ves-
sci in spite OF its watertight compart-
ments- The liners frame stood the
shock well, and the watertlght DOORS
which automatically closed. held the
compartments dramatically sealed
The Olympic listed slightly to star
board but not 10 a sufficier4 angle TO
cause any serious alarm, and the off
GERS quickly treasured the passengers
The rent in the Olympic was of such
size. however. that the passengers on
smaller steamer passing at the time
could see right into the interior OF the
vessel
So Tar as can be learned, the Hawke
suffered more severely. cur,ousiy
enough twelve feet of her upper deck
was twisted on, of all recognition
The stem appears to be completely
gone The plating was ripped omen
exposing the forward torpedo tube
and the fore compartment filled with
water.
Both ships crews acted with cool
ness. The engines OF both ships were
stopped Immediately, and as soon as
the watertight doors were secured the
engines were set astern and the YES
sells drew apart
Cruiser Remains Alongside.
The Hawke sent wireless me.s
for tugs and remained alongside an
inner until they arrived to CONVOY her
TO southampton, where she dronned
anchor to await the turn Of the Hda
20 enable her to proceed to her dock
me cruiser proceeded to Portsmouth
under her own steam
me White Star Company disDatcbs5
lenders for the passengers desiring ~
of this vantage
Many theories are advanced a, 10
orally the warship is blamea
1t is suggested that .be
Steering fear failed to act. The naval
o,,cer$ and the officers OF the Olympic
are withholding comment until the In :.
curry, which the admiralty will inet,
tute Immediately. is held.
Record Passenger List.
me Olympic sailed with the larpes.
iist or hrst-class passengers that ever
started across the Atlantic on one
ship. the first cabin passengers mum
Der 742. twentyfour more than her
best previous record Among them
were between twenty and thirty Amer.
lean milllonaires, and something like
s25oooo had been paid in passage
money. All told there were nearly
5000 persons on board
The Olympic. which was launched
October 20, 1910, is the largest passen-
ger vessel afoat Her length over all
In $50 1-2 feet. breadth over all 90 1-e
feet, and she has a number of steel
decks and watertight bulkheads
The Hawke Is protected cruiser,
and was launched at Chatham. Eng
land, in 1891. She is $50 feet long and
hS q 1ar ,a,,t 80