The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-13
vESSELSCOLLIDE
.OURINGDENSE FOG
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The distance from Havana 10 Now York
by tho route taken by tho Ward liners
is Ito miles.
According to the passengers of the
Merida the accident occurred during.
dense fog but quiet sea SIX life
boats were Immediately lowered, and
in addition two life RATS were thrown
out. There seems to have been among
tho Merida passengers fully two score
Mexican refugees. who, fearing tho
present revolution there, were leaving
tho country for the United States or
European points Among these are
said TO have been q Roman Catholic
archbishop on his way TO Rome.
LOSSES Arc Heavy.
Ono woman said that she lost not
only $1,000 IN gold. which she had do
posted with tho Merida's purser in the
ships safe. but nlso half a car load
OF tropical birds which she was I'm
porting The secretary TO the Italian
legation In Mexico lost $500. and there
were many other losses equally as
great The passengers for tho most
part escaped only in the clothing they
were able to get on their backs and
some left but scantily attired.
A.. Peon. the Mexican planter, whose
wife was Injured. escaped with only
his bath robe. He said he was with
his wife. 1--WE children and two maids
on the way to Paris to visit five other
children by former marriage His
wife was so badly hurt that she had
to DO lowered from the Merida In a
chair. and again from the Admiral
Farragut to the steamer Hamilton in
like fashion. Mrs. Peon occupied
berth Immediately where the Farragut
struck tho Merida. AS she was being
borne to local hotel for medical ex-
animation, the husband refusing offers
of hospital service. MIR. Pcon said: she
is very brave woman and Will got
over It. I know"
snvo Only Blankets,
The only things eayed by one party
Of New York women were red blankets
&c Ken from the Merida as they loft her
ns %aa Sss Of ias nsh irons AS
Merida with twenty-five people in her,
davit rope broke and 1t descended at
an angle OF twenty-aye degrees. When
Keep her from sinking had been for
gotten and this had to be waited for.
Women chung 10 the sides to prevent
railing out as the boat swung 1T an
amEie' one boy fell out, but was res
cued' One woman with nm infant
tainted and dropped her child 1t was
picked up by stowardcss. The moth
err unconscious for four hours, had
been moved first TO the ADMIRAL Far
regut and then to the Hamilton be-
fore she revived. Tho woman did not
know where her baby was and neither
Did the stcwardcss caring for the child.
~ u. Guerre. Of Brooklyn, and q Mir.
Jones had TO Jump from the Merida to
q life raft The former was slightly
Tor several hours before rescued.
Frank G. Conklin, an Importer OF 6s
Broad street, New York. said he de-
the action of officers Of the Merida.
He asserted thnt they told tie pas
myers to go back TO their state rooms
when tho ship was in danger OF sink
termaster and first officer took to life
boats, ahead even of women and chill
Gren passengers.
There were brought from the Merida
| 81 first class passengers. &c second
class passengers. % Storage and 1871
HIS fre CIV The erew steerage ana eight
the Old Dominion steamer Princess
Anne for New York;
modatians. and will be given tickets
tomorrow to their respective destina-
Norfolk stores had to be kept open
the Merida's passengers, who we're
without sufficient wearing apparel
when they arrived here.
1 Mascot LIS Lost.
According TO the passenger lists fur
nislied by the purser on board the
Merida and roll call OF the crew Of
he coastwisc steamer. the only death
that resulted from the accident was
that OF cat, the mascot OF the ship
During the accident IT was case Of
saving of human lives. and no one
thought OF the mascot, which had been
aboard the Merida since it was first
commissioned four or five years ago.
According To several passengers MS
they were leaving the vesscliin life
boats, they saw the cat climb upon the
upper deck |
The Merida left Havana last Tuesday
and was due In New York early this
afternoon. The steamer started from
Vera Cruz. where It took on most OF
Its passengers, and made n stop at
Progresso before touching Havana
According To the log, the collision
occurred Just exactly l6S milos north
OF Diamond Shoals, nifty i've miles
northeast OF Cape Charles, 1872 north
latitude and 74.47 north longitude, in
thirty-five fathoms of water.
Captain a. Robertson in charge
stayed on the ship until itteen min
utes before II went to the bottom.
Struggling SorthwRrd,