The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1911-05-13

lision bulkhoad
The next message from the foggy sea
told Of the sinking at s:5j A. NJ. of the
Merida
The Farrsgut's skipper. Capt A Nader,
reported to the Hamilton that his ship
had teen sorely wounded and that he
could not safely carry tho passeng gers
70 port After the Hamilton got 20 the Ad-
miral Farragut tho battleship Iowa came
alongside She had heard the Farraguts
call for assistance and had turned from
her course from Philadelphia to Annapolis
and had gone TO the Farragut, Ho- com
manding officer Commander Beniamin
F. Hutchinson. lowered boats "a only
Yankee man % -warsman can and the men
OF Uncle Sam 'sbig ship helped TO transfer
the Merida passengers. officers and crew
TO the Hamilton Tho sea was calm and
the transfer was unattended with accident.
Tho Hainilton's passengers cheered the
work Of tho sailors and the Hamilton's
own men, who also put out bort.
The Hamilton arrived in Norfolk at
7so o'clock last night and hcr skipper got
on the lines long distance phone and gave
some additional details Of the rescue to
Supt Leyland Capt. Boaz said he had
reached the Farragut AZ $40 o'clock
She is a little ship and was much over
crowded.
The Ward Lines gents AT Norfolk gave
the passengers and crew the choice Of
coming to this city by the Princess Anne.
which left Norfolk at 8 o'clock last night
or staying over night in hotels and taking
an early morning train to- New York.
Only small part of the passengers da-
cided TO take ship. not having recovered
from the shaking up and fright of the
collision. Only thirtyfour first class
passengers and twenty-five second class
boarded the Princess Anne. which is due
at her pier at the foot of Beach street
about 3 o'clock this afternoon Nearly all
the Merda's crew. 100 men. are also
aboard the Princess Anne.
None of the wireless messa ges went
into details of the collision. All agreed
that the fog was very thick and that both
ships we're cropping on their respective
courses. the Admiral Farragut. which il
under charter to the United Fruit Com
pany, steering for Port Antonio. Jamaica,
and the Merida heading for this port
The question OF blame must await the re-
ports of Capt Nader and Capt. Robertson
All reports agree in saying that the bow
Of the Farra gut ploughed a hole in the
side of the Merida big enough to run a
small tug through and that the cash GA
tended far below the water line.
Mattresses were forced into the rent
and we're effective for time in keeping
out the Atlantic The Farragut had not
backed from the wound Immediately
after inflicting it. as she was not sure that
she might not take a tumble TO Davy
Jones.
1t was seen after the Farragut with
drew from the side of the Ward liner
that the latter would be able to float
only few hours at the limit and the
ifeboa,s were swung out and all hands
made ready to abandon ship.
The Farragut's stem had been smashed
and her anchors carried away. She
was floating on her collision bulkhead
Pending the arrival of the Hamilton and
the battleship Iowa it was decided 10
put all hands aboard the crippled Far
ragut. whose skipper reported that his
ship was not mortally hurt.
The transfer was made in the boats OF
: both liners.
hOOut uNe TuiIutcS oitNt SdPts ASoDCi y
son and four Of his officers left the Merids
in the last lifeboat she plunged to the
bottom Of the sea.
The Iowa was about thirty miles from
the scene Of the collision when her com
mander caught the wireless call and he
reported TO the Navy Department that al
passengers and United States mails were
safe and had been transferred to the
Hamilton. and that at the request Of the
captain of the Admiral Farra9ut | an
now conveying her to Winter Quarter
Shoal." The commander said by wireless
that he had been unable to obtain de-
tails OF the collision, The torpedo boats
Stringham and Bailey We're sent out
from Norfolk to assist the Merida. but
arrived after the transfer had been MADE
TO the Hamilton.
While the Hamilton was proceeding
to Norfolk Capt. Nader and his crew wer.
working on the collision bulkhead OF tn,
Admiral Farragut. Strengthening II with
shores and cement. He sent this wire
less message at i2s j. NJ to Presiden
r. 4. c. Smith of the American Mai
Steamship Company
Am proceeding at five knots per hou
for shallow water conveyed by the UniteC
States steamship Iowa II wind and sea
toward New YORK. keeping stern seas
Cannot use anchors Too thick TO attemp
to got into Chesapeake. Ship perfectl,
tight Have collision bulkhead re
enforced
Later this message came from Capt
Nader.
-One hundred and fifty miles iron
Sandy Hook at 5 p, NJ. making abou
six knots an hour Bound for New York
Should be there about p. NJ to-morroy
il present weather conditions continue
SHIP not leaking"
II was said at the Office Of the War,
Line that the Merida carried a genera
cargo. including a large quantity o
the Ward Line making the run betweel
this port and Havana in less than thre
days and averaging at top speed abou
nineteen knots. She was twin screw
measured 8207 tons gross. was 400 fee
long and was built by the Cramps in l9O
at cost OF about half million dollars
Following is the passenger list of tn
Merida:
yloA PRooREso. Eager Hugo
Albeit g Fernandez. Mrs. r,
AgutlA Mrs Maria ID. Flsle. Mrs Mabel
S be Buh Mrs julia O. Fsks Miss MISS fssr Madeline
and child: French. Nj. and Mrs
Buhl. Miss y. and child.
cSmsrs. E " French French Miss Ma: Elsa fiiisa'0''
Font, R, Ponce. French Leonard
LizAryaga, r. Fuentes, jose De Ia
LtzSrraga, ". Gonzalez Medina, Mr.
OItega, {. and Mrs I.
Rosado Mrs r. Greenwood. Gtyon
rsoM uAvASA Tusoars,iss