Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-13
Over zoo Passengers and Crew
Safely Transferred Twice.
Farragui Seriously Damaged
and Makes for ShOaI Water.
Battleshlp Iowa Aiding Accident
off the Coast Of Virginia.

Norfolk. Va, May 12.-An accident
at sea which came near being a TRACE
dy and was flied with many thrill
ing narratives Of human rescue and
escapes, occurred # this coast early
today when the Ward Line steamer
Merida bound from Havana, Cuba, fer
New York, with 2IS souls on board,
was rammed hv the fruit steamer Ad-
miral Farragut, bound from Phila-
delphia for Port Antonio, and sank in
81 fathems 80 miles northeast of Cape
Charles. Every person aboard the
Merida was rescued and but one was
seriously injured tie wife Of a. .PeOn,
a land proprietor Of Progresso, Mexico
He and his family were bound for
Paris to await the end Of Mexican
troubles. Mrs. Peen, occupying a
stateroom Immediately next to where
the Farragut STRUCK the Merida, was
hurt probably internally.
New York, May 1.-THE steamer
Merida, Of the Ward Line with 207
passengers from Havana for this city,
was rammed by the steamer Admiral
Earragut off Cape Charles, Va, short
ly after midnight this morning. The
Merida's passengers and crew We're
transferred to the Admiral Earragut.
Water poured through the gaping
wound in the Meridas side and five
hours after the collision the steamship
settled beneath the waves. Wireless
distress signals were flashed in every
direction and the United States bat
tleship Iowa hurried to the Merida's
assistance. The Admiral Farragut was
badly damaged in the collision. She
carried one passenger and a crew OF
so.
The Merida, under the command of
Capt. Robertson, left Vera Cruz on
May 4 and Havana on May 9. The
Admiral Farragut, commanded by
Captain Nader. left Philadelphia for
Port Antonio yesterday morning in
ballast. The collision occurred about
50 miles east of Cape Charles light
ship. The night was dark and it is
thought here that the accident occur
red in a fog bank.
The shock brought the passengers
OF the Merida to the decks. They We're
transferred to the Farragut in life
boats. The Merida's passengers lost
all their baggage and many came
dDpdIu iIit dSuC DiIlS peti tidllN
dressed. \ wireless dispatch stated
that the Merida sank at $50 o'clock
this morning.
The Merida was built in Philadel-
phia in 1906 and has gross tonnage
of 6207 The Admiral Farragut, own
ed by the American Mail Steamship
Co, is now running in the service of
the United Fruit Company between
Philadelphia and Port Antonio. She
has a tonnage of 1900.
The Old Dominion Line steamship
Hamilton came alongside the Admiral
Farragut according to wireless des-
patch received here at 10 o'clock this
morning and took the Merida's pas
sengers and crew off the Farragut.
The Hamilton was expected to arrive
at Norfolk late today.
The Hamilton left New York for
Norfolk yesterday afternoon.
A later wireless message from Capt.
Nader OF the ADMIRAL Farragut stat
ed
"Farragut floating ON fore collision
bulkheads. L. $. s. Iowa and Hamil-
ton coming to our assistance"
The following message from Cap
tain Robertson of the Merida came
TO the United Wireless Company here:
Merida and Admiral Farragut in
collision at 1880 o'clock this morning
All passengers We're trans shipped to
Farragut except captain. first officer
four men. Merida sank at $50 o'clock
in 81 fathoms of water.
THE six men on board went to the
Farragut in a small boat.
THE passengers are now being
trans-shpped again from :he Farra-
gut to the Old Dominion Liner Ham
ilton and will proceed to Norfolk
Robertson"