The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1912-07-12
four VESSELS
in COLLISION
Two Liners Collide and Another
Rams BdttI0Shlp
FORTUNATELY NO LIVES LOST

| UUt UNH LII VU kIELO LUZ
Steamer Commonwealth Rams Battle
ship New ampshire-Bunker Hill
and Commonwealth Collide OFF Point
Judith-First Liner Puts In at New
port-other Two Make New York
and Boston
Boston, July 8.-Fog early yester-
day morning was responsible for two
serious collisions, in which three OF
the largest and most modern passen-
ger liners plying New England waters
were put out of commission and panic
and loss of life averted only by the
excellent discipline of the crews in
volved and the GOODNESS of the Off
GERS.
In Newport harbor the Fall River
liner Commonwealth, Captain APPLE
by, with nearly 1000 passengers
aboard, about A 80 rammed the Unit
ed States battleship New Hampshire,
Captain Oliver, and both vessels were
badly damaged, the war vessel being
saved by the stout armor plate.
The Metropolitan line steel steamer
Massachusetts,, Captain Colberth,
bound from Boston to New York,
rammed her sister steamer, the Bunk
er Hill, Captain Halves, off Point
Judith. at 1880 a. m. and tore a hole
eighteen feet high and fifty feet wide
in her upper works. The Massachu-
sets bow was stove in and she pro-
.ceeded to New York leaking badly.
Misunderstood signals are given as
the cause.
Passengers on the Bunker Hill were
thrown from their berths and inclined
to be panicky, but their fears were
quieted and the vessel continued to
Boston.
The prov of the Commonwealth
crashed into the battleship's stern,
cutting into her body above the pro-
tective deck. The stem of the Com
monwealth went through the after
compartments of the gun and berth
decks, completely wrecking them.
The captains after cabin and the
blower room beneath it were also
Bplintered and shattered to bits.
The light bulkheads in the after
compartments were torn away. All
this was found out, of course. after
the divers had had a chance to get
down and see the extent of the dam
age.
Quick action by the officers and
men on board the Commonwealth
saved a panic, and all were assured
that there was no danger. and that
within a few moments all would be
landed in Newport.
Upon arrival at Newport the dam
age to the Commonwealth was found |
to be rather more extensive than was
at first thought 1t was found that a |
hole eight feet, or more, long was
stove in her starboard side. near the |
prov. The guard rail was pulled |
away, and the bow fiagpole was tilted |
to starboard. It was found also that |
the steel hull of the big ship was
denied and torn, the bow fender was
turned, and the steel plates below the
water line were crumpled and crushed
like paper.
The sheathing of the starboard top
sides of the Bunker hill were ripped
off from a point just aft of midships |
for fifty feet, laying bare the chief
stateroom, the barber shop |
and main dining hall. The steel plates
were crumpled up like paper.
Passengers on both steamers were
panic stricken Women rushed about
the decks, scantily clad. and life
were donned.
The officers succeeded in bringing
about order in a short time and both
vessels proceeded on their respective
courses, the Massachusetts TO New
York and the Bunker Hill to Boston.
A large number of the 200 passen-
gers on the Bunker Hill, many OF
whom are from Boston, afterwards
signed a testimonial recognizing the
effective work of Captain T. Edward
Halves and the officers of that vessel.