The Oskaloosa herald., 1912-07-11
1000 IMPER|LED
IN CRASH At SEA
Steamer Commonwealth Rams
BattIeship New Hampshire.
PANIC ALLAYED BY OFFICERS
None Killed or injured-crew Of War
Craft Shows Perfect Discipline
When "Coiiision Drill" Signal
Is Sounded.

Newport, R. L, July 8.-In a dense
fog the steamer Commonwealth Of the
Fall River line, while proceeding to
Fall River from New York with 1000
passengers on. board, rammed the
United States battleship New Hamp-
shire, tearing away the latter's stern
and crushing her own bow.
The crash brought the passengers
of the Commonwealth out Of their cab
lns In alarm, and there was momentary
danger Of panic, but the officers al
layed the fears and the excitement
was soon over.
Captain Oliver Of the New Hamp-
shire sent a wireless to the Common
wealth asking II assistance was need
ed The crew of the New Hampshire
were at their boats ready for i1nmedt-
ate rescue duty, but the Common
wealth replied: mo, thanks; no as
sistance required" and to the delight
of the passengers and the navy men
the Commonwealth proceeded back 10
Newport under her own steam.
s. o. s. Signal Given.
The watertght compartments had
undoubtedly saved terrible catastro,
phe on the Commonwealth. Wireless
Operator Whitehead Of the Common
wealth used his head well as the big
steamer struck the battleship, by send
ing out the s. o. s. distress signal
which was picked up by the battle
ships Florida, Louisiana, Kansas and
owa, twenty destroyers, the cruisers
Panther, San Francisco, Montgomery
and other warships and the torpedo
station, all of which were ready in &
moment to rush to the assistance o.
the Commemorative passengers.
The happiest chapter of the acciden
Is that not a life was lost nor wa:
| anyone injured.
A special train took the east-bounC
| passengers to Fall River and Boston.
The New Hampshire was anchored
in her proper position of the training
station. and fog bell signals wer'
sounded regularly on the battleshil
| Turing the night. Lieut. Harry Camp
bell, officer of the deck, soon afte
daylight suddenly caught glimpse o
he Commonwealth coming bow on to
wards the New Hampshire's stern.
Prepare for Crash.
Realizing that collision was hmm
nent Lieut.. Campbell quickly sounde,
the collision drilP' signal, the bulb
head doors On the battleship CLOSING
simultaneously with the signal. Tn
doors had barely swung to when tn
big liner hit the battleship with re
sounding crash. The collision sigma
had reused the entire crew and off
GERS, and all hands were bounding o.
deck in scant attire as the giant foul
decker met the battleship. Every maj
| took his position instantly and all off
GERS were at their station in less thai
half minute after the collision. Tn
discipline was perfect.
Lifebcats Were Quickly Manned.
Quickly the lifeboats and launche
were manned and all stood ready
But Captain Oliver of the New Hamr
shire first used the wireless to tn
Commonwealth, and on being assure,
that help was not needed, the boat
were stored and an investigation Q
the damage done was begun.
The New Hampshire will go at ono
to the Brooklyn navy yard for repairs
t is estimated that 1t will require tw
months to make her seaworthy again
The Commonwealth will be laid u
some time. It is thought, for repairs
Two Other Ships Collide.
At about the same hour that tn
liner Commonwealth rammed the BAT
tieship New Hampshire, the steam
hips Bunker Hill and the Massachu
etts, both of the Metropolitan Steam
-hip' company's line, came into coll
sion at the entrance to the sound
Nobody was injured. but there wa
great excitement among the 200 pas
sengers on board the Massachusett
for a time.
Captain Colberth and his crey
quickly restored order and assured tn
passengers that there was no dan
ger.
A similar scene was enacted aboar,
the Bunker Hill, although the Bunke
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