The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-02-03
MADE EFFORT TO
AVOID COLSLNON
Captain Berry of the Nantucket
Files Report of Disaster.
MONROE WAS GOING FAST.
Says His Own Engines Were Run
ming Full Speed Astern-Impos-
sible to Escape.


Baltimore, Feb. 1.-The steamer
Nantucket, which was In collision
with the steamer Monroe Friday
morning, docked here today. In q
written report to officials OF the Mer-
chants and Mines Transportation
Company, Captain Berry said that in
an endeavor to avoid collision with
the Monroe, the Nantucket's helm was
put hard aport to keep to the right,
but the Monroe proceeded at full
speed and tried to cross the bow OF
the Nantucket. She succeeded in get
ting partly past the Nantucket's stem
when the vessel collided, the Nam
tucket's stem striking the Monroe's
starboard bow forward OF the pilot
house at right angles.
Captain Berry said that while the
Nantucket was on her usual course
fog signals OF vessel, afterward
found to be the Monroe, were report
ed ahead. The fog was lowlying and
at times clearer than other. The fog
signals of the Nantucket were sound
ing at regular intervals. The fog sig
nal OF the Monroe again was heard
and this time on the Nantucket's port
bow. The next whistles heard from
the Monroe we're two blasts which in
dicated that the Monroe was trying to
pass the Nantucket starboard to star
board, CONTRARY to the rule.
The Monroe passed under such
great speed, according to Captain
Berry's report, that the stem of the
Nantucket was bent sharply toward
her starboard side and the Nantucket
slowed around so that her port side
was scraped by the Monroe, crushing
one OF the Nantucket port boats.
The Monroe passed on out of sight
At the time of the collision the Nan
tucket's engines were running at full
speed astern and had been running so
for some time previous to the COL
lision.
Captain Berry's report continues as
follows:
"The Nantucket appeared seriously
injured but was maneuvered to cid In
the work OF rescue, continually using
her searchlight Wireless communi-
cation was established and several yes
sells offered assistance the first to ar
rive being the Hamilton, which con-
voyed the Nantucket to Norfolk.
1.-THE relief squad attending the
passengers was increased by those
who could be spared from attention
to the safety of the Nantucket, and
under careful attention those suffer
ing more from the collision were re-
moved, with the exception OF one
man, who, after great effort, could
not be revived, and also Mrs. Har-
rington, who died after she had been
assigned to a stateroom with her hus-
band and all possible care and atten-
tion given her.
at can be established that the stew
ard, steawardess and chief engineer
worked necessarily in an effort to aid
and revive Mrs. Harrington. There
was no attack made by Mr.. Harring-
ton on any one and there is no foun-
dation for this report. After her
death her body was carried to Nor
folk and wireless instructions were
given in advance to take care OF II.
MANY passengers of the Monroe,
received on board the Nantucket,
would have died had they not been
resusciated by the vigorous, prompt
and successful work OF those assigned
to that duty. The reported statement
indicating that one OF the Nantucket's g
boats had a plug out and was not
equipped with life preservers, is prov
en- unture by the fact that the Nan
tucket's boats returned with all the
people they could find"
Norfolk, Va, Feb There reven-
ue cutter Onodaga at 8 o'clock this
morning located the Old Dominion
steamer Monroe which was sunk In
collision with the Merchants and Mi
ners steamer Nantucket Friday morn
ing.
The steamer lies sunk "a miles
southwest, one quarter south of Win
ter Quarter ightship almost in the
exact spot where the collision oc-
Cured. Fifteen feet of her mast is
visible above the water. 4 red light
was placed on the mast tonight TO
warn passing vessels of danger.
The wrecking tug /. j. Merritt is
standing by the spot where the ship
went down. She has two divers on
board who will make an effort TO go
down to the sunken steamer tomor-
row. wheather permitting.
K. Il. Palen, assistant general man
ager OF the Old Domnon Steamship
Company, said today that every effort
would be made to recover the bodies
believed to be on the steamer He
said the vessel would probably be
blown up.
Takes Place of Cullom.