The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-07
ALMIRANTE IS
SUNK IN CRASH
WITH NAVY SHIP
Fruit Liner Rammed by
Supply Vessel Hisco in Fog
Off Atlantic City.
FIVE OF CREW KILLED
Survivors Are Saved by the
Hisco After Collision
Many Jump Into Sea.

The AlnIrante. 300 tons, tho first of
the important White Fleet OF the United
States Fruit Company to take her place
In the fruit carrying and passenger
trade. was rammed and sunk early yes
terday by the naval supply ship Hisco.
The collision took place nine miles south
east Of the Absecon light. Atlantic City.
Five members Of the crew Of the fruit
liner lost their lives Their bodies were
recovered and they are now on board the
Hisco. which also has the survivors and
IL headed for New York city.
1t was in a dense fog and with a
heavy sea rolling that the supply ship
hit the Queen Of the White Fleet. and
INTO the stormy waters many of the
crew and passengers Of tho Almirante
plunged at the first impact without wait
Ing for boats. There had been a heavy
gale. shading Off to light sea blow
and then rising again, for a number of
days, and the action Of the new moon,
which sways tides and holds watch over
the seas. dashed the sea again to fury
yesterday morning.
sand Fills seabriEht Avenue.
in the Seabright region, the waters had
come through, and during the preceding
night local fishermen and coast guards
had worked in vain to erect temporary
abutments. They proved hut mere toys
FOR the sea, and at Seabright sand was
piled two feet deep in Ocean avenue for
distance Of 1000 feet, effectually bar
ring the passage OF automobiles and
such other lubber craft as came that
way. Mist sprayed sightseers came to
watch the playful havoc that the waves
brought.
Through such a sea as this the Queen
OF the White Fleet was cutting her
southward way. She left New York
Thursday for West Indian and Central
American ports. Capt. Farqyhar Grant
was In command. and seven passengers
swelled the ships company. Capt. Grant
had no fears for his craft. She had
weathered worse storms before.
And her place In the White Fleet was
commanding. She had come in 1903
fresh and dazzling in her Wilderness from
the yards Of Workman & Clarke at Bel
fast. Ireland. Her length was 37S feet.
she boasted SO feet OF beam and her
depth was 20 feet Before her time the
fruiters had been Of sombre aspect, and
she set the fashion in dress and be-
havior for the members OF the fleet ex-
listing and to follow. They became
known collectively as The White Fleet
No passenger ship had been operated
previously by the company. Not only
was that her distinction. but she held a
sea record for service. When +. w.
Vanderbilt's yacht the Warrior was
helpless on the rocks at the mouth of
the Colombian Magdelena River Il was
the Almirante which came to the rescue,
Among the rescued guests of the million
aire yacht owner was Harry Payne
Whitney.
Coast Guards Go to Scene.
Such was the Queen ship in all Of her
f1neness of build and performance when
she came cautiously through the fog Off
the Atlantic City Light Just before
dawn the Hisco signalled for aid and
Capt. John Holdskon and the Atlantic
City crew put out In their power boat.
There already had come reports that a
passenger liner had gone aground in the
fog. Incoming yachts and fishing craft
that had put out behind the coast guards
soon came back with the real facts.
They found. when the Governments
fast power boat came to the scene. but a
floating islet Of oil to represent the
Queen Of the White Fleet, with the Hisco
standing by while her boats worked care
fully over the swelling waters in quest
At 10 o'clock the Hisco proceeded up
the coast with the dead and the sur
vivors, leaving the coast guard to con-
tinue the search for any that might
have been missed. For hours the
Hisco's boats had been working. In
many instances there were desperate
fights in the sea to save the survi, ors,
many of whom jumped overheard at
the first alarm. AS they came from
the hunks below decks the crew seized
life belts and hastily strapped them on.
They had small time, for in an in
credibly short space the liner raised her
stern and went headlong into the sea.
Collision IL Head On.
The survivors said the collision came
head on. So sudden was the impact and
30 rough the seas that it was mpos-
sible to make temporary repairs to save
the liner Boats were hurriediy lowered.
The majority OF the company waited
to be lowered in safety.
AS the boats took their places in the
water the powerful lights OF the Hisco
were played upon them. Tho search
lights located the survivors with busy
beams and the small boats from the
Hisco followed the arms of light to the
badly frightened occupants of the Al
mirante's boats. There were wild rides
taken in the light boats before the
Hisco finally opened her hospitable arms
to receive her neighbors.
The Atlantic City coast guard picked
up one dead body and placed It on the
Hisco. 1t was that OF man who had
strapped on his life belt and had been
kept afioat. But the heavy waves were
too much for him and he had died while
waiting for a rescuing hand.
Fishing smacks and yachts picked up
tons OF canned goods that came to the
curface after the wash OF the current
opened the seams of the sunken liner.
on the boardwalk at Atlantic City
crowds stood all day, seeking to peer
through the curtain of foa. a nd mist thai