New-York tribune., 1922-12-15
Liners, Blinded
BySnOwstorm,
Crash in Bay
Hamilton, of Old Dominion,
Inbound, and Mexico, of
Ward Line, for Havana,
Collide; Passengers Quiet
DamageAbovcwater Line
Sight Each Other When 500
Feet Apart, but Current at
Flood Carries Them Afoul

Proceeding cautiously up the Bay
through the heavy snowfall. the steam
,hip Hamilton. Of the Old Dominion
Transportation Company. completing
a tyip from Norfolk with thirty-hve
passengers, eollided yesterday nfter-
noon with the Mexico, OF the Ward
Line. outward bound for Havana with
seventy-fve cabin and sixty Chinese
steerage passengers. Both vessels
were damaged on sheir port sides and
bows. but no alarm was oeeasioned
among the passengers.
Immediately after the accident the
Mexico dropped anchor of the Statue
Of Liberty, where she remained during
the night, and although the extent
Of the damage to the liner had not
been determined last night II was
said that she will dock this morning
at Pier u, East River. and transfer
her Havana passengers 20 the Siboney'
which will sail tomorrow. The others
booked for Mexican ports will leave
next Thursday. The Hamilton pro
ceeded 20 her dock, foot Of Desoro'ses
Street, following the collision.
Ships Moving Slowly
Captain Peter Nelson Of the HAnil-
ton said he was coming up tho harbor
very slowly, and wnen ne reached
Governors Island he suddenly sighted
the Mexico looming up on MS STAT
board bow. Both vessels gave thrce
blasts and went full speed astern- Az
though they we're about 500 feet opart
tho captain declared, the strong nooa
tide carried the Mexico across his ooT,
In endeavoring 20 maneuyer his yessel
against tho current he WAS carried 70
port, striking the Ward liner giane-
inc blow. When he saw that the dam
age 20 the Mexico was above the water
line he proceeded to his pier.
There was an indentation OF about
three feet on the Hamilton's bow and
her plates on the port side just below
the forecastls railing were stove IN
for about twenty feet. Captain Nelson
saId he encountered a binding snow
storm off BarneRat yesterday morning
which made navigation extremely diff
cult up the coast and through the hsr-
Dor. His vessel was several hours
late.
Both WIN Drydoek
Alfred G. Smith, general manager Of
the Ward Line, dispatched q tug TO
the Mexico late yesterday afternoon
with c. G. OAkes, marine superintend-
ent, aboard, and shortly after received
a radio stating that every one Ia COM
Portable and happy" Later Captain
Oakes reported that the steel plates
on the port side Of the Mexico are con-
siderable distance above the water
lined had been torn nway for n dis
tance Of forty feet and the steel
frames we're bent and twisted. Both
vessels, IL Is expected, Will be dry
docked here for repairs.
Among the passengers on the Mex
leo were l.. Lanos, Argentine Minister
10 Cuba and his wife, Mrs G. Gilligan,
Of Flushing, L. l.; Robert Simon, Of
New York City; Mrs. ]. NJ. Winslow,
Of Long Island; Mrs. r. b. Shipman,
Of Greenwich, Conn; Mrs. II. SchWerin,
Of Brooklyn, and II. II. Dennis and ".
L. Cummings, Of this city.
The Mexico, which carries a crew Of
128 officers and men, is a vessel Of
S.s26 gross tons, 400 feet long. 50-foot
beam and wEs built in the Cramp
Shipyards, Philadelphia. in 1908. She
was bound for Havana, Vera Cru1 and
Tampico. She is in command Of Cap
tain 4. r. Jones.
The Hamilton is a vessel Of 2,34o
gross tons, 300 feet long, was built in
Chester, Pa, and has crew Of sixty
FIVE men. Both we're in transport serv.
lee during the war.