Evening star., 1929-12-19
81 SAVED AS L|NER|
SINKS AFTER CRASH
Fort Victoria Is Rammed by
Algonquin Outside of
New York Harbor.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, December 19.-Rescued
when their ship was rammed and sunk
at the fog-hidden entrance Of New York
Bay, 206 passengers of the Furness-
Bermuda steamship Fort Victoria were
safe ashore today. Including the crew,
371 persons were saved without loss of
life or injury.
The Fort Victoria was rammed amid
ships by the Clyde liner Algonquin at
pm. yesterday as the Bermuda-bound
ship stopped of Ambrose Lightship to
drop her pilot. The Algonquin was out
ward bound for Miami and Galveston
with 189 passengers.
The pilot boats Sandy Hook and New
Yorker, the first vessels to respond to
the o S signals Of the two ships, pick
ed up the lifeboats of the Fort Victoria,
with her passengers and most of her
crew of 165.
Captain Rescued by Tug.
Capt. A. r. Francis and IL of his
crew remained aboard the Fort Victoria
until she sank at 1880 pm. They were
rescued by one Of the tugs which were
trying to keep her afloat.
OF the passengers, who lost all their
baggage with the sinking of the ship,
la were landed at Stapleton, Staten
Island, by the pilot boat Sandy Hook
and transferred by ferry to Manhattan.
Tugs landed the others at the North
River pier of the Furness-B Bermuda Line.
The steamship company obtained hotel
accommodations for the passengers.
The Algonquin, with her bows stove
in, but not dangerously damaged, an
chored near the scene Of the collision
to wait for the fog to thin before re-
turning to her pier today. Her pas
sengers remained aboard.
Despite the thick fog which had hung
over the harbor all week, the Fort VIC
toria left her pier on schedule at IL
m, with her fog siren sounding. She
crept down the bay at reduced speed,
feeling her way.
Hole Torn in Port Side.
Most of the passengers were below
decks when the engines were stopped
just outside the lower bay to permit
the pilot to go over the side. This was
IL miles from Manhattan.
Without warning the black bow OF
the Algonquin Glove the fog and slash
ed through the plates Of the Fort Vic
toria just forward of amidship, tearing
gaping hole in her port side.
The ship rapidly developed a list, as
and flooded the fire and engine rooms,
stopping the generators. An emergency
dynamo was started to furnish power
for the radio and a few lights.
Capt. ]. w. Mackenzie of the Algon-
uuin ascertaining that his ship was in
no danger, stood by, joining his S Q
calls to those Of the Fort Victoria. The
Algonquin, being a coastwise boat, had
no special pilot, as required for the Fort
Victoria in the bay.
No Panic or Confusion,
Passengers upon landing said there
was no panic or confusion, although
many were badly frightened when or
dered to don life preservers and go to
their boat stations. The Fort Victoria
carried IL boats, but one was stove IN
by the crash.
The passengers praised the conduct
of the officers and crew, saying that
they appeared to know just what to do
and went about the task OF abandon
ing ship calmly. The rule of women and
children first was strictly observed IN
filling the boats.
After the passengers and crew were
of, the Algonquin was lashed to one
side of the Fort Victoria and four SAL
wage tugs to the other in an effort to
tow her to a drydock or into shallow
water, but the stricken vessel continued
to list to Starboard and finally went
down.
Valued at $1,5OO,00O.
The Fort Victoria was a vessel of
1874 tons register, All feet long with
34-foot beam. She had speed OF IA
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