Loss oF 300 Lives.
A terrible collision occurred yesterday morning at Woosung. The Onico, Capt. Slessar, left Shanghai with about 350 native passengers for the River ports at about La.m., and crossed the bar at about 2.30. When off Pheasant Point the Newchwang, Capt. Hards, was sighted a little on the starboard bow. Shortly after the two vessels collided, the Nevochwang striking the Ontco on the port bow and cutting into her to a distance of about ten feet. The Onwy" filled and sank within ten minutes of the collision and_now lies with her head down stream in 8 fathoms of water, a short distance below the signal station and well over to the Woosung bank of the river. There was a strong flood tide running at the time of the accident and the unfortunate vessel drifted a considerable distance up stream before she sank. The U.S. flagship Olympin at once got her boats into the water and picked up several of the native passengers while a number of men were sent down on to some pontoons which were alongside the ship and saved many of the passengers as they were swept past by the tide. The scene is described -by those on board the Olympia as fearful in the extreme.
After the collision the two ships remained alongside of each other for a short time exchanging enquiries as to. the extent of the damage, during which time some eight amine Chinese managed to get on board the Newchwang. When the vessels separated the Merchsoong was beached a little below Pheasant Point, where she was completely high and dry at low water yesterday. She has a large hole in her starboard bow, extending down to the-six-foot mark. Mr. Cooper, the second officer, was on the bridge with the captain and pilot at the time of the. collision and to keep himself afloat by means of a boat's rudder until he found himself alongside of the Olympia, when a rope was thrown to him and he was hauled on board ited }and taken below to.the sick bay but declined to be put to bed, saying that he must return at once to Shanghai, A carriage was placed at his disposal by the officers and he returned to town. The 2nd engineer, Mr. Small, was saved by the crew of the Olymj When rescued he was almost completely exhausted. The survivors were treated with the utmost.kindness by the whole ship's company of the. Olympic, everything possible being done for them.
clothing, and in some cases money, was given to them and they were sent up
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.