The steamer was equipped with three generators, but only one was in service at the time of the accident. Several minutes elapsed before a separate generator was cut in; and, furthermore, to prevent damage to the condenser it was necessary to stop the main engines and change the auxiliary exhaust to the atmosphere until the spare generator was cut in. After this it was necessary to change back the auxiliary exhaust to the condenser and start up the condensate pump before the main engine could be operated. These operations consumed 4 or 5 minutes; but, on account of the loss of vacuum the main engines when first started could only turn up from 10 to 40 r. p. m. and another 4 or 5 minutes passed before full backing power was developed. In the meantime the collision had occurred,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.