December 22, 1922
Trawler Ripple Hit
By Steamer
Former is Knocked on Beam Ends and Leaking
Unknown Craft Continues After Collision with Fisherman
The crew of seam trawler Ripple,
which arrived at the South Boston Fish Pier yesterday from South Channel, had a narrow
escape from death when their craft was run into by an unknown tramp steamer. The
steamer crashed into the starboard bow of the fishing vessel, smashing in the plates and
throwing the Ripple over on her beam ends.
Without waiting to learn the result of the
collision, the unknown heartlessly sped away, leaving the crippled fishing craft to her
fate.
According to the statement of Capt. Patrick
Collins, the Ripple was fishing in South Channel at
3.30 o'clock Monday morning when the unknown steamer came up from the rear heading in a
southwesterly direction and hit the trawler, which was unable to change her course owing
to the fact that her purse net was swung out.
The mate of the Ripple
was in charge at the time and when he realized that a collision was inevitable he threw
the wheel over hard to port, in an effort to escape. The force of the blow was so
great that the Ripple was thrown over on her beam ends and the
men on board expected she would capsize. Slowly the ship righted to an even keel
and after the crew recovered from the shock and confusion, they made a hasty examination,
which showed a severe indentation in the bow. The trawler also began to leak and it
was necessary to keep the pumps in operation. Just after the crash the whistle of
the trawler was sounded as a signal of distress, as those on board feared she had received
injury that might result in her sinking. The unknown vessel paid not the slightest
attention to the signal and within a few minutes was lost to view in the darkness.
The Ripple, which is
owned by the Bay State Fishing Company will be surveyed after her fare is
discharged. Capt. Collins will make a complete report of the
circumstances of the collision to the United States steamboat inspectors and an effort
will be made to learn the identity of the unknown steamer. |
