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March, 1912 THE MARINE REVIEW 77 Strathalbyn -- Virginian Collision A Graphic Account of the Terrific Impact of BATT LB. March 6=--Not.in has so serious a collision occurred North ' Pacific: as 'that' be- American steamship Vir- and the British 3,602 net years S tween on the the ginian, 5,077 net tons, steamer Strathalbyn, tons; on the" nieht or jan. ~~ "12: Off Whree' "Tree Point: = halt between 'Seattle and Tacoma, the huge steel steamers came together with a terrific crash, causing the death of one man aboard the Strathalbyn, and _ re- sulting in a property loss of approxi- mately $100,000. The Virginian has just tramp way Two Steamers in Pacific Waters weather being dark, but clear, a slight rain not obscuring the vision. According to the stories of officers of each vessel, each took every possible precaution to avoid the mishap. Those on the American steamer assert that they did not see the Strathalbyn's lights until too late to avoid coming together. Officers of the British tramp admit that their electric lighting plant was out of commission, but they testified that range and side oil lamps, which. were burning brightly, had been substituted and were sufficient for all purposes. They lay the complaint of the Strathalbyn is of in- terest as giving one side of the con- troversy which is certain to be in the courts for many months and will likely develop into one of the most celebrated admiralty cases on this coast in years. It 'Says 'in part; "As soon as: the steamer Flyer had passed, the Strathalbyn blew one blast of her whistle as a signal to the Vir- ginian to pass her on the port side, both red and green side lights of the Virginian being at that time visible. The Virginian failed and neglected to answer the signal of the Strathalbyn and after proceeding for or in the neighborhood. completed repairs and left for Salina Cruz, Mexico, while the Strathalbyn is at Esquimalt, B. C., in dock for repairs. At the time of the accident, the Vir- ginian, of the American-Hawaiian Steam- ship Co., was partly laden with general cargo for Honolulu and was proceeding to Tacoma from this' port. The Strathal- byn, of the well known "Strath" fleet, owned by William Burrell & Son, of Glasgow and under charter to the Am- erican Trading Co., was proceeding to -- sea from Tacoma for Sydney, Australia, carrying 3,500,000 ft. of lumber. Both vessels were in charge of licensed Puget Sound pilots. The accident occurred about 8 o'clock in the evening, the GS Bow oF THE STRATHALBYN blame on the Virginian, claiming that the officers on the latter vessel failed to answer the Strathalbyn's passing signals. Testimony has been given by officers and passengers of the passenger steam- ers Flyer and Indianapolis, which passed the two freighters shortly before the mishap. Their evidence is conflicting both as to lights and whistle signals. Following the accident, the owners of the British tramp libeled the Virginian for $160,000, while the owners of the American vessel have asked the courts to award them $100,000 against the Strathalbyn. These damages are' the largest asked in any Puget Sound court in marine suits in several years. The q ' of a minute, the Strathalbyn again blew one blast of her whistle as a passing signal to the Virginian and the Vir- ginian again failed and neglected to an- swer the same, the red light of the Virginian having theretofore closed and after giving such second passing whistle to the Virginian and receiving no an- swer and having ported the helm of the Strathalbyn her engines were stopped. That but a minute thereafter the Strath- albyn again sounded one blast of her whistle as a signal for the Virginian to pass her to port and the Virginian again failing and neglecting to answer said signal and her green light being the only one visible, the Strathalbyn backed full speed astern and sounded several blasts in quick succession as a danger signal to the Virginian and for the first time the Virginian sounded