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Show uu BIG PASSENGER STEAMER RAMS NEW HAMPSHIRE. Newjort, R. I July S In a dense fog at 1:25 o'clock yesterday morning the steamer Commonwealth of the Fall River line, while proceeding to Fall River from New York with 1,000 passengers pas-sengers on board, rammed the United States battlestio New Hampshire, tearing away the latter's stern and crushing her own bow. Tho crash brought the passengers of the Commonwealth out of their cabins in alarm and there was momen tary danger of panic, but tho officers allayed tho fears and the excitement was soon over. Captain Oliver of the New Hampshire Hamp-shire sent a wireless to the Commonwealth, Common-wealth, asking if assistance were needed. Tho crew of the Now Hampshire Hamp-shire were at their boats ready for Immediate rescue duty, but the commonwealth com-monwealth replied, "No, thanks, no assistance required;" and to the delight de-light of the passengers and the navy men the Commonwealth proceeded back to Newport under her own steam. The watertight compartments had undoubtedly saved a terrible catastrophe catastro-phe on the Commonwealth. Wireless Operator Whitehead of the Commonwealth Common-wealth used his head well, as the big passencer steamer struck the battleship, battle-ship, by sending out the "S O. S." dibtress signal, which was picked up by the battleships Florida, Louisiana, Kansas and Iowa, twenty destroyers, the cruisers Panther, San Francisco, Montgomery and other warships and tho torpedo btation, all of which were ready in a moment to rush to the assistance as-sistance of the Commonwealth's passengers, pas-sengers, Tho happicBt chapter of the accident Is that not a life was lost nor was any one injured. Shortly after S o'clock a special train took the eastbound passengers to Fall River and Boston. |