− | steamers from separating but found they did not separate. Capt. Rudlin must have followed me for I saw him on our hurricane deck helping to get our boats out. During that time I noticed 3 or 4 men swimming around- also some ? swimming, and bales of hay and broken joiner work drifting about. About 10 or 15 minutes after the collision the steamer Western Hope came to our assistance. Nearly all the Enterprise passengers were then on board the Rithet. The colliding steamers never separated until the Hope towed the Enterprise away. That was the time the mast of the Enterprise fell over towards the Rithet when the Hope towed the Enterprise away-The Rithet never touched the Enterprise pilot house. That pilot house remained intact until the steamers separated. If any damage was done to it it was when the Enterprise hull ? away from the Rithet, lifting the Enterprise boiler deck. A portion of the Enterprise captain's cabin floor and furniture remained on our deck. I think it is not usual to leave a steamer in charge of an uncertificated man; but under the circumstances having plenty of sea-room I thought it was safe. I hold a captain's certificate my mate holds.
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