"columbus" had at least three accidents. in june 1895 she suffered an explosion caused by a steam pipe becoming disconnected while she was underway. accounts differ, but some claim that this happened during a race with her rival, "virginia". in july 1905, she collided with the schooner "ralph campbell" in the chicago river. on june 30, 1917, she was involved in her most serious accident, a collision with a water tower. the collision happened in milwaukee while she was being maneuvered by tugs away from her dock. the milwaukee river current caught her, spinning her sideways, and her bow sheared off two legs of the yahr-lang drug company's water tower, toppling it and flooding "columbus"' decks with about . the collision killed 16 passengers and severely damaged her pilot house, putting her out of service for the rest of the year.