Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-30
TEE CHEsAPEAKE BAY DISASTER

Sinking of the Steamship Decatur Fl.
Miller" by the civilian L4wr ence''-
The Wrecked Vessel Lying in -Four
Fathoms of IVater-The Causes of the
Collision.
The NEWS contained yesterday brief
account of the sinking in Chesapeake Bay
on Thursday afternoon of the steamship
Decatur H. Miller, of the Merchants and
Miners Transportation Company. by the
steamship William Lawrence, bound from
Savannah to Baltimore. The Miller was
bound from Baltimore to Boston. The
William Lawrence left Savannah on Tues
day with full cargo Of cotton, naval
stores, lumber and merchandise, and had
on deck nearly $500 boxes of oranges.
Her passenger list Was small, numbering
only four iii the cabiI-C. f. Schruber and
wife, Il. II. Pearson and Z. joseph. The
disaster occurred about >: 80 O'clock near
the mouth of what is known as the Lower
Craigbill channel, about 40 miles below
Baltimore. The Lawrence, it is said III
statement to the Baltimore papers, blew
one whistle, which was to go to star
board. This was answered by one whistle
from the Miller. Then the Miller blew
twice, which called for the Lawrence to
pass to the pOrtside. The Lawrence then
answered with one whistle again, which
indicated that the captain was going to
pass to starbOard, for which he first blew.
The engines of the two vessels were re-
Versed at full speed, but did not prevent
a collision, which occurred almost imme-
diately. The Lawrence struck the Miller
bow on Just forward of the forerigging.
cutting through and making a hole in
her side from the top to below water line.
The bow OF the Lawrence was stove in.
but she did not leak on account of her
forward Water-tght bulkhead
AS soon as the vessels cleared the Mil
Ter settled forward and the Lawrence
came to anchor. Capt. Hooper lowered
the boats Of the Lawrence and at once set
off for the Miller. There We're four pas
sengers on the Miller-twO gentlemen and
two ladies-who were at once sent on
board the Lawrence. The Miller was
about fifteen minutes settling. She laws
in four fathOms Of water, her quarterback
just clear of the water, and the deck from
amidships forward covered about one foot.
She lies in an easy position, and can be
raised without any extraordinary trouble.
AS soon as the passengers were on board
the Lawrence mattresses and bedclOthes
in the staterOoms on deck were transfer
red to the same vessel. The steamship
Johns Hopkins, of tn same line, bound to
Providence, went alongside the wreck,
but her services were not needed.
The crew were placed on board the
Lawrence, but the officers of the Miller
stayed on board to care for matters. The
anchor cables of the Lawrence had to be
cut, her bow being SO badly damaged as
to prevent the hosting of them up. They
were buoyed, and the disaster was reported
in Baltimore upon arrival.
AS soon as tie collision occurred all
the crew went to their stations. The ut
most system prevailed in every move
ment, and there was no excitement. The
passengers took matters with great calm
ness, and none Of them seemed to realize
any danger from the position. The Miller
had small cargo on board, none of which
was saved. The men lost everything but
what they had on. The Decatur II. Miller
is an iron steamship of >, 1856 tons register
She was built in Wilmington, Del, in
1879, by Harlan e HollingsWOrth, and
named after one OF the directors of the
company. The Miller has held the honor
of being the flagship of the Merchants
and Miners fine feet of steamers. The
William Lawrence is also iron. She was
built in South Boston, and is Of 5T6.31
tons register. This is the second disaster
the vessel has incurred during the
past two years, having collided
with the schooner Sarah Lavinia, sinking
her in the same waters little over q year
ago. Capt. Hooper, her commander, is
the oldest coastwise steamship Captain
running to Savannah, and is regarded as
a careful, efficient and in every way COM
petent officer. He seems to be the victim
Of misfortune in this and one or two
previous mishaps. in which, however, he
was eXCnerateQ from all blame and COM
mended for his seamanship.