The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-10

minutes before the Premier was struck l
was on deck with glasses, but the fog
closed in quickly and went down to the
smoking room and sat listening to some
gentlemen who were discussing the rela-
tive merits of different makes OF
boilers. was close to the window
on the port side and suddenly heard
. shout and two whistles. sprang
to my feet and looked ont The
huge iron hulk Was bearing down on rs
and I knew the collision must come. I
sprang for the door on the opposite side OF
the room and passed through as the boats
came together. My first thought was that
the Premier was sinking and climbed over
the side OF the Willamette, where ! met
the crew rushing forward to assist the peo-
pie of our boat. The men yelled to me.
There 10 no danger, the boats will not
sink: help the passengers on board /
Joined in and We passed them over rapidly
until all were aboard and the danger
averted. It seems to me that the captain
OF the Willamette was very considerable
and did much for the comfort Of all He
did not want to beach his boat, but that
was natural, and any irst-class captain
would try to save the property in his
charge"
AIban Leldholdt, tho Premier waiter.
was evidently a. cool man a. there was
on the boat. and while he was thrown
around, had his right arm broken and was
bruised badly, took time to wash bis face
before going on deck. This was the
fourth wreck he has experienced in his
life and the first time he ever was injured.
While talking at Providence hospital yes
terday about the scenes, he said: II was
in the dining room waiting on three per-
sons when the boat Jared, followed by a
harsh, grating sound, and then everything
and everybody was thrown around like
straws. was sent head first into post
in the middle of the room, and on falling
to the floor experienced the pleasure OF
having one or two of my customers
fell on top of me. They ran for the stairs
and reached the deck all right. When l
got up my face was covered with blood.
my right arm was helpless and my left hip
numb. washed the blood from my face
in the ice water tank and then went on
deck. Everything was in furry, and the
women especially were rushing around
like wild people. Some one helped me
over the side of the Willamette. and l
went to the captains cabin, where his
medicine chest is, and fixed my wounds as
best could. do not know how the fog
was when the collision occurred, but it
was clear soon after" Leldholdt Is doing
well and suffering but little pain.
Thomas Foran was the man whom the
anchor at the PROV of the Willamette
struck and knocked down. He was
penned in and only escaped by climbing
up the anchor cham and being pulled over
on the Willamette's deck. He was
propped up in bed at Providence hospital,
discussing the accident with friends,
when visited by Posr-INrxLLIGENcEa re-
porter yes terday, and in response to a re-
quest for his version of the catastrophe,
said: II heard the crash and saw the big
black PROV coming through the smoking
room and tried to escape, but before
m owed step the anchor hit me and felIed
me to the floor. I tried to rise but
the Willamette surged up and down
and the anchor hit me again.
Timbers Of all kinds and weights
were piled up before me and could not
escape aft so / took my only chance and
climbed the anchor chain. NY left leg
was OF no use and my strength was failing
when I got one arm over the side of the
boat. Ny cries for help brought aid, for
some ono grabbed me and pulled me over
the railing. When got up / saw the
saddest sight of my life. Mr.. Wynkoop
stood holding in his arms the little boy
that few minutes before had been play
ing about the room. He would hold the
limp body FIRST one way, then another, all
in hopes of finding some spark of life. 1t
was no use. HIS words of anguish fell on
ears that had been touched by death, and
the little head fell back as often as raised.
Such grief it has never been my lot to wit
ness before. am gruff man, but to save
my life could not help crying bit. I
thing there was something wong and am
not convinced that the accident was I'M
avoidable. So far as l could see the boats
did not lessen their speed when they knew
they were in close quarters.
Mrs. J. G. Pruett, of Anacortes, who is
stopping temporarily at Fourth and
Spring streets, was one of the passengers
of the Premier who fortunately sustained
no injury. She said: when the accident
occurred l was sitting down and hardly
felt more than slight jar, and did not at
first realize that anything 30 terrible had
happened. We soon, however, knew our
danger, and there was many q white face
and trembling soul on board. The first
thing to be noticed was the chivalry of the
men. Their first thought was: Let ia
save the women first" for in the early
moments of the crash we did not know
whether the vessel would sink to the bot
tom or not. A fog certainly prevailed at
times during the trip, for the fog horn
could be heard blowing almost continu-
ally. l cannot say that there was any fog
when We were transferred from the Pre-
mier to the Willamette. Another thing
remarked by all wass the GOODNESS of all
under the trying circumstances. Can't.
Gilboy, of the Premier, was cool
and collected and gave his orders
with precision. When the boats frat
came together some Of the crew of
the Premier jumped over to the VILLAIN
cite, but Capt. Gilboy immediately com.
manded the men 10 return to his vessel
and they all promptly obeved. The suf-
fering OF the wounded was intense. hut
little complaining was done. There was
not piece OF lint or particle of medicine
on board except small bottle of arnica.
and OF course there was no physician. As
soon as the tug Goiiah came up we took a
vote, letting the wounded decide whether
We shonld go to Port Townsend or put out
Tor Seattle. They voted TO come to Seat
tie, and we were all satisfied. The most
pltdul thing saw was the terrible men,
tai agony of Mr.. Wynkoop. As far as We
could see his wife did not shed tear. She
seemed 10 be holding up for the sake of
her hvsband. but it was not hard TO see
that her heart was s1rpLy pressed over
the loss OF their son. On board of the
crowded tug We were all near the blood
dead, and it was strsnge.to see how used