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


on 800 tons OF coal Thus lar we have lost none
of THAI, hut We may have TO take on from 20
to 50 tons tomorrow in order TO see just
how deep the holes in our bow. The boat Is
about thirteen years old, and during the most
OF that time has been In service plying either
between Puget sound and San Francisco or
Portland and San francisco. When new she
probably cost 100000.
At O'Clock last evening tho Premier
was laying pretty straight on the bot
tom in sixteen feet Of water. She
is tied to the shore by sew
eral big howsers. Her crew is camped
on the shore close by. Yesterday her
damage was variously estimated at from
$4,000 to $50 600 It is thought she can be
raised and made as good as ever.
Both boats are said to be insured, but the
amounts could not be learned.
SOME HAIR-BREADTH ESCAPES.
Passengers ON the Premier Tell How
They Escaped With Their Lives.
Many narrow escapes are recalled by
passengers. Jack Levy. the bartender on
the Premier, who Is universally known on
the Sound. had the most miraculous es-
cape of all. 1t seems almost impossible
that he came out alive from a room Axe
where every piece of furniture was pulver-
ICED and timbers piled up in mass. He
was in bed yesterday when visited, and in
talking experienced some trouble with his
chest. He said: II was reading paper
behind the bar when in fraction of a Sec
ond everything was q blank to me. 1
heard no shock and knew nothing until
Tommy Skaggs, the mate, and the paint
scrubber had me on deck and were asking
how l felt l was in q sort of daze and
asked where I was and what had hap
pened. Then they told me of the collision
and how was found pinned down by
timbers in the bar room. Everything be-.
hind the bar and the bar itself and the
walls OF the room were reduced to kindling
wood. Hay upon the floor with beams
across my legs and chest. Other timbers
fell all around my body, but crossed them
selues in such way as to leave me un-
touched. It seems to me must have been
rendered unconscious by the explosion of
the syphons because my coat was burned
in two places and was near them at the
time of the crash. Even when I was on
deck I was foolish and had not come to
my senses, % the boys took me on board
the Willamette and watched over me for
some time. As soon as We reached the
city autographed to my brother in Vic
toria, so that my people would not worry.
This 10 the fourth accident I have been in
on the Premier" Levy went to Provi-
dence hospital yesterday and is doing
well. although suffering . great deal of
pain.
Gus Davis. the Premier saloon watch
man. was asleep when the collision oc-
Cured and awoke to find himself floating
in the water. Yesterday he was feeling
much exhausted, but in an interview with
Posr-INTELLIsESCER reporter gave the
following account of the accident and his
experiences: 81 sleep in a stateroom on
the port side Of the boat and q little
back from the point where tho prov
Of the Willamette struck. I woke up at
II o'clock and noticed that we were in
dense fog. The whistle was blowing once
in two or three minutes. Soon afterwards
fell asleep. The next thing l knew
was floating in the water without
clothing other than my night shirt. The
waves came in with rush, and when
tried to reach the ladder my left side COM
menced to pain, and / knew something
was wrong, Men were rushing past me
and going up the ladder as fast as possible.
the pantrymen and told him I was in
Jured. He stopped, and taking me on his
back dashed through the water to the lad
pulled me on deck. WAS dazed, and the
men carried me on the Willamette, where
was done up in blankets. After / cooled
down little the pain in my side and left
leg INCREASED, but I did not think any
one of the boys went down into the
cabin to see il ne could find any
thing, but returned. saying that the roam
where slept Was torn away and occupied
by water. All my personal effects, in.
Guiding what little money / had. were
lost. and If the psntryman had not taken
me on his back should certainly have
drowned. / telegraphed to my brother in
life WAS in danger. 1t would be impos-
siele for me to say anything about the fog
or courses of the boats, because did not
ray any attention to those things a. the
time of the trouble" Mr.. Davis finds him.
self in peculiar position. When taken
from the water he had on = night shirt.
On boaad the Willamette this was re-
moved and blankets wound around him.
4u WIS tO0Oltion Nc WAS hEOuSit 10 the
city yesterday morning. and now that he
lost everything he has no means of cloth
ing himself. He IS at Providence hospital
and is doing we'll.
II. =. Carlson. of 500 South Eighth
street, was one Of the men in the smoking
room when the crash came. but escaped
unhurt. Speaking of the affair yesterday
he said: IL was talking with some men
about machinery when I heard sharp
whistle and jumped up TO see what was
the matter. As did 50 the huge hulk OF
the Willamette was coming toward rs.
started for the door, bat thought the col
lision might throw me overheard, and
| while undecided the crash came. l was
| knocked down aud held hy the tlmhers OF
| the cabin, but luckily - bridge WAS formed
/ over ine, 50 that by crawling on nay hand;
| and knees / was able - get oa. and clint
| over on the Willsmette's deck. After tbs
first shock the people acted in compare
| lively quiet manner, and were passed
! from the Premier 10 the collier as fast 3:
| possible. The two captains dia not agree
/ about Bleaching the boats, but everything
! possible WAS done for our comfort by the
| Willamette crew"
Edward Collins. who lives az the eorne
| 81 SOnth Twelfth and Pine streets. anS
! who says he was the first Premier passen
/ ger tc get aboard the Wiiisu.stte. stood
/ moment before the shcSk a. the synokin,
room window when the Prov brok
| through. He was found by PosT-fsrxI
LiaKsoEs reporter yesterday and gave "a