Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-10-14
TUGb0AT RUN DOWN.
Sunk by a Steamer in
Boston HarbOr.
A NARROW ESCAPE OF CREW
The Steamers Captain Has Nothing to
Say to the Press.

BOSTON, Oct. IA In the darkness OF
the night, without warning of approach
or danger, the iron collier Williamsport
last evening crashed into the tug Bessie
B., splintering her wooden frame an d
sending her TO the bottom almost In
stantly. Only prompt work with the
small boat, aud \ combination OF fortui-
tous circu cunstances. saved the lives Of the
tugs crew, aud prevented Boston harbor
from becoming the scene Of quadruple
drowning horror.
Late yesterd ~ afternoon the Bessie ID.
started down the harbor, having in tow
fishing schooner. She was making good
ypeed, and at the time Of the accident was
Iust off Brewster's, this side Of Boston
light.
At the same time the steam collier
Williamsport OF the Reading Railroad
company was coming up the harbor with
a load of coal. Captain Miller was In the
pilot house guiding her course.
There seems to have been not the slight
est knowledge on the part of the crew OF
either vessel of the approach OF the other.
No lights We're seen, no whistles heard,
and not the barest signal OF dangers
presence was given.
The Story of the Accident.
The two boats were speeding ahead In
the darkness. Then there was sudden
crash, slight vibration through the
frame of the larger vessel, some shouting
and screams from the wboat's men, who
were already battling with the waves,
and IL was all over.
The B. ssie b. received the Williams
ports bow just aft Of the pilot house, and
sank almost instantly. The collier was
stopped. A boat was lowered from her
and one from the fisherman in tow, and
between them the four men of the boats
crew were rescued.
The men were taken on the Williams
port, which at once proceeded on It's way
up the harbor. II was tied up at Bachel-
der's wharf, Mt Washington avenue, on
it's arrival, and the four men were landed.
Police ambulance No. l met the collier
at the wharf and conveyed one of the men,
Anthony Frederickson, to the city hospital.
Captain Marshall of the Bessie b., and the
rest of the men, made their way home
unassisted.
The Bessie B. was tramp connected
with no line, doing such work as she
could pick up about the harbor. 1t was
rather small tug, and of rather ancient
date.
The Williamsport is a steam collier OF
about 1900 tons, plying between this port
anu Philadelphia.
A Non-Communicative Officer.
A reporter visited the Wiliamsport
upon her arrival, and obtained an inter.
view with Captain Miller, more notable
for its brevity and brusqueness than for
information received.
Captain Miller said that he was in the
pilot house at the time OF the collision.
but refused to state whether he saw the
tug or to tell any Of the circumstances
He said that he had a boat sent to the
mems assistance at once. During the trip
up he did not speak TO any one of the tugs
crew and he did not know any of their
names or nything about them. At the
proper time he would make his report to
the inspectors. He would have nothing
to say to reporters.
Anthony Fredercksen, the injured sailor.
is a Norwegian, % years of age. and lives
at East Boston.
Fredericksen was in the pilot house of
the Bessie b at the time of the collision.
at the moment.
He said: when the big boat struck us
! was thrown through the wall of the
pilot house into the water"
Fredericksen was In the water nearly Is
minutes before being picked up. The chill
he suffered and quantity of water swal-
lowed will cause him to be laid up in the
hospital for several days. He has several
bad bruises In addition to his other all
ments.