The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-09
BUMPED IN THE Fog.
Several Steamer Collisions in
the Dense Obscurity.
THE ST. LAWRENCE DAMAGED.
HIT by the Bay City, She Lose an
Archor-Delta and Alta Scrape
sides -Two Boats Ashore.

A loud crash OF collision between thu
steamer Bay City and the halibat schoon-
er ST. Lawrence sounded through the
dense fog and smoke. which shroudei the
harhor yesterday SO that objects could not
be distinguished more than 100 feet dis
tart, and together with the fog horns
bsoNiag IN several directions. announced
the first series OF small accidents on the
Sound. This collision happened at rs a.
m. and within half an hour the facts
were known over the whole length of the
water front, while many lesser rumors
were afoat concerning other collisions.
Most of these did rot prove true and. for
tunately. no accident of a serious nature
occurred.
The Bay City was coming in under slow
bell as Capt. A n. McAlpin. her master.
heard the fog horn OF the ST. Lawrence,
but thought he must be near the yacht
Agrie al the oity buoy. He states that
his vessel vas not going more than three
miles an hour. when. within seventy-tive
feet. the ST. Lawrence on the port tack.
with sails spread. was coming towards
her, outward bound. and the two coIlided
almost head on. The signal was quickly
given by Capt. McAlpin and. by the time
the ST. Lawrence's bowsprit struck. the
Bay City had nearly stopped. The schoon-
er's bowsprit jast passed above the deck
OF the steamer and carried the railing
away. u. c. Primer, the Canadian Pa
cific railways agent at Blaine, who stood
between the boom and the rau, was
thrown into the water During the excite
rnent OF the moment. it seems that no
lire was thrown to the struggling man,
but Capt Silas Calder. OF the st. Law
renee, quickly sent a rowboat which was
in tow 10 the rescue of Mr.. Primer. lie
came aboard unhurt. except for a thor
ough dreaching.
The port shrouds OF the st. Lawrence,
and the port gunwaie were splintered and
a 2eO-pognd anchor were carried away. The
anchor was very valuable, but the other
damage would not exceed $50. The dam
age 10 the Bay City would not exceed SO.
The Bay City then ran astern of the
Aggie. landed at the City dock, and later
went on her route up Sound The St.
Lawrence returned TO Ainswoth & Dunn 5
wharf and. making her repairs, was soon
ready for sea.
The second collision was between the
Delta, on the Port Orchard route. and the
little steamer Alta, which runs TO Eagle
Harbor. The former was leaving the har-
Dor in the dense fog and the latter COM
ing in. and they barely escaped meeting
head on. The Alta. however, struck the
Delta glaacing blow. and the two boats
raked each others side with little dam
age, except loss OF paint. Both steamers
GOODNESS Of each OF the pilots several
lives were saved. The passengers of the
Alta adopted resolutions thanking Capt.
s. c. Spauling for his qdckness and
presence of mind, which were signed by
every passenger as follows: Mrs \. r..
Hyde, Mrs. ID. Crawford. Mrs l.. Camp
bell. Miss Il. Fitzhenry. Miss A. l..
Grantstown. Miss 3. Campbell, Mr.. ~.
Buckiin, Mr.. r. ellis. Mr.. Reardon, MIR.
VI ~ Afts Hat
Mr.. A. Mcintosh. Mr.. A. L. Mcdonald,
Mr. George Forbes and Mr.. ID. Cameron.
Each boat continued on the way, as to
turn about might mean further accidents
and loss of the course.
The Gen. Candy and A. r. Robinson
each ran aground at South Beach, at the
south end of cambridge island, only half
an hours walk from Port Blakeley. The
Robinson was probably a mile out OF her
course through trying TO round the point
that much too soon. and struck rather
rocky shore. The Candy ran aground in
the mud and was not more than 100 yards
out of her course. The two vessels struck
at about the same time, near 10 q. m,
when the tide was out. and they lay high
and dry TIL almost p. m, when they
came off safely and reached here about
seven hours late. While no damage YVES
done, the Robinson was badly listed for
come time. Tho passage along South
beach Is narrow, and on account of some
outlying rocks. vessels are compelled to
pass close to the shore
The steamer Utopia had two very mar
row escapes. On the way in yesterday
during the thick fog she struck a scow
which was tied near the West Seattle
ferry. The blow was only a glancing one
and no damage was done. The Utopia,
however, came near sinking a small
steamer on the Sound. for without warn
ing the two ran very close, but did not
strike. The crew of the Utopia state that
the name of the small craft was not
learned.
The steamer Skasit Chief ran into the
Arlington dock on arriving from Tacoma,
but the accident was slight.
Several of the steamers were late. as
they necessarily moved very cautiously.