The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-17
ADRIFT IN THE RIVER.
VAN AND WOMAN IN A BATEAU
,oILIDED WITH THE CLIFTON.

iun-The Boat Was Struck and Can
.ized-Man's Name Is Palmer and
toman's BrOwn-She Was Rescued
cineing to Tent-PaImer Not
Found Up to a Late Hour.
r5e steamer Clifton swung around for
s,us tine opposite the Savannah, Florida
and Western wharves on her return from
Re4ufort at Il O'Clock last night in an eff
for. to avoid collision with a bateau
containing a man and woman, who were
making for the city side When the
steamer had sheared almost into the craft
alongside the wharves. the batteau struck
her bow and was then drawn by the
cburned waters to the wheelhouse, where
it was capsized.
I'm response to the frequent alarm blasts
Of the steamers whistle the crews of near
bv vessels were aroused, and those on the
steamer got in readiness to render any
assistance possible To prevent further
erllaeerins the lives of the unknown per-
sons the steamer was brought to a stand
sN Capt. Strohbar of the Clifton or
dersI the lifeboats lowered to so to the
bark tied up at the Gordon wharf had low
ed 5ud manned their boat in response
10 rle alarm and were in the river ready
Ia GO 10 the rescue as soon as cry Of
distress was heard. The passengers. on
he Clifton. numbering over a hundred col
otld exeursionsts. ran to the starboa.d
side and waited with the same anxiety as
the nfe-savers for the victims.
About twenty-five yards from the steam
a HE FIRST faint cry came from the wo-
man. VINO called out piteously for hem
The. lights on the steamer all shone in tha
opposite direction, so that nothing but mid
nGlf darkness met the gaze of the SYM
p4rhizinE passengers as they looked for
her While the life savers from the Cliff
ron were endeavoring as best they could
to locate the woman, the crew of the
Italian vessel, which had the advantage
by reason of being in the dark had nut
out for the locality from which the cry
came. They were the first to reach the
woman who was found with her hands
lenly resting on tent that had been
thrown from the boat She was lifted in
to The boat and carried to the steamer.
where she was turned over.
IN their eagerness TO save all the Italians
put back for the place where the woman
but he was not to be found. After making
thorough search for him. it was con-
Guided he had gone down, and the steam
fr proceeded with her restless and excited
cargo to the city.
On being taken aboard the woman said
her name was Mrs. Brown, that she Is
40 years of age, and lives at LePageviue.
The man is named Palmer, 50 years old.
aud he also lives at LePageville. They
were strangers to everybody on board,
and gave evidence of being coarse and
uncultured.
The circumstances of the collision indi-
Gated that there was something radically
wrong with Palmer. They were evidently
not very experienced on the river, as they
did noi understand the first signals of the
steam vessel, or if they did, what is worse
sllt they did not heed the signals.
From reliable account given of the
affair Il seems the bateau was sighted
When about 400 yards from the steamer
Seeing the man was pulling directly into
the s-eamer's course, the usual alarm of
several quick, sharp blasts of the whistle
We're given for the purpose of checking
them The steamer did not check her
speed at the moment. as it was expected
Palmer would stop. He failed to do this,
however, the effect of the signal being
only to accelerate his speed
toward the danger line. The steamer was
moyins rather briskly, while Palmer kept
plHus or dear life, Notwithstanding ev-
cry stroke of his oars brought the bateau
nearer lie impending collision.
When The danger of a collision became
Imminent the steamer was sheered to the
IoIl side 10 avoid il, but, strange 10 say
taimer kept on rowing. About the time
il was thought the batteau might strike the
steamer people srill thought the occupants
VI '"e oalteau might be saved by reversing
1ne engines and pulling away from them
Inns dlu not result as expected however
as the batteau was by this time so near
r4I the steamers shearing drew it nearer.
amer must have turned his boat, as it
struck sldewise against the bow of the
steamer. The little craft was then thrown
raek against the wheelhouse and capsized
rom the account given of the affair it
seems that every possible effort and pre-
Vd0uon was used on the part of the steam
ei crew 10 avoid the collision.
Napt Suobhar and several white pass
elsefS took the woman to room on the
s''diner where she told her story while
coming to the city. According to her
Story she and Palmer had been out on
Hltle fishing expedition" and were late
III returning. When they attempted to
'IoSs on reaching the city they saw the
st7aner she said, but Palmer said he
wanted TO make the opposite side. This
ne Ielt he could with safety and there
,gle Kept rowing when the steamer blew
The alarm.
After being dashed into the water I
s'Ah' and did not come up for moment
vi TWO, she said. When l came TO the
sHIdce | saw something white and grab
Osl Tor It, 1t was the tent we had in our
o1Ieau- | knew l could not press too
.5dlIiy upon it, and therefore rested my
anus easily on it, barely enough to keep
help.
.. Inc last I saw OF Palmer" she said
u was swimming like the devil for the
,-D'Hlnson's Island shore. He is a good
,oI%,'lIner, and l feel sure he got ashore
L'erything possible was done to make
". ' woman comfortable When the steam
a. reached its dock it was proposed 20
Her some clothing al the police bar
U,"S 2dt she declined the offer request
lAal she be sent to her home in lie
IN ,'Ie al once. Her request was grant
In '.i she was wrapped in rugs and started
mack for home.
Gle me passengers had got ashore the
hu.a1= e..