The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-09-18
SIX DROWNED TOGETHER.
boat loan or NEGROES CAPsIzED
~ TIE RIVER.

All but Four Lost Their Livcs-The
Boat Overloaded with Workmen
Prom the seaboard Terminals on
Their way 90 the Cits and swamp
ed by che swell Of Passing
steamer-The Boat pset and Six OF
Its Occupants went Down With "a.
Six negroes were drowned yesterday AZ
ternoon shortly after o'clock near the
middle OF the Savannah river and almost
directly opposite the East Broad streoa
dock The men were employees ~ the
Naval stores Yard sea Board Air Line
Pier No o on Hutchinsou's Island. They
were on their way across the river 70
their homes IN the city. when the boat.
= which were ten men. and which was In
-ghsequence low IN the water. was struck
Aroadside on by a heavy swell from the
steamer Harry G. Day and swamped.
-Four Of the men when they saw that the
boat was going under jumped overheard
and kept afioat until they were picked up
by boats. The Elk men who were drown
"a. however. went down with the boat.
20 many OF shem clinging 20 one side that
che boat was turned upside down and
drIfted down the river IN that position.
The Waterman on the Harry c. Day.
who was seen last night by "a Morning
News reporter eold that the steamer was
on her way TO her landing place from
the Gordon wharf, In passing the East
Broad street dock. he saw q number Of
hatcaus. and one OF them was loaded
with passenger No particular attention
r.a.fE & ~ "A aaHE
Eight The boat had gone several nun
sired yards. when one % che deck hands
called out that the boat load OF men had
been struck hy tho swell from the steam
er's paddle. ana that she mad been swamp
ed and that there were a number OF
men struggling ia the water. As sherc
were a number Of the other boats iu the
vicinity Of she men. no EFFORT was deemed
necessary on the part Of the Days crew.
and so the steamer didn't stop. Nos un-
al considerable time after the accident,
lid the crew learn that anyone had been
drowned.
Jim Green. 81 negro who was on ono Of
she small aioons In che East Broad street
dock. when tho accident happened. snw
the whole affair The boat he said Waas
TOO heavily loaded. ana when q was
struck ngoadslde by the SWEET Il was
simply swamped. There were several
boats nearby. DE said. and went to the res
cue OF he men struggling IN the water.
one Of the men swan for the shore, and
had almost reached It when he was picked
zap. OF the others. one was rescued DS
Jake Hayward. colorei boat hand an
other hy a negro hoItman name Willie.
and the other two 5y other hoatmon
The names 81 an the drowned are nm
known, II rs believed. however that Joe
White and Henry Ncwson are two OF
thsfn.
The news Of tho disaster spread and tn
a short time hundreds Of the relatives and
friends OF tho workmcu at the terminals
gathered at che dock. each making auN-
ious inquiries. Even 50 late as ti;an o'clock
small groups were on the docks saying
that some relative or friend had failed
20 come home and asking II be- had been
seen or heard Of.
Agent c. g Martin Of the seaboard Air
Line and Mr. Sam Ross Of the smith &
Kelly Co. went over 90 the island shortly
after the accident. hut secured little tn
formation other than that the men had
been employed on Pier 3. some tn the ma
val stores yard and Others In discharglng
the cargo OF the Iris.
II Is the opinion ~ all those who knew
81 the accident and who are familiar
with the practices Of the colorcd work
men employed on the island. chat the
drowned men alone are responsible FOR
shelr death. The Sea Board Air Line
gives free passage IN the steam launch
so all of ifs workmeu both coming and
going but many ~ the men. ia fact the
majority rather than wait few minutes
Tor the launch which would iand chem at
the Bun street dock. prefer TO cross IN row
boats 70 the Fast Broad street dock which
IS nearer their homes In order To makes
these trips back and forth as cheap as
possible che boats are flled as full as
= possible and a small pro rata IS charged
by the hoatman.