The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-08
nine SAILORS DROWNED
wHALEBACK STEAMER THOMAS
WILSON SUNK in COLLISION.
Cut Almost in Two by the Steamer
George G. Had1ey, Which Also
Went Down Near the Shore.

DULUTH, Mimi, June THE whaleback
steamer Thomas Wilson. Captain Cameron.
master, was cut almost in two by the
steamer George c. Hadley. Captain Fitz-
gerald, master, a half mile south of the
Duluth canal. to-day, and nine men went
down. The names of the men lost are:
AARON TRIP. cook.
- FRANK, second cook, Superior.
JAMES MDOUGALL, oiler, West SUI
perior.
JAMES NJ. FRASER, oiler, Manitouan
island.
JOSEPH MGRAw. wheelsman. Sault
Ste. Marie, Mich.
JOHN CAMPBELL. lookout, Greenleaf.
Mich.
JOHN CAREY, deckhand, st. GATHERINGS,
Ont.
THOMAS JONES, deckhand.
WILLIAM ROEBUCK, Port Hampton.
The Wilson was coming toward the canal
and the Hadley going out, both loaded.
When about opposite the Wilson the Had
ley was given orders by tug to go to
Superior. Immediately she sheered off for
the Superior entry and crashed into the
Wilson. The Wilson went down so quickly
that it did not seem possible to save life.
One moment the two boats were blowing
through the water two hundred yards
apart, the next the crew of the Wilson
and Jumping into the water. One man on
the Wilson seemed TO have more presence
of mind than all the rest. He threw life
preservers to those that jumped into the
cold water and he certainly saved some
lives. The crew of the Radley also threw
preservers to the men struggling in the
water. Immediately after the collision the
Wilson pitched forward and went down.
AS she plunged. the crew that was still on
board rushed TO the stern, jumping over
board as fast as they could free them
selves from their clothing. The Wilson did
not live minute after the collision. Dur
ing the short time she was on top of the
water, she seemed TO be supported entirely
by the HadleyS PROV, which was sticking
IN through her plates.
The plunge of the Wilson released the
Hadley, and the latter's bow swung back
with a tremendous jerk. AS the whale
back went beneath the water she spouted
like a submarine explosion. The men who
jumped last were apparently close TO the
hull when ii went down. They were strue-
Cling there just before the plunge and could
not be seen afterwards. They were prob
ably drawn underneath with the hull.
The Hadley's steering apparatus seemed
to be out Of order after the collision. She
swung round "A cycle Several times and
seemed utterly helpless However, her
crew did good work in throwing preservers
to the unfortunate seamen in the water
In a few moments X was apparent that the
II could be seen lowering boats. Some OF
them got into the boats, but when the Had
ley sunk TO within foot of her deck she
seemed to cease sinking and the men
clambered back on the boat. The race OF
the life-Saving crew and the tugs quick
work was thrilling. The Hadley would not
have made the shore had ii not been fol
the tugs, and that probably means that SC
many more lives were saved. The life
saving crew did quick and reliable service
picking up the men in the water. The Had
ley had a hard run for shore and did not
win the race by any too great a margin
| for a moment after her bow went on the
bottom just south of the ship canal pier
her stern began to settle and finally went
| down. AS the stern settled down TO the
bottom the bow lifted a little and the water
| engulfed the vessel from amidShip to stern
! Fully half of the way in from the scene OF
! the accident TO the point Of Bleaching the
! decks of the Hadley were covered witt
| water, and the members of the crew that
were compelled to stay by her took to the
| upper works.
| The Wilson went down in eighty feet Of
| water, and only a few feet of her spars are
| to be seen. The Wilson was loaded with
ore and belongs TO the Pttsburg steam
| ship line. The Hadley carried coal.