New-York tribune., 1902-06-08
NINE MEN WENT DOWN.
WHALERACK LAKE STEAMER NEARLY
CUT IN TWO, AND SINKS IN
EIGHTY FEET OF WATER.

Duluth Mimi, June THE whaleback steam
er Thomas Wilson, Captain Cameron master
was cut almost in two by the steamer george u
Hadley Captain Fitzgerald, master, hair-nlie
south of the Duluth Canal to-day. and nine men
went down They were mostly members of the
night crew who had not time to ger out Oh their
hunks before the vessel sank.
The Wilson was coming toward the canal and
the Hadley going out both loaded. Just before
reaching the canal, and when about opposite the
Wilson, the Hadley was given orders py d lug
to go to Superior. Immediately she sheered OH
for the Superior entry, and crashed directly INTO
the Wilson
The Wilson went down so quickly that IL ala
not seem poss. BILE to save a life One moment
the two boats were ploughing through the water
two hundred yards apart. the next the crew OF
the Wilson could be throwing off their
clothing and jumping into the water one man
on the Wilson, with great presence OF rnlno
threw life greservers to those VINO had jumped
into the water. The crew of the Hadley also
threw out preservers
Irnrnediately after the collision the Wilson
pitched forward and went down AS she plunged
the members of the crew, who were still undress
ing rushed to the stern, jumping overheard as
fast as thew could free themselves from their
clothing. The Wilson did not float minute
after the collision. In the interval before she
sank she seemed to be supported entirely py
the Hadleys prov. which was Sucking III
+ through her plates.
The plunge of the Wilson released the Hadley'
and the latter's bow swung back with tre-
mendous jerk AS the whaleback went beneath
the water she spouted like a submarine eA-
plosion from the compression OF air IN ner- ne
two men who jumped last were seen Struggling
near the hull Just before the plunge, ana couio
! not be afterward-
The Hadleys steering apparatus seemed 10 De
ma paralyzed after the collision. She swung rouno
in 8 circle several times, and seemed utterly
helnless In a few moments II was apparent
/ that the Hadley going down. and the crew
on her could be stripping themselves ana
lowering boats Some OF them got into the
boats but when the Hadley had sunk 10 within
a foot of her deck she seemed 10 cease sinking
for few moments. and the men clambered back
ON the boat The race Of the life saving crew
end the tugs for the wreck was thrilling. The
Hadley would not have made the shore had it
not been for the tugs. The life saving crew
njcked I'D the men in the water The Hadiey
had hard run for shore. and a moment after
her how went on the bottom just south OF the
shin canal pier. her stern began to settle, ana
llv went down with a spouting Of water SIM
tIar fo that which marked the sinking or the
Fully half of the way in from the scene OF the
accident to the point of Bleaching the decks or
the Hadley were covered with water, and the
,.en1hers of the crew that were compelled 70
stay by her took 10 the upper works
The Wilson went down in eighty feet OF water
Wilson was loaded with ore. and belongs TO the
p,ttshure Steamship Line, the fleet OF the United
states Steel Company. The Hadley carried coal