Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-08-09
STEAMERS COLLIDE.
Disaster on Lake Erie in Which n
Vessel Is Sunk and Three
Lives Lost


steamer City of Venice, ore-laden, and
the steamer Seguin, a steel lumber
vessel, off Hondeau, Canada, at mid
night the former vessel was sunk and
three lives lost, while several other
persons were more or less seriously
injured.
THE DROWNED-Peter simondson,
fireman, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Thomas Flanagan, deckhand, BuHalo.
George Weir, Waterman, residence IN
known.
INJURED-John Sullivan, Chicago con-
fusion Of back, will probably die.
J. A. McDougal, Cheboygan, Mich, chleI
engineer City of Venice, arm injured ano
body badly bruised.
Louis Hubecker Cheboygan, Mich, head
and back badly bruised.
The cause of the collision is not
known. There was no fog whatever
and the night was fairly clear. The
lights of the City of Venice were
burning brightly. To this the crew
and passengers all testify, saying they
could see the lights on the Venice as
she was sinking. The second mate of
the Seguin, w. A. Lavigne, who was
on watch, refuses absolutely to give
any information in regard to the way
the accident happened. "The less said
about it the BETTER" was the only
statement he would make.
It was shortly after midnight when
the accident happened. The City of
Venice, laden with 5000 tons of ore,
was bound to Buffalo, while the Seguin
was going north to Perry sound from
J. oil
were asleep save the second mate, w.
A. Lavigne, and the Waterman who
was with him in the pilothouse. The
first mate of the Venice, Sullivan, was
on watch aboard the boat that went
down. How the collision happened
cannot be ascertained, as Sullivan is
lying in the hospital and Lavigne will
not talk. The first that was known
that anything had happened was
terrible crash, which brought both
boats almost to a standstill. The
Seguin had struck the Venice fairly
amidships and plowed its way half
through the boat. The crew and pas
sengers aboard both boats heard
tearing OF timbers mingled with calls
for help from those already on deck
All those who were sleeping rushed
out on deck, and there was a fright
full panic for time. The Venice,
which had been split in two, was sink
ing rapidly. Capt. Brodericll, of the
boat, ran on deck in his sleeping robes
and imme diately called to the men to
man the lifeboats. The members of
the crew who had not been hurt
rushed to his assistance and III five
minutes they had the boat in the wa
ter. Several of the men fearing that
the ship would sink before they had
an opportunity to escape threw them
selves overheard. They were later
picked up by the ifeboats from the
Seguin. The City of Venice went
down in very deep water in less than
Is minutes after the collision oc-
Cured. After standing by for an hour
the Seguin headed for Cleveland with
the survivors, arriving here early
Tuesday.
The City of Venice was wooden
vessel, 3O1 feet long and ~ feet beam.
She was owned by the McGraw Trans
portation company, of Bay City, Mich,
and valued at about $175,0OO. She was
commanded by Capt. Broderick.
The Seguin is an iron vessel 207 feet
long and 81 feet beam. She is owned
by q. B. Miller, of Perry Sound, and
commanded by J. NJ. Simms.
Cleveland, O., Aug. 6.-First Mate
Sullivan, of the City of Venice. who
is lying in critical condition at the
Marine hospital, rallied slightly
Tuesday afternoon and made state
ment regarding the collision:
81 was on the night watch he said. ct
was something after midnight when, l first
saw another boat ahead. 1t was still some
distance away but [ blew the whistle to
signal the boat. She did not answer. I
thought that it was strange, but as she was
some distance away I made no attempt to
get out Of the way. All our lights were
burning, and there was no fog, so I don't
see how they could have helped seeing our
vessel When the boat was considerably
closer, l whistled again, but still there was
no answer. 1 was then frightened, and sig
nailed still another time. 1 saw that we
were not seen; at least there was no atten-
ton paid to our signals, and the boat was
bearing directly down upon us.
81 then attempted to get out of the way
and veered the ship dfagonally in her
course, hoping to escape with a slight rub
the collision that began to realize was in
evitable. She was even nearer than 1 sup
posed, however, and going at fast rate.
Suddenly, the bow doomed up high above
US, and there was a sickening crash, and
then for moment [ scarcely realized what
had happened I was thrown off my feet
by the jar and the pilot house was crushed,
and piled on top of me.
81 felt a terrible pain in my back and
chest and then I was swept overheard with
the pilot house. 1t all happened so quick
that 1 could scarcely realize each distinct
sensation, however,
Sullivan was picked up after being
in the water short time Includ-
ing the crew and passengers, there
were about rs persons on the City of
Venice.
Struck by LIGHTNING