New-York tribune., 1902-08-06
LAKEs7EA uERS IN COLLISION
THE CITY OF VENICE SUNK IN LAKE
ERIE-THREE MEN DROWNED AND
SEVERAL INJURED.

Cleveland Aug 1.-The steamer City of Ven
ice ore laden and the lumber steamer Seguin.
came into collision on Lake Erie last night off
Rondeau Canada. the former vessel going to the
bottom Three men drowned and three
injured. The drowned were Peter Simondson,
fireman Brooklyn N. Y: Thomas Flanagan,
deckhand. Buffalo; George Weir. watchman. res
idence unknown.
The injured are John Sullivan. of Chicago,
first mate of the City of Venice, confusion OF
back will probably die: J. A McDougal' OF
Cheboygan. Mich, engineer of the CITY OIL
Venice arm injured and body badly bruised;
Louis Hubecker, of Cheboygan, head and back
badly bruised.
There was no fog and the night was fairly
clear The lights of the City of Venice were
burning brightly To this the crew and pas
sengers al testify, saying they could see the
lights on the Venice as she was sinking. Inc
second mate of the Seguin. w. A. Lavlsne' WHO
was on watch refuses abs, utey to give any
information In regard to the cause of the dis
aster. The less said about 1t the better was
the only statement he would make
1t was a little after midnight when the acci-
dent happened The City of Venice, laden with
1900 tons of ore, was bound to Buffalo. while
the Seguin was going north to Perry Sound
from Osdensburs On board the Seguin all were
asleep except the second mate, w. A. Lavigne;
the watchman who with him In the pilot
house, and the engine crew. The first mate Oh
the Venice Sullivan, was on watch apoaro MS
vessel The steamers came together with
terrSle crash which brought both boats al
most to a standstill. The Seguin had struck
the Venice fairly amidships. and ploughed her
way half through the boat. All those who had
been sleeping rushed out on deck. and there was
a panic for time. The Venice. which had been
cut almost in two. sinking rapidly. Captain
Frederick ran on deck in his nightclothes, and
Immediately called to the men to man the life-
boat. The uninjured members of the crew
r;-shed to his assistance, and in five minutes had
the boat in the water, Several of the men,
fecring that the vessel would St before they
could escape, threw themselves overheard, and
were later picked up by the lifeboats from the
Seguin The City of Venice went down in very
deep water in less than fifteen minutes after
the collision occurred. After standing by for an
hour, the Seguin headed for Cleveland with the
survivors, arriving here early to'ay.
First Mate Sullivan of the City of Venice. VINO
is lying in critical condition a. the Marine
Hospital, rallied slightly this afternoon and
made statement regarding the collision. I
was on the night watch" he said. 1T was
something after midnight when first saw an
other boat ahead. 1t still some distance
away but blew the whistle to signal the boat.
strange. but as she was some distance away /
made no attempt to get way. All
our lights were burning. and there was no fog,
so don't see how they could have helped see
ing our vessel. When the boat Considera-
bly, closer 1 whistled again. but still there was
no answer / was then frightened. and sig
nailed still another time. l saw that we were
not seen; at least, there was no attention paid
to our signals and the boat was bearing directly
down upon
Il then attempted TO get out of the way. and
veered the ship diagonally in her course. hop
ing to escape with slight rub the collision that
] began to realize was inevitable. She even
nearer than / supposed. however. and going at
a fast rate. Suddenly the bow doomed up high
above and there was Sickening crash. ana
then for moment scarcely realized what had
happened. | thrown from my feet by the
Jar and the pilot house was crushed and piled
on top Of me. l felt terrible pain IN my back
and chest. and then was swept overheard with
the pilot house. II all happened so quickly that
could scarcely realize each distinct sensation
however"
Sullivan was picked up after being in the
passengers there were about twenty-five per-
sons on the City of Venice.
The City OF Venice a wooden vessel, 3Ol
feet long and ~ feet beam. She was owned by
the McGraw Transportation Company, Of Bay
City Mich. and valued at about S1I50H
The Seguin is an iron vessel POI feet long and
"a feet beam. She is owned by J. B. Miller, Of
Perry Sound, and commanded by Captain J. B.
Sims