The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-05
Two Steamers Collide at Mid
night ON Lake.
Three Lives Lost and Several
Persons Injured.
SHE WAS SPLIT IN TWO
Survivors Reach Cleveland on
City Of Chicago.
Nobody Seems to Know How 1t
Happened.

Cleveland, O., Aug 5.-As a result of
a collision on Lake Erie between the
steamer City of Venice, ore-laden, and
the steamer Seguin, a steel lumber ves-
sci, off Rondeau, Canada, at midnight,
the former vessel was sunk and three
lives lost, while several other persons
were more or less seriously injured.
The drowned:
PETER SIMONDSON,f fireman, Brook
lyn N. Y.
THOMAS FLANAGAN, ,deckhand, Buff
falo
GEORGE WEIR. watchman. resi-
dence unknown.
Injured:
John Sullivan, Chicago, confusion of
back, will probably die.
J. A. McDougal, Cheboygan, Mich,
chief engineer City of Venice, arm in
jured and body badly bruised.
Lonis Hubecker. Cheboygan. Mich.
arms and back badly bruised
The. cause of the collision is not
known. The night was fairly clear and
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 Seq
uin, W. A. Lavigne, who was on watch,
refuses absolutely to give any informa-
tion in regard to the cause of the ac-
cident. 'sThe less said about it the bet
ter" was all he would say.
The accident happened shortly after
midnight. The City of Venice, laden
with $500 tons of ore, was bound to
Buffalo. while the Seguin was going
north of Parry Sound from OgdenSbuNg
On board the Seguin all were asleep
save the second mate, w. A. Lavigne,
and the watchman who was with him in
the pilot house.
The first mate of the Venice. Sullivan.
was on watch aboard the boat that
went down. How the collision happen
ed 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 when
a terrible crash brought both boats al
most to a standstill The Seguin had
struck the Venice fairly amidships and
plowed its way half through the boat
| The crew and passengers aboard both
boats heard tearing of timbers min
gled with calls for help from those al
ready on deck.
All those who were sleeping rushed
out on deck and there was a frfghtful
panic for time. The Venice, which
had been split in two, was sinking rap
idly Capt. Broderick of the boat ran
on deck in his sleeping robes and i'm
mediately called to the men to man the
life boats. The members of the crew
who had not been hurt, rushed to his as
SiStance and in five minutes they had
the boat in the water. Several of the
men, fearing that the ship would sink
before they had an opportunity to es-
! cape, threw themselves overheard. They
! were picked up by the life boats from
| the Seguin. The City of Venice went
| down in very deep water in less than Ii
| minutes after the collision occurred
| After standing by for half an hour the
| Seguin headed for Cleveland with the
survivors, arriving here early today.
! The City of Venice was wooden YES
! sci, 301 feet long and AZ Feet beam. She
! was owned by the McGraw Transporta-
ton company of Bay City, Mich, and
valued at about $175000. She was COM
| manded by Capt. Broderick.
! The Seguin is an iron vessel, 207 feet
| long and "a feet beam. She is owned by
j. B. Miller of Parry Sound and com
| manded by Capt. J. B. Sims.