The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-06
THIRTEEN LIVES LOST AT SEA
STEAMSHIP HAMILTON SINKS
THE SAGINAW IN THE FOG.
Collision at & A. Mon winter Quarter Aght.
on Delaware COast-Sasinaw Sinks In
20 Minutes--Captain Taken OF At
Last Moment-Dead Chieny Negroes.

| 20 Minutes--Captain Taken OF At
Last Moment-Dead Chieny Negroes.
| NORFOLK, Va, May 5.-Thrteen lives were
lost at sea just before dawn this morning
in collision between two coastwise steam
ers, the Hamilton of the Old Dominion Line
and the Saginaw Of the Clyde Line, of
| Winter Quarter Light.
| The Saginaw went to the bottom in twenty
minutes. All those lost were on the Sagi-
| nav. Most of them were negroes. The
Hamilton was bound from New York to
Norfolk. The Saginaw was bound to
Philadelphia from Norfolk. Each boat
left port Yesterday.
| Agent Crowel of the Old Dominion
company says the Hamilton was going
slowly in fog when the officer in charge
heard whistle at 440 o clock this morning
of Winter Quarter Light, Delaware coast.
The sound came from the starboard, and the
watch officer rang a bell to stop. Then
there came another whistle, and steamer
appeared going directly across the bow.
J The Hamilton backed at full speed. and the
helm was put hard aport, but it was too
late. The stem of the Hamilton caught the
Saginaw on the starboard quarter and
Ilpptd Il RItdN IlOlt III ItI. Inc
backed away, and as she did so there was a
cry from the Saginaw, which had passed
on, that the vessel was sinking. The
Hamilton put out two boats for the rescue
and stayed there until there was no sign Of
life or of the wreck on the surface. Mean
time, the Saginaw had gone down.
The Hamilton arrived here this afternoon.
Her officers ray that she was going slowly
in the fog and was blowing her whistle
frequently. The passengers were awakened
by a crash and grinding sound. Look
ing out they Jaw that their ship had struck
and had cut off about twenty feet of the
Saginaw's stern. Everybody was quickly
on deck. and there was some excitement
among the passengers, but when 1t was
learned that the Hamilton was in no danger
of sinking the passengers became quiet,
and interest then centred in the fate Of
the Saginaw and her passengers and crew.
The Saginaw's three boats soon brought
some sixteen people of the ships company
and passengers TO the Hamilton, and they
were taken aboard and cared for The
colored stewardess of the Saginaw died
in the boat while on her way to the
Hamilton. The Saginaw had eighteen pas
sengers aboard, mostly colored. Mate
Goslee, who was lost, is supposed to have
held from Philadelphia.
The Hamilton lay by for nearly two
hours, using her boats all the while, and
when nothing further was possible to be
done proceeded to this port. The only
damage done her was to her bowplates, and
these were not injured seriously.
The Saginaw was formerly British tramp
ship and came in here several years ago
with her bow stove in, having been in col
lision with another vessel on the Virginia
Capes. She was loaded with sugar at the
time. She lay up at Portsmouth for some
time repairing. She was subsequently
bought by the Clyde Line
Purser Mccormick of the Hamilton says
that ifeboats were lowered from both
One Of these from the Saginaw filed with
passengers was overturned. The passen-
gers and crew of the Saginaw were rescued
in various ways. Some were taken from
fore she went down. Capt. J. s. Tunnel
of the Saginaw did not leave his vessel until
the last minute He was finally taken
from the rigging of the sinking ship, and
when put aboard the Hamilton was found
to be badly injured. He is now on the
Hamilton under the care of a physician.
His injuries are not mortal.
Engineer Seller of the Saginaw reported
to the Clyde officials here this evening that
the Saginaw lies in fifteen fathoms Of water
those missing. The Clyde estimate Of the
missing is six of the crew and nine passen-
gers This ia the report that the Clyde
officials sent to their home office in Phil
adelphia. The Hamilton was in command
of Capt. B. B. Boaz.
First Mate Edward Goslee Of the Saginaw
lost his life in trying to save the stewardess.
He jumped into the sea to save her
When the Hamilton freed herself from
the Sag inaw she had about a ton Of
tho (vvIa - u mer's wrepk hanging tn
her, and even when she arrived here she
had one Of the Saginaw's plates hanging
to her. The rescued passengers were dis
charged al Old Point Comfort.
Those lost We're A. Gilmore, Mary Robin
son, NJ. E. jones, Edna Ward, Florence
Newberry, r, L. Pendleton, colored infant,
Peter Swanson, William Hasson. Philadel-
phia; steward, colored; cook. colored;
stewa steward! 49, oolored, r whose body was re-
Those saved: John Trever, Philadelphia;
E. B. Cole, Philadelphia; George B. Hood,
Philadelphia; h. B. fouhead, Chester, Pa;
Harry F.. Winters. Jr.. Camden, N. j.; A.
Northwest. Va; John Reese. Norfolk;
Willie Primede. Newport News. OF the
crew there were saved the captain, second
officer and six seamen, chief engineer, the
second assistant, six firemen, three oilers
and a colored pantryman.
The negroes lost were going North largely
for summer work.
The Hamilton has been in several other
collisions but always escaped with slight
damage She sank the steamship Mace
donna in June, 1899. and in the same year
ran down the schooners W. H. Kerr and
A. A. Shaw Not soul was lost on any Of
the luckess craft, as the Hamilton veteran
skipper. Capt Boaz. had his lifeboats out
in jiffy, saving everybody. 1t is the
habit of the Old Dominion liners to drill
their lifeboat crews daily of the Virginia
and Jersey coasts by actually lowering
boats. in foul or fair weather, and that is
why they are 80 handy in life saving.
Fl. b. Walker. vice-president and traffic
manager Of the Old Dominion Line. received
several telephone messages from Norfolk
and from the Clyde Line about the collision.
The messages said that the collision oc-
Cured at 80 A. NJ, yesterday and that the
first assistant engineer, the first officer.
the stewardess, two others OF the crew and
six passen gers Of the Saginaw were miss-
ing. It was surmised by the Clyde Line
and Old Dominion folks that the missing
persons may have drifted on in the dense
Fog, possibly landing at Chincoteague, in a
lifeboat ,lnaccounted for.
The Hamilton will return to this port
under her own steam for repairs. The