The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-06
other Persons Drowned Before the
Hamilton. Life Boats CouIA BE
Sent to the Rescue.
PARTIAL LIST OF THE VICTIMS
NAMES OF THE SAVED PASSENGERS
AND MEMBERS OF CREW.
Captain Of the Saginaw Founds Cling
ing TO a Mast Seriously Injufed-
Captain BOaz's Statement.

NORFOLk, va, May "a coHtsion dl
sea. that cost the lives of twenty pr more
people and the sinking of the Clyde steam
ship Saginaw by the Old Dominions Steam
chip Company's liner Hamilton occurred
between Winter Quarter lightship aid Fen
wick island lightship on the Virginia coast
at 4:40 o'clock this morning.
The Hamilton left New York yesterday
afternoon at o'clock for Norfolk and
the Saginaw passed out the Virginia capes
at o'clock last night bound from. Rich
mond and Norfolk for Philadelphia. A
dense fog settled along the coast shortly
after nightfalr and while going through
this fog at reduced speed the Hamilton
crashed into the saginaw's side abou4 twen-
ty feet from the stern. The scene of the
collision is about thirteen or fourteen miles
off the shore between $50 and 2Oe miles
south OF New York and between 125 :and 14o
miles north Of Norfolk. The fog vyhistles
of both vessels were distinctly heard for
several minutes after the collision occurred
According to Captain Boaz, of the Ham
ilton. his ship was making about nine miles
an hour and the Saginaw about ten. The
fog was SO thick that objects ships length
away were invisible. ana d-wfen TIE two
crafts hove In sight Of each other. bow on.
there was but a moments interim before
they met each other
The Saginaw veered. as did the Hamilton,
but they had not time to clear each other
and the knife-like steel prov of the south
bound vessel struck the Clyde ship on the
port quarter about twenty feet from her
away.
EFFORTS AT RESCUE.
The inrushing water caused the Sag
inaw to settle rapidly In the stern and the
impetus of the Hamilton took her out of
sight OF the crippled vessel Engines. al
ready reversed. were put full steam to the
rear and the Hamilton hurried to the
scene OF the wreck. at the same time low
tion among the passengers of the Old Do
minion ship and the first thought was for
their safety. but so soon as it was discov-
cred that the vessel was uninjured. save
that sonie bow plates were stove in, all ef-
forts were directed to the rescue of those
on the Saginaw.
When the Saginaw was again sighted
her stern was under water and her bow
was high in the ear. Panic-stricken peo-
pie rushed over her decks and scrambled
toward the bow. Lifeboats were lowered
and into the first fifteen colored women
were placed according to Second Officer
w. L. Morris. who was in command. The
boat was swamped as 1t struck the water
and its occupants were thrown into the
sea- All were drowned save the second off,
Ger and the colored stewardess. The latter
died before the small boat reached the Ham,
ilion more from injuries received from the
impact OF the collision than by drowning
She had been held up by First Mate Cos
lee. who sank himself as the small boat
from the Hamilton reached them
DECKS BURST OPEN
In the meantime the rush of water into
the bow Of the Saginaw had caused the
q roar like the report CT big guns, and tons
of freight OF all descriptions soon lit
tered the To floating wreckage the
struggling people In the water chung with
desperation and many of them were rescued
by the boats from the Hamilton.
Before the lifeboats OF the Hamilton had
reached the Saginaw the latter had disap-
peared beneath the waves and nothing but
her topmasts were visible. To these severa,
men were clinging. one of whom was the
aged captain. J. S. Tunnel. When he was
rescued II was found that he had suffered
serious IL not fatal internal injuries The
Hamilton sailed around the scene of the
wreck for more than an hour, but no sign
OF life could be seen among the mass of
floating freight. Two bodies, one of man
and the other of woman. both clad only
I'm night dress. were observed drifting be-
tween bales OF cotton and cases of goods
The first news OF the disaster was learned
at Old Point. where the Hamilton stopped
for a few moments on her way to Norfolk
She arrived at her pier In this city about
O'Clock this afternoon. Her bow plates
are stove in and much wreckage still chung
TO her. All OF the damage. however. was
abcse the water line. The survivors of
the Saginaw. on board the Hamilton. had
been gtven clothing by the passengers and
seamen OF the more fortunate vessel and
collection was taken up among the pas
sengers TO be distributed among them.
II was some time before any definite
statement could be secured from the off,
cials OF either line regarding the real num-
Der OF people lost and saved, and even
now. after official lists have been given ont