The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-05-08
SENT DOWN TO
BOTTOM OF SEA.
STEAMSHIP SAGINAW IN COLLISION WITH
THE HAMILTON.
Over Twenty Lives LOSt--Came TOpether In
Heavy Fog, the Clyde Liners
Stern Being Cut Off.

more people aud tho sinking of the
Clyde steamship Saginaw by the Old
Dominion Steamship Company's 8 liner
Hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter light ship, and Fenwlok Is
land light ship, on the Virginia
coast, at 4.4O o'clock this morning.
sIhe Hamilton left New York yester.
Iday afternoon for Norfolk, and the
Saginaw passed out the Virginia
capes at . o'clock last night bound
from Richmond and Norfolk for Phil
adelphia. A dense fog settled along
the cost shortly after nightfall and
both vessels were going at reduced
speed when the crash occurred.
The scene of the collision is about
thirteen or fourteen miles off the
shore and between 18O and 200 miles
south of New York or between $50
and lao miles north of Norfolk. The
fog whistles of both vessels were dis
tinctly heard by each other for several
minutes before the collision occurred.
According to Capt Boaz, of the Hamil-
ton, his ship was going about nine
miles an hour and the Saginaw about
ten. The fog was so thick that
objects ships length away we're
Invisible, and when the two craft
hove in sight of each other, bow on,
there was but moments interim be-
fore they met.
The Saginaw veered, as did the
Hamilton, but they had not the 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 20 feet from her
stern, cutting the entire rear of the
ship away. The in-rushing water
caused the Saginaw to settle rapidlv
III the stern and the impetus of the
Hamilton took her out of sight of the
crippled vessel. Engines already
reversed were put full steam to the
rear and the Hamilton circled to the
scene OF the wreck, at the same time
lowering two life boats. There WAS
CONSERVATION among the passengers
OF the Old Dominion ship aud first
thoughts were for their safety, but
80 soon as it was discovered that the
snip WAS practically uninjnred, only
some bow plates being stove in, all
efforts were directed to the rescue
Of the Saginaw's company.
SAGINAW HAD SUNK.
When the Saginaw was again
sighted her stern was under water
and her bow high in the air. Panic
stricken people rushed over her decks
and scrambled toward the bow. Life
boats were being lowered and into
the first fifteen colored women we're
placed, according to Second Officer
w. IL Morris, who was in command.
The boat was swamped az !, struck
the water and it's occupants we're
thrown into. the sea All were
dro"ned except the second officer
and tho colored stewardess, who was
caught by FIRST Officer Goslee and
held until boat from tha Hamilton
reached them. The woman died
before the small boat reached the
Hamilton, more from injuries re-.
celved by the impact of the collision
than by drowning.
sAdINAw's DECKS BURST.
In the meantime the rush of waters
INTO the bow of thu Saginaw had
caused the decks to burst their fast-
enlngs with roar like the report of
blg guns and tons Of freight of all
kinds soon Uttered the sea. TO this
the struggling people in the water
clnng and many were rescued by the
boats from the Hamilton and Sag
inaw.
Before the life boats Of tho Ham
Ilton had reached the Saginaw the
latter had disappeared beneath the
waves and nothing bnt her topmasts
were visible. To those several mon
were clinging, one Of whom was the
aged captain of the Saginaw, j. S.
Tunnel. When he wss taken off it
WAS found that he had sustained
severe. if not serious, internal in
juries.
The Hamilton lowered around the