Milford chronicle., 1903-05-08

She Went Down-Llfe Boat With
Fifteen Women swamped and All
Were Lost.
Norfolk, Va, May GA collision at
sea that cost the lives OF 20 or more
persons and the sinking of the Clyde
bteamship Saginaw by the Old Do
minion Steamship Company's liner
Hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter Lightship and Fenwick Island
Lightship, on the Virginia coast, early
in the morning. The Hamilton left
New York for Norfolk, and the Sagi-
nav passed out the Virginia Capes
bound for Richmond and Norfolk for
Philadelphia. A dense fog settled
along the coast, and while going
through this fog at reduced speed the
Hamilton crashed into the Saginaw's
side about 20 feet from the stern.
The fog whistles of both vessels
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before the COLI
sion occurred. According to Captain
Boaz, of the Hamilton, his boat was
making about nine miles an hour and
the Saginaw about ten. The fog was
so thick that objects a ships length
away were invisible, and when the two
crafts hove in sight of each other,
bow on. there was but a moments in
terim before they met. 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 20 feet from
her stern, cutting the entire rear of
the ship away. The inrushing water
caused the Saginaw to settle rapidly
in the stern, and the impetus OF the
Hamilton took her out of sight of the
crippled vessel. Engines already re-
Versed were put full steam to the rear,
and the Hamilton circled to the scene |
of the wreck, at the same time lower
ing two lifeboats. There was conster- |
nation amcng the passengers of the /
Old Dominion ship. and the first |
thought was for their safety but so
soon as it was discovered that the ship |
was uninjured, save that some bow /
plates were stove in, all efforts we're .
directed to the rescue OF those on the /
Saginaw.
When the Saginaw was again sight .
ed her stern was under water and her
bow was high in the air Panic
stricken people rushed over her decks
and scrambled toward the bow. Life
boats were lowered, and into the first
15 colored women were placed, accord
ing 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 Hamilton, more from in
juries received by the impact of the
collision than by drowning She had
been held up by First Mate Goslee,
who sank himself as the small boat
from the Hamilton reached them. In
the meantime the rush of waters into
the bow Of the Saginaw had caused
the decks to burst from their fastcn-
lngs with roar like the report of big
guns. and tons of freight of all de-
soon Uttered the sea. To
floating wreckage the struggling peo-
pie in the water clung with despera-
ton, and many of them were rescued
by the boats from the Hamilton and
Saginaw.
Before the life boats Of the Hamil-
ton had reached the Saginaw the lat
ter had disappeared beneath the
waves al nothing but her topmasts
were visible. To these several men
we're clinging, one of whom was the
aged captain, J. S. Tunnel. When he
was taken OF it was found that he
lad suffered severe If not serious in
.ernal injuries.
The Hamilton lowered around the
scene of the wreck for over an hour,
1ut no sign of life was seen amid the
mass of floating freight Two bodies,
me of a man and the other of a WON
In, both clad only in night dress, were
observed drifting between bales of
,otton and cases Of goods.
When the Hamilton arrived at her
,ier in this city her bow plates were
itove in and much wreckage still
lung to her. All Of the damage. how
,ver. was above the water line.
Those known to be lost are:
Passengers-A. Gilmore. P. l. Pen
Ileton, Florence Newby, Edna Ward,
4. E. Jones. Mary Robertson.
Crew-Edward Goslee, first mate;
William Bites. first assistant engi- {
leer; Mary Anderson, stewardess;
. -, cook; William Morris.
teward; unknown colored waiter;
Peter Swanson. I
Just how many Of the above passen-
'ers were included in the Is that were l
ost in the swamped life boat cannot s
Ie determined as yet.
The known saved from the Saginaw s
re: Captain J. s. Tunnel, badly in '
ured about the head and internally.
lso two ribs broken; Chief Engineer
,eitzer, Second Assistant Engineer
8urrey, Second Mate W. l. Morris.