The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-05-07
LINER SANK
In COLLISION
The Saginaw Rammed by the Ham
ilton Goes to the Bottom.
AT LEAST 40 PERSONS LOST

In the Crash. Which Came Without
Warning, the Stern Of the Saginaw
Was Cut Away. and Shortly After
She Went Oown-Lfe Boat with
Fifteen Women swamped and All
We're Lost
Norfolk. Va. May 6.-A collision at
sea that cost the lives OF 20 OF more
persons ami the sinking Of the CLYDE
steamship saginaw by the Old DO.
minion Steamship Companys liner
hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter LightShip and Fenwick island
Llghtship. on the Virginia coast. early
In the morning. The Hamilton left
New York FOR Norfolk and the Saei.
nav PASSED out the Virginia Capes
bound Tor Richmond and Norfolk for
Philadelphia. dense fog settled
along the coast, and while going
through this fog al 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
Tor several minutes before the COLI.
sion occurred. According To Captain
Boaz. ut the Hamilton his boat was
making about nine miles an hour and
tne saginaw about ten. The FOG was
So thick that objects ships length
away were invisible. and when the Two
crafts hove in sight OF each other.
how thor. No h..
term before they met The Saginaw
Neered. 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 shin
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 IN. rear.
and the Hamilton circled to the scene
OF the wreck, at the same time lower
ing two lifeboats. There was conster.
nation among the passengers OF III
Old Dominion ship. and the first
thought was for their safety. but so
soon as it was discovered that the shin
was uninjured. save that some bow
plates were stove in, all efforts were
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 we're lowered, and into the first
10 colored women were placed. accord
ing TO Second Officer w. l.. Morris.
who was in command. The boat was
swamped as ii 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 fasten-
ings with a roar like the report of big
guns. and tons OF freight OF all de-
scriptions soon Uttered the sea To
hoating wreckage the struggling PEG
pie in the water chung with despera-
ton, and many of them we're 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 and nothing but her topmasts |
were visible. To these several men
we're clinging, one OF whom was the |
aged captain. ]. s. Tunnel. When he |
was taken of IL was found that he |
had suffered severe If not serious in |
ternal injuries.
The Hamilton lowered around the |
scene of the wreck for over an hour,
but no sign of life was seen amid the !
mass of floating freight. Two bodies. |
one of a man and the other Of wom-
an. both clad only in night dress. were
observed drifting between bales of |
cotton and cases Of goods.
When the Hamilton arrived at her |
pier in this city her bow plates were |
stove in and much wreckage still |
chung to her. All of the damage. how !
ever. was above the water line.
Those known to be lost are:
Passengers-A Gilmore. p. |. Pen
dleton. Florence Newly. Edna Ward. |
III. Z. Jones. Mary Robertson.
Crew-Edward Goslee. first mate: 1
William Bites, FIRST assistant engi-
neer; Mary Anderson. stewardess;-
- - cook. William Morris