The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-05-13
Old Dominion Liner Sinks a Clyde
Steamer.
TWENTY PERSONS DROWNED.
THE HAMIlTO COMING SOUTH FROM
NEW YORK MEETS TIE SAGINAW
GOING NORTH
From Norfolk ia a Dense Fog Off the
Virginia Coast About One Hundred and
Fifty Miles From Norfolk.

Norfolk, We, May "a collision at
sea that cost the lives Of twenty or
more people and the sinking of the
CLYDE steamship Saginaw by the old
Dominion Steamship Company's liner
Hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter light ship and Fenwick Island
light ship, on the Virginia coast, at
40 o'clock this morning. The
Hamilton left New York yesterday
afternoon for Norfolk, and the Saginaw
passed out the Virginia capes at 8
o'clock last night bound from Rich
mond and Norfolk for Philadelphia. A
dense fog settled along the coast short
" 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 1sO and 200 miles. south
Of New York, or between $50 and l4O
miles north of Norfolk. The fog
whistles of both vessels were distinct
" heard by each other for several
minutes before the collision occur
red. According to Capt. Boaz, Of
the Hamilton, his ship was going about
nine miles an hour and the 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, bow on, there
was but a moments interim before
they met.
The Saginaw veered, as did the
Hamilton, but they had not the time
tosclear 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 rapidly in the
stern and the impetus of the Hamil-
ton took her out of sight of the Grip.
pied 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 and first thoughts were
for their safety, but so soon as it was
discovered that the ship was practical
IL uniniured, only some bow plates
being stove in, all efforts were direct
ed to the rescue of the Saginaw's COM
pany.
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 were placed,
according to Second Officer W. L.
Morris, who was in command. The
boat was swamped as it struck the
water and its occupants were thrown
into the sea. All were drowned ex-
cept the second officer and the colored
stewardess, who was caught by First
Officer Goslee and held until boat
from the Hamilton reached them. The
woman died before the small boat
reached the hamilton, more from in
iuries received by the impact of the
collision than by drowning.
In the meantime the rush OF waters
into the bow of the Saginaw had
caused the decks to burst their fasten-
ings with roar like the report of big
guns and tons of freight of all kinds
soon Uttered the sea. TO this the
struggling people IN the water ciung
and many were rescued by the boats
from the Hamilton and Saginaw.
Before the life boats of the Hamil-
ton had reached the Saginaw the latter
had disappeared beneath the waves
and nothing but her topmasts were
visible. To these several men were
clinging, one of whom was the aged
captain of the Saginaw, j. S. Tun-
nell When he was taken of it was
found that he had sustained severe,
if not serious, internal injuries.
The Hamilton lowered round the
scene of the wreck for over 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 in night dress,
were observed drifting between the
bales of cotton and cases of goods.
W.