The Batesburg advocate. [volume] (Batesburg, S.C.) 1901-1911, 1903-05-13
By the Sinking of the Steamship
Saginaw at Sea.
FULL ACCOUNT OF THE TRAGEDY
The Steamships Saginaw and Hamil-
ton Collidcd in Dense
Fog, and the Saginaw
Was Sunk.

ing OF the Clyde steamship Saginaw
by the Old Dominion Steamship com
pany's liner Hamilton occurred be-
tween Winter Quarter lightship and
Fenwick island lightShip, on the Nir-
ginia coast, at 4.40 o'clock Tuesday
morning May ). The Hamilton left
New York the afternoon before at =
o'clock for Norfolk and the Saginaw
passed out the Virginia capeS at 9
o'clock the same night bound from
Richmond and Norfolk for Philadel-
phia. A dense fog settled along the
coast shortly after nightfall and both
vessels were going at reduced speed
when the crash occurred.
The scene Of the collision is about
twelve miles off the shore and be-
tween $50 and 200 miles south of
New York, or between 125 and 140
miles north of Norfolk. The fog
whistles of both vessels were distinct
ly heard by each other for several
minutes before the collision occurred.
According to Capt. Boaz of the
Hamilton his ship was going about
hiAiS uii liotil anu IlIC IDdelIldN
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 moments interim before
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 Southbound 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 i'm 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 consterna-
tion among the passengers OF the
Old Dominion ship and first thoughts
were OF their safety, but as soon as it
was discovered thaJ the ship was prac-
tically uninjured, only some bow
plates being stove in, all efforts were
directed to the rescue Of the Clyde
company's steamer.
When the Sag lnaw was again sighted
her stern was under water and her
bow high in the air. Panic Sticken
people rushed over her decks and
scrambled toward the bow. LifeboatS
were being lowered and into the first
IL colOred women were placed, accord
ing to Second Otiicer 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 except the
second officer and the colored stew
ardcSs, who was caught by First Of
ticer GoSlee and held until boat from
the Hamilton reached them. The
woman was pulled in but the gallant
mate sank Immediately. The woman
died before the small boat reached the
Hamilton, more from injuries received
by the impact Of the collision than by
drowning.
In the meantime the rush OF wa
terS into the Saginaw had caused the
decks to burst their faSteningS with IL
roar like the report Of big guns and
tons OF freight Of all descriptions soon
Uttered the sea. TO this the Strug-
Cling people in the water clung and
many were rescued by the boats from
the Hamilton and Saginaw. Before
the lifebOatS OF the Hamilton had
reached the Saginaw the latter had
disappeared beneath the waves and
nothing but her topmaStS were viSi-
hln fHn thASa CRynrpl rl N,
ing, one Of whom was the aged cap
tain OF the Saginaw, j. 5. Tunnel
When he was taken off it was found
that he had sustained severe, if not
serious, internal injuries.
The Hamilton hovered around 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
a woman, both clad in night dress,
were observed drifting between the
bales of cotton and cases OF goods. The
first news Of the disaster was received
at Old Point where the Hamilton
stopped for few moments on her way
to Norfolk. She arrived at her pieI
in Norfolk about o'clock Tuesday
afternoon. Her bow plates were stove
in and tons Of wreckage still clung tC
her. All Of the damage was however
above the water line. On board the
survivors OF the Saginaw had beer
given clothing by the passengers anC
Seamen OF the more fortunate veSsc
and a collection was taken up among
the passengers to be distributed
among them.
Capt Tunnel could not be seen. II,
was in a Stateroom on the Hamilton
under the care Of a doctor. His i'm
| jurieS are said to consist OF two broker
ribs and interal disorders. 1t wa:
some time before any definite state
ment could be secured from the oil
cials OF either line regarding the rca
/ number OF people lost and saved, anC
even now after official lists have beer
given out there is great discrepancy be
| tween the statements of passenger
and the Company'S statement. A