The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-05-06

Tt was clear when we left New York yesterday afternoon, but we ran into fog bank four miles north of Egg Harbor, the fog lasting until we reached Cape Charles this morning. It was about 4:40 this morning and we were proceeding at about nine knots an hour. We had been under reduced speed since encountering the fog. We could not see a ships length ahead, when we heard a whistle on the starboard bow two points ahead. We stopped the Hamilton and then heard another whistle. Suddenly the Saginaw loomed up three points on the bow and the Saginaw attempted to run across the Hamilton's bow. We backed at sull speed. but struck the Saginaw when on the port quarter. Within very short time she went down. When the Hamilton backed off she was settling. We lowered two boats. but meanwhile the Saginaw had lowered her boats and raft. I picked up two os these boats and raft. The third was probably sunk"
 Purser Mccormick of the Hamilton estimates that the Saginaw sank within ten minutes after the collision, though lIlcIC dIC UlllcLS WtlO soy tidL LH6 LliIlC ,, was probably longer. The purser stat ed that lifeboats were lowered from l both vessels immediately after they struck. One of these from the Saginaw filled with passengers was overturned ill the suction and all hands were thrown into the water. The passengers and crew of the Saginaw were rescued in various ways. Some were taken from the water and othres from the boat just before she went down.
 Captain TunneH of the Saginaw did not leave his vessel until the last min- ute. He was finally taken from the rigging of the sinking ship and when gotten aboard the Hamilton was found to be badly injured. He is now on the Hamilton under the care of a physician and cannot be seen. His injuries are serious, but not fatal.
 Engineer Selzer of the Saginaw re- ported to the Clyde officials here this afternoon that the Saginaw lies in fif- teen fathoms of water. First Mate Goslee of the Saginaw is among the missing. The Clyde company's esti- mate of the missing is six of the crew and nine passengers This is the re- port that the Clyde officials sent their home office in Philadelphia.
 The Hamilton was in command of Captain R. B. Boaz. No one on the Old Dominion boat was hurt and the Nes- sel was damaged only about the bow. This damage is comparatively small, when all things are considered.
 c. K. Berwin of New York was one of the passengers on the steamer Ham, ;lton. He said:
 Fog settled down like pall on the ocean abou. 7 o'clock last night. Sud- denly, when we were two hours late this morning, six bells rang and knew something was wrong. The crash came next, with a grinding which made the ship shiver Nothing had happened to, our ship below. But then came the terrible sights. As I stood there gaz- ing out to: sea the Saginaw appeared with twenty foot of her stern torn com pletely away. So cleanly was this part cut off that could look right into the steamer. At the time she was still afioat but she quickly disappeared in the dense fog and sank just nineteen minutes after the crash. The first thought was for our own safety, and our own boats were lowered and the hull examined. When it was found that she was not injured, then the cap tain and his crew turned towards the other boat, hoping to save some lives When the Hamilton circled and we again saw the steamer through the fog and mist only her two masts were showing, as she had seuttled and was resting quietly on the bottom. It was providential that the sea was quiet. Our boats brought off sixteen people, of whom four were white. The captain was dashed to the mast with one white passenger, but two of his ribs were broken. So great was the confusion that one man put on life preservers on his feet and drowned, floating feet up."
 E. E. Cole of Philadelphia, who was saved from the Saginaw, had just sold out his business in Newport News and was en route home. He placed $7OO and diamond pin beneath his pillow be- fore retiring. When the crash came all thought of valuables was forgotten and he sought safety on deck. Then he remembered his money and started below, but was driven back by the waters. Describing collision, MT. Cole declared t was so sudden that no one could scarcely realize first what had happened. Mr. Cole grasped piece of wreckage and managed to reach one of the topmasts os the sunken ship. from which he was taken by a boat from the Hamilton.
 The Saginaw formerly was a British tramp ship of 2,500 tons and came in here some years ago with her bow stove in, having been in collision with another vessel off the Virginia Capes. She was loaded with sugar atthe time.