The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-05-11
SHIP SAGINAW SINKS,
TWENTY LOST.
Reports as To the Loss of Life Are
Conflicting, But It Is Certain
Twenty or More Perished.
Graphic Stories of
Collision.

Norfolk. Va. 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
Steamships liner Hamilton occurred be-
tween Quarter light ship and Fenwick
light ship, on the Virginia coast, at 4;4o
o'clock this morning.
The Hamilton left New York yesterday
afternoon at o'clocq for Norfolk and
the Saginaw passed out the Virginia
capes at 9 o'clock last night bound from
Richmond and Norfolk for Philadelphia
4 dense fog settled along tho coast
shortly after nightfall and both vessels
were going at reduced speed when the
crash occurred.
The scene of the collision is about 10
or ii miles off the shore and between lSo
and 200 miles south of New York, or be
tween l25 and Is miles north of Nor
folk
The fog whistles of both vessels were
distinctly heard by each other for several
minutes before the collision occurred.
According to Captain Boaz, OF the liam
iton. his ship was going ABOUT hiie
miles an hour and the SaSlna" apoul
ton The fog was so thick that objects
a ships length away were Invisible ana
when the two crafts hove in Flght OF
each other. bow on. there was but
moments interim before they met ne
Saginaw veered as did the Hamilton pu'
they had not the time to clear each other
and the knife-like steel Prov or the
southhound vessel struck the Clyde snip
port about fifty feet from the stern cut
ting the entire rear of the ship away
f1r
ia settle rapidly In the stern and the
inpetus of the Hamilton took her ont OF
sight of the crippled vessel. Engines al
ready reversed were put full steam 10
the rear and the Hamilton clrcied TO the
scene of the wreck. at the same time
lowering two life boats. There was con-
eternation among the passengers OF me
Oh Dominion ship and first thoughts
were for their safety, but 50 soon as IL
was discovered that the ship was pracu-
,allv uniniured only some bow Plates
stove in all efforts were directed TO the
rescue Of the Saginaws passengers
The Saginaw Goes Down.
When the Saginaw was again sighted
her stern was under water and her DOW
in the air Panic stricken people rushed
over her decks and scrambled toward the
how. Life boats were being lowered ana
into the first fifteen colored women were
placed. according to Second Officer w. /"
Morris. who was in command The boat
vas sN7amped as it struck the water ana
its occupants We're thrown into the sea
All were drowned except the second off
GER and the colored stewardess, who was
caught bv First Officer Goslee and held
until a boat from the Hamilton reached
Them The woman was pulled in, but
the gallant mate sank Immediately The
woman died before the small boat reach
ed the Hamilton, more from injuries re
ceived bv the impact OF the collision than
by drowning.
In the meantime the rush Of waters
into the bow or the Saginaw had caused
the decks to burst their fastenings with
n roar Ike the report Of big guns and
tons OF freight of all descriptions soon
Uttered the sea To this the struggling
people in the water chung and many were
rescued by the boats from the Hamilton
and Saginaw.
Before the life boats of The Hamilton
had reached the Saginaw the latter had
disappeared beneath the waves and
nothing but her toprnasts were visible.
To these several n-en were chnging, one
Of whom was the aged captain of the
Saginaw. J. :. Tunnel. When he was
ken off il was found that he had SuS-
tanned severe, PINOT serious, internal in
JuTies.
The Hamilton lowered 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 q man ana the other of Il woman,
10th clad IN night dress. We're observed
drifting between the bales Of cotton and
cases of goods
The first news of the disaster was re-
eeived at Ola Point, where the Hamilton
stopped for Il few moments on her way to
Norfolk.
Fifteen Lives Lost in Surf.
Causo. Nova Scotia, May 6.-The Amer
ican fishing schooner Gloriana, Captain
George Stoddart, OF Gloucester. Mass, ran
ashore during thick fog on the cliffs at
Whale Cove. near White Point lodges last
night and fifteen Of the crew. inelud-
ing the captain. were drowned. out OF
total OF eighteen.
The survivors are John Richards, Eu
rgyl-