Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-05-07
A COLLISION AT SEA.
The Steamship Saginaw Sunk by
the Steamer Hamilton.
TWENTY OR MORE PEOPLE DROWNED
The Accident Occurred In . Dense Foe-A
Boat with Fifteen Colored Women
swamped and It's Occupants
Thrown Into the Sen.

Norfolk, Va, May GA collision q
sea that cost the lives of 20 or NOR,
people and the sinking of the Clyd,
steamship Saginaw by the Old Do
minion Steamship company's inel
Hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter lightship and Fenwick is
land lightship on the Virginia coast
at 4:40 o'clock yesterday morning
The Hamilton left New York Monday
afternoon at three o'clock for Nor
folk and the Saginaw passed out the
Virginia capes at nine o'clock last
night bound from Richmond and Nor
folk for Philadelphia. A dense fog
settled along the coast shortly after
nightfall, and while going through
this fog at reduced speed the Ham
ilton crashed into the Saginaw's
side about 20 feet from the stern.
The scene of the collision is about
10 or IA miles off the shore and be-
tween fS0 and 200 miles south of
New York.
The fog whistles of both vessels
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before the COLI
sion occurred. According to Capt.
Boaz, Of the Hamilton, his ship was
making about nine miles an hour and
the Saginaw about ten. The fog was
so thick that objects q ships length
away were invisible, and when the
two crafts hove in sight of each
other, bow on, there was but mo-
ment's interim before they met.
The Saginaw veered, as did the
Hamilton, but they had not time to
clear each other and the knife-lile
steel prov of the southbound yes
sci 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
at the stern and the impetus of the
Hamilton took her out of sight Of
the crippled 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 lifeboats. There was
CONSERVATION among the passengers
Of the Old Dominion ship and the
first thought was for their safety,
but so soon as it was discovered that
the ship was uninjured save that
some bow plates were stove in, all
efforts were directed to the rescue
Fof those on the Saginaw.
| When the Saginaw was again
sighted 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. Lifeboats were lowered and
into the first Is 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 occu-
pants were thrown into the sea. All
were drowned save the second Of
ficer and the colored stewardess.
~, ~ n,oii
The latter died De1ore ,he sinhn
boat reached tne halhli.oh, nore
from injuries rece,'eu Ny 'ne in'paoo
OF the coiiision .nan py uro"nns.
She had peen neid up Dy rirsD mn'e
Goslee, VINO sank ni'nsei as .ne
small boat from tne naiii.pn
reached them' In tne ineahtine .ne
rush OF waters ineo 'he pow - "ao
Saginaw had caused tne uechs "
Durst from 'nen ."s
roar ike the report OF Dig guns anu
tons OF rreignt o. aii ueScI,p.ons
soon Uttered tne sea: 10 noa'n
wreckage the struggling People y
the water chung with desperation ano
many OF them were rescueu ny 'no
boats from the Hamilton.
Before the lifeboats OF the hamiF
ton had reached the Saginaw the lat-
ter had disappeared Deheath Sne
waves and nothing but her topmasts
were visible. To these several men
were clinging, one OF whom was the
aged captain, J. s. Tunnel. When ne
was taken of It was found that he
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