Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1903-05-08
COLLISION AT SEA.
Steamer Hamilton Crashed Into
Saginaw, Sinking Her.
Twenty or More People Arc Drowned
The Rush of Water Into tho
Saginaw Caused the Decks
TO Burst-Nany Peo-
pie Rescued.

pie Rescued.
Norfolk, Va, May GA collision at
sea that cost the lives of 20 or more
people and the sinking of the Clyde
steamship Saginaw by the Old Do
minion Steamship Co.'S liner Hamil-
ton occurred between Winter Quar-
ter lightship and Fenwick Island
hghtship, on the Virginia coast, at
4:40 o'clock Tuesday morning. The
Hamilton left New York Monday
afternoon for Norfolk, and the Sag
inaw passed out the Virginia capes at
8 o'clock Monday night, bound from
Richmond and Norfolk for Philadel-
phia. \ dense fog settled along the
coast shortly after nightfall, and
while going through this fog at re-
duced speed the Hamilton crashed
into the Saginaw's side, about 90 feet
from the stern.
The scene of the collision is 13 or
II miles off the shore and between,
$50 and 200 miles south of New York
and between 125 and 148 miles north
of Norfolk.
The fog whistles OF both vessels,
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before the col
lision 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 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 llnife-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 inrushing water caused
the Saginaw to settle rapidly and
the impetus of the Hamilton took
her out of sight of the crippled YES
sci. 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.
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.
Lifeboats were lowered and in the
first Is colored women We're placed.
The boat was swamped as it struck
the water and its occupants were
thrown into the sea. All were
| drowned save the second officer and
the colored stewardess. The latter
died before the small boat reached
the Hamilton, more from injuries re-
ceived by the impact of the collision
than by drowning. She had been
held up by First Mate Goslee, who
sank himself as the small boat from
| the Hamilton reached them.
In the meantime the rush of waters
into the bow of the Saginaw had
caused the decks to burst from their
| fastenings with roar like the report
| of big guns, and tons of freight of
all descriptions soon Uttered the sea.
To the floating wreckage the strug-
Cling people in the water clung with
desperation, and many of them were
rescued by boats from the Hamilton
and Saginaw.
Before the lifeboats Of the Hamil-
ton had reached the Saginaw the lat
ter 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, j. s. Tunnel. When
he was taken off it was found that
he had suffered severe injuries.
The Hamilton hovered around the
scene of the wreck for more than an
hour, but no sign of life could be
seen among the mass of floating
freight. Two bodies, one of a man
and the other of woman, both
clothed only in night clothes, were
observed drifting between bales of
cotton and cases of goods
| Passengers and most of the crew
on both ships were asleep when the
disaster happened and when the ter
| rible shock awakened them a panic
stricken rush for safety took place.
The discipline of the crews was ad-
mirable. Women first" was the in
itial command of Capt. Tunnel after
the lifeboats had been prepared for
lowering. The frightened colored
women piled into the first boat of
the Saginaw and all lost their lives.
New York, May 6.-The steamer
Hamilton, which was in collision
with the Saginaw and sank off the
| Virginia coast, has been in several
serious collisions since she was
launched on January 26, 1899, at
Roach's yard, Chester, Pa. On June
13, 1900. she struck and sank the
steamship Macedonia, seriously dam
aging her own bow. Ten days later
the Hamilton ran into and sank the
schooner John IL. Kerr, and on Oc-
tober of the same year she ran into
the schooner A. A. Shaw, also send
| ing her to the bottom.
VIII Expose the Spies.
Milwaukee, Wis, May GA sensa-
/ tinnnl nNnncn Of nllnmnd cninr In tln