The Irish standard., 1903-05-09
| COLLiDED In A FOG.
Terrific Crash Between Two Ocean
Steamers.
One of Them Sinks in n short Vim
anu Twenty or More Lives Are
LDst-D isuster Occurs on
Virginia Coast.


steamship Saginaw by the old Domin-
ion Steamship company's liner Ilamil
ton, occurred between Winter Quarter
Lightship and Fenwicll Island Light
ship on the Virginia coast at 4:4O
O'Clock Tuesday morning. The Hamil
ton left New York Monday afternoon
at O'Clock for Norfolk, and the Sagi-
nav passed out the Virginia capes at
9 O'Clock Monday night bound from
Richmond and Norfolk for Philadel-
phia. y dense fog settled along the
coast shortly after nightfull and
while going through this fog at re-
ducrd speed the Hamilton crashed into
the Saginw's side about 20 feet from
the stern. The scene of the collision
is about 10 or IA miles off the shore
and between $50 and 200 miles south
OF New York and between 1926 and 14O
miles north of Norfolk.
The Crash.
The fog whistles of both vessels
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before he collision
occurred. According 10 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 a ships length away
were invisible. and when the two
crafts hove in sight of each other. bow
on, there WAS but moment s interim
before they met. The Saginaw
rrered. as did the Hamilton, but they
had not time to clear each other and
the knife like steel prov of the SOUTH
bound vessel struck the Clyde ship on
the port quarter about 20 fee, from
her stern. cutting the entire rear of
the ship away The inrushing water
caused the Saginaw to settle rapidly
in the stern and the impetus of the
Hamilton took her out of sight of the
crippled vessel. Engines already re-
vcr>ed, 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 Consideration among the
passengers of the old Dominion ship
and the first thought was for their
safety. but SO soon as ii was discover
Ell that the slip was uniniurcd save
that some bow plates were stove in
all efforts were directed to the rescue
of those on he 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. lifc bonts were
women were placed, according to
Second Officer w. Il. Morris, who was
in command. The boat was swnnlped
as it struck the water and its occu-
pants were thrown into the sea. All
were drowned save the second officer
ter died before the small boat reached
the Hamilton, more from injuries re-
ceivcd by the impact of the collision
than by the drowning. She had been
held up by First Mate GosIcr. who
sank himself, as the small boat from
the Hamilton reached them.
The saginaw Sinks.
I'm tile meantime the rush of
waters into the bow of the Saginaw
had caused the decks to burst from
their fastrnings with IL roar like The
rcp"r, of big guns and tons Of freight
of all descriptions soon Uttered the
sea. TO floating wrcckagc the s,r,,g-
Cling people in the water cllng with
desperation, and many of them were
rescued by the boats from the HAM
ilton. Before the life boats of the
Hamilton had reached the Saginaw
the latter had disappeared beneath
the waves. and nothing but her top
mnsts were visible.
Tile LOSS Of Life.
1t was some time before any definite
statement could be secrucd from THE
officials of either line regarding the
real number Of people lost and saved,
and even now, after official lists have
been given out, there is Il great dis
crcpnmry between the statements of
passengers and the conlpnny's state
mcnt.
According to the Clyde line officials,
the names of only is passengers are
known, and it is admitted by Second
Officer Morris that Is colorcd women,
all of whom are now dead, were in the
swampcd life boat. The crew of the
Saginaw numbered &c all told From
the officers of the Clyde company here
she Carried Is passengers.
The discipline Of tile crews was adj
mirable. "Womcn first" was the ini-
tinl command of Capt. Tunnel after
the life boat had been prepared for
lowering. The frightened colored
women piled into the first boat Of the
Saginaw, and all lost their lives.
Capt. j. S. Tunnel, Of the Saginaw,
did not leave his vessel until the last
minute. He was finally taken from
the rigging of the sinking ship, and
when gotten aboard the Hamilton was
found TO be badly injured.
Formulation Granted.
Washington, May G.-Final permits
sion reached the Italian, British and
German embassies Tuesday night for
the allies Representatives to sign with
Mr.. Brown. Vcnczuela's pIcnipoten-
tiary, the protocol submitting the
question Of preferential treatment to
The Hague tribunal for arbitration.
hoy KILLED by Charge of BEANS.
BhIdwnsvllc, n. y, May CAN.
drew, he n-year-oId son of Leonard
Baldwin, was killed by the accidental
discharge of gun loaded with dry
beans and which was used to shoot
rats.
EN-nnyor Fnmnd Dend.
,,u,, I., Ma. N.