The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-05-06
Accident Off Coast of Virginia.
  DENSE FOG PREVAILED
Liner Hamilton Crashes Into
 Steamship Saginaw.
Each Knew of the Others Proximity, But No Object Was Visible Further Than the Length
 of a Vessel.

Norfolk, Va, May 5.-A collision at sea that cost the lives of twenty or more per sons and the sinking of the Clyde Steam ship Saginaw by the old Dominion Steam- ship Companys liner, Hamilton, occurred between Winter Quarter Lightship and Fenwick Island Lightship on the Virginia coast at 4:40 o'clock this morning.
 The Hamilton left New York yesterday afternoon at o'clock for Norfolk and the Saginaw passed out the Virginia Capes at o'clock last night, bound from Richmond and Norfolk tor Philadelphia A dense fog settled along the coast short ly after nightfall and while going through this fog at reduced speed the Hamilton crashed into the Saginaw's side about twenty feet from the stern. The scene of the collision is about thirteen or four teen miles off shore md between lSO and 200 miles south of New York. and between 1e5 and 14O miles north of Norfolk.
 The fog whistles of both vessels were distinctly heard by each other for sev- eral minutes before the collision occurred According to Captain Boaz of the Hamil- ton. 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 hove in sight of each other. bows on, there was but a moments interim before they met.
 Rear of Ship Cut Away.
 The Saginaw veered, as did the Hamil- ton, but they had not time to clear each other and the knife-like steel prov Of the southbound vessel struck the Clyde ship on the port quarter about twenty feet from her stern. cutting the entire rear of the ship away.
 The inrushing water caused the Sagi- naw to settle rapidly in the stern and the impetus of the Hamilton took her out oN sight of the crippled vessel. Engines already reversed were put fusl steam to the rear and the Hamilton circled to the scene of the wreck at the same time low ering two life boats.
 There was consternation among the passengers of the Old Dominion ship and the first thought was for their safety, but so soon as 1t was discovered that the ship was uninjured save that some bow plates were stove in, all efforts were directed to the rescue of those on the Sa ginaw.
 When the Saginaw was again sighted her stern was under water and the bow was high in the air. Panic-stricken per sons rushed over her decks and scram- bled toward the bow, Lifeboats were lowered and into the first fifteen colored women were placed, according to second officer w. l.. Morris, who was in com mand. The boat was swamped as 1t struck the water and the occupants thrown into the sea All were drowned except the second cook and the colored stewardess. The latter dled before the small boat reached the Hamilton. more from injuries received 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.
 Like Sound of Big Guns.
 Tn the meantime the rush of waters in- to the bow of the Saginaw had caused the decks to burst from their fastenings with a roar like the report of big guns and tons of freight of all kinds soon lit- tered the sea. To floating wreckage the struggling people in the water chung with desperation and many of them were res cued by the boats from the Hamilton. Before the life boats of the Hamilton had reached the Saginaw, the latter had disappeared beneath the waves and noth- ing but her topmasts were visible. To these several men were clinging, one of which was the aged captain, J. H. Tun- nell When he was taken out it was found he had suffered severe internal injuries.
 The Hamilton lowered 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 or uldH ana the otneT Ol q Wo- man. both clad only in night dress, were observed drifting between bales of cot ton and cases of goods.
 The first news of the disaster was learned at Old Point. where the Hamil- ton stopped for a few moments on her way to Norfolk.
 She arrived at her pier in this city about o'clock this afternoon Her bow plates are stove in and much wreckage still cIung to her. All damage, however was above the water line.
 The survivors of the Saginaw on board the Hamilton had been given clothing by the passengers and seamen of the more fortunate vessel. and a collection was taken up among the passengers to he distributed among them.
 It was some time before any definite statement could be secured from the of ficials of either line regarding the real number of persons lost and saved and even now. after official lists have been given out. there is great discrepancI between the statements of passenger . and the company's statement.
 List of Passengers
 According to the Clyde Line officials. the names of only eighteen passengers are known and it is admitted by Second Officer Morris that fifteen colored women all of whom are now dead. were in the swamped lifeboat The crew or the SaBlnaW numbered twenty-six all told. From the officers of the Clyde Company here, the following list of passengers was obtained: E. B Cole. Philadelphia. J Trevor, Philadelphia. R B. Younghead. Chester. Pa. George B, Hood. Philadelphia. IT F Winters Camden N. J. Mary A. Sanderson, Windsor. N. c. Morris Hayner, Northeast, Va. John Reese Norfolk. Miller PenneH Norfolk. Judson Seviis. Berkley, Va David Roland Newport News. Mary Robertson. Florence Newby Edna Ward