Evening journal., 1903-05-06
TWENTY LOST
IN A COLLISION
BETWEEN LINERS
Clyde Steamer Saginaw,
Rammed by Hamilton Goes
to the Bottom
CRASH CAME IN A DENSE FOG
Life Boat Containing Fifteen coIored
Women Swamps and All Were
Drowned-BOth Steamers said to Be
Going at Reduced Rate Of Speed.

Drowned-Roth Steamers Said to Be
Going at Reduced Rate Of Speed.
Norfolk, Va. May Ga collision at
sea that cost the lives of 20 or more
persons and the sinking Of the Clyde
steamship Saginaw by the Old Do
minion Steamship Company's liner
Hamilton occurred between Winter
Quarter Lightship and Fenwick Island
Lightship, on the Virginia coast, early
in the morning The Hamilton left
New York for Norfolk, and the Sagi-
nav passed out the Virginia Capes
bound for Richmond and Norfolk for
Philadelphia A dense fog settled
along the coast, and while going
through this fog at reduced speed the
Hamilton crashed into the Saginaw's
side about 20 feet from the stern.
The fog whistles OF both vessels
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before the COLI
sion occurred. According to Captain
Boaz, of the Hamilton, his boat was
making about nine miles an hour and
the Saginaw about ten. The fog was
so thick that objects a ships length
away we're invisible, and when the two
crafts hove in sight of each other,
bow on. there was but a moments in
terim before they met. The Saginaw
veered, 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 feet 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-
versed we're put full steam to the rear,
and the Hamilton circled to the scene
of the wreck, at the same time lower
ing two hfeboats. There was conster-
nation among the passengers Of the
Old Dominion ship, and the first
thought was for their safety, put so
soon as it was discovered that the ship
was uninjured, save that some bow
plates were stove in, all efforts we're
directed to the rescue of those on the
Saginaw.
When the Saginaw was again sight
ed 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. Life
boats were lowered, and into the first
Is colored women we're placed, accord
ing to Second Officer w. L. Morris,
who was in command. The boat was
swamped as it struck the water and its
occupants were thrown into the sea-
All were drowned save the second Off
Ger and the colored stewardess. The
latter died before the small boat
reached the Hamilton, more from in
furies 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 bbai
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 fasten
ings with a roar like the report Of bis
guns. and tons of freight Of all de
scriptions soon Uttered the sea. To
floating wreckage the struggling peo
pie in the water clung with despera
ton. and many Of them were rescued
bv the boats from the Hamilton and
Saginaw.
Before the life boats OF the Hamil
ton had reached the Saginaw the lat
ter had disappeared beneath thu
waves and nothing but her topmasti
we're visible To these several mel
were clinging, one of whom was th'
aged captain. ]. s. Tunnel When HI
was taken off It was found that HI
had suffered severe if not serious in
ternal injuries.
The Hamilton lowered around thu
scene of the wreck for over ar hour
but no sign OF life was seen amid thl
mass of floating freight Two bodies
one of a man and the other Of a WON
an. both clad only in night dress, wer
observed drifting between bales o
cotton end cases Of goods.
when the Hamilton arrived at he
pier in this city her bow plates wer
stove in and much wreckage still
elung to her. All of the damage, how
ever. was above the water line.
Those known TO be lost are:
Passengers-A. Gilmore, P. !. Per
dleton, Florence Newly, Edna Ward
M. Z. Jones, Mary Robertson.
Crew-Edward Goslee, first mate
William Bites, first assistant eng
neer; Mary Anderson, stewardess
-. cook; William Morris
steward; unknown colored waiter
Peter Swanson.
Just how many of the above passcl