Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-06
THEY MET IN FOG.
Steamers Hamilton and Sagi-
nav Smash Each Other.
Reported About 20 Lives Lost, All
from the Saginaw.
Most Of the Victims Said to Be coIored
Women.

Norfolk, Va, May 5.-A collision at
sea that cost the lives of 20 or more
persons and the sinking of tic Clyde
steamship Saginaw by the ulu Do-
ion steamship Cos. liner Hamilton, oc
CURED between Winter Quarter light
ship and FenWick Island lightship, on
the Virginia coast, at 4.40 o'clock, this
morning.
The Hamilton left New York. at 8
o'clock, yesterday afternoon, for Nor
folk, and the Saginaw passed out the
Virginia Capes, at 8 O'clock, last night,
bound from Richmond and Norfolk for
Philadelphia. A dense fog settled along
the coast shortly after nightfall and
while going through this fog at reduced
speed the Hamilton crashed into the
Saginaw's side about 20 feet from the
stern.
The scene of the collision is about 13
or IA miles off the shore and between
$50 and 200 miles south of New York
and between 125 and 140 miles north of
Norfolk
The fog whistles of both vessels were
distinctly heard by each other for sew
eral minutes before the collision oc-
CURED. According to Capt. Boaz of the
Hamilton, his ship was making about
nine miles an hour and the Saginaw
was about 10. The fog was so thick
invisible and when the two crafts hove
in sight of each other, bow on, there
was but moments interim 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 southbound vessel struck
the Clyde ship on the port quarter,
about 20 feet from her stern, cutting
away the entire rear of the ship.
The in-rushing 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 reversed, were put full
team to the rear and the Hamilton cir
c!ed 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 as soon as it was discov-
cred that the ship was uninjured, save
efforts were directed to the rescue of
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 cover her decks and
scrambled toward the bow. Life boats
We're lowered and into the first Is COL
ored women We're placed, according 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 We're drowned
save the second officer and the cOlOred
;tewardcss. The latter died before the
small boat reached the Hamilton, more
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.
In the meantime the rush of waters in
to the bow of the Saginaw had caused
the decks to burst from their faStcn-
ngS with roar like the report of big
guns and tons of freight of all descrip-
tons soon Uttered the sea. To floating
wreckage the struggling people in the
water chung with desperation and many
of them were rescued by the boats from
the Hamilton and Saginaw.
Before the life boats of the Hamilton
had reached the Saginaw the latter had
disappeared and nothing but her top
nasts were visible. To these several
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