New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-12
DEATH IN STORMY TRIP.
THE JEFFERSON IN PORT.
Southern Minister Killed in Steer
age and Seaman Injured.

The Old Dominion liner Jefferson which usu-
ally makes the run from Newport News to her
pier here In nineteen hours, came into port
yesterday forenoon, having taken forty-ive
hours on the voyage, with her flag at halfmast
for the death of passenger killed in the storm.
The Jefferson is a stanch craft. but she ap-
peared to be in pretty bad shape forward as she
passed up the bay. She had been terribly bat
tered by high head seas, and several of the
metal stanchions forward were twisted by the
waves which swept the torecastle
Captain Dole admitted that he was aware
that storm was raging when he put to sea
with twenty-five passengers on Friday evening.
He explained TO all who had engaged passage
that the Weather Bureau had sent out warn
ing not to put to sea, but that he intended to
make the run TO New-York. Some of the pas
sengers decided TO remain behind and the others
declared that they were willing to take the
risk. Captain Dole supposed the wind and
waves would soon run themselves out and that
southwest wind which would probably follow
would aid in the run to New-York. He soon
found that the storm was such that he could
not safely put back. so he kept the Jefferson on
her course.
At L o'clock Saturday morning the wind
was blowing. according to Second Mate Charles
Seward, who was in charge of the bridge, near
ly a hundred miles hour and the head seas
were Ilke mountains, as one after another they
beat over the bow of the vessel
The wind was bowling and the rain was fall
irg in sheets said Seward, when 1 heard a
faint cry from Dick McLane, the forward look
out. Instantly 1 picked up my glasses and
peered through the mist, but could not discover
any signs of an approaching craft. That was
a great relief to me- ior at first / supposed that
we were on the verge of a collision Next
called TO McLane, but not getting any answer
left the bridge in charge Of another officer and
went forward TO investigate. This easy
task, for the vessel plugging terribly and
the water was sweeping the forecastle, which
rises twenty-five feet above the water line.
Then I feared that the cry ] had heard from
McLane given while he being washed
overheard To my surprise, however, / at last
found the poor fellow unconscious and damned
tightly against the deck fixtures. He was res
cuad with difficulty and carried below He had
a cash on his head and his thigh bone was
broken
lookouts injuries the ship was barely making
enough Roadway 10 keep her bow to the
northeast gale. She was pitching and rolling.
and it was at that time that the passenger. the
Rev e 3. Hawley, minister from Lake View.
n c., was shot across the steerage cabin He
struck lis head with great force against panel
on the port side of the ship. When picked UP
by of the crew he was found to be lfeess.
I have been going to sea for over twenty-five
years, and been through many storms, but this
was the fercest L sver encountered"
Purser Charles Durdett accompanied McI,ane
TO the New York Hospital. Just the ambulance
drove away from the pier the pursers wife
caught a passing glance of her husband seated
in the ambulance. and at once decided that he
had been hurt. In high state Of Excitement
Mrs Burdett, who is bride of few months.
chased along through the streets. She was
breathless when she reached the hospital, and
when she informed that her husband was
with the coroner she fell in faint. When she
recovered she found her husband bending over
her. and she became hysteTical with Joy.