Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-05-09
COLLIDED IN A FOG.
Terrific Crash Between Two Ocean
Steamers.
One OF Them Sinks in 3 Short Tim .
and Twenty Or More Lives Are
LOst-Dis aster OccursOR
Virginia Coast.

Norfolk, Va, May Ga collision at
sea that cost the lives of 20 or more
people, and the sinking of the Clyde
steamship Saginaw by the old Domin-
ion Steamship company's liner HamiI-
| ton, occurred between Winter Quarter
Lightship and Fenwick Island Light
ship on the Virginia coast at 4:4O
o'clock Tuesday morning. The Hamil-
ton left New York Monday afternoon
at 3 o'clock for Norfolk, and the Sagi-
nav passed out the Virginia capes at
o'clock Monday night bound from
Richmond and Norfolk for Philadel-
phia. A dense fog settled along the
coast shortly after nightfan and
while going through this fog at re-
duced speed the Hamilto on era ed into
the Saginw's side about 20 feet from
the stern. The scene of the collision
is about Is or IA miles off the shore
and between $50 and 200 miles south
of New York and between 1875 and 140
miles north Of Norfolk
The Crash.
The fog whistles of both vessels
were distinctly heard by each other
for several minutes before the collision
occurred. According to 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 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
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, 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 CONSERVATION among the
passengers of the old Dominion ship
and the first thought was for their
safety, but so soon as it was discover
ed that the ship was uninjured save
that some bow plates were stove in
all 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 over her decks and scrambled
toward the bow. life boats were
lowered and into the first Is colored
women were placed, according to
Second Officer w. L. Morris, who was
in command. The boat was swanped
as it struck the water and it's occu-
pants were thrown into the sea. All
| were drowned save the second officer
and the colored stewardess. The lat
| ter died before the small boat reached
the Hamilton, more from injuries re
| ceived by the impact of the collision
than by the drowning. She had been
held up by First Mate Goslee, who
sank himself, as the small boat from
the Hamilton reached them.
The Saginaw Sinks.
In the meantime the rush of
waters into 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 descriptions soon Uttered the
sea. To floating wreckage the strug-
Cling people in the water chung 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
| masts were visible. -s4&sss..
The Loss of Life.
It was some time before any definite
statement could be secrued 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 a great dis
| crepancy between the statements of
passengers and the company's state
ment.
According to the Clyde line officials,
Tie udluSS OI OH 10 passengers are
known, and it is admitted by Second
Officer Morris that Is colored women,
all of whom are now dead, were in the
swamped life boat. The crew of the
Saginaw numbered 26 all told. From
the officers of the Clyde company here
she carried Is passengers.
The discipline of the crews was ad-
III IL
tial 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.
Permission Granted.
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