The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-05-07
STEAMER SAGINAW SINKS
CLYDE LINERS STERN CUT AWAY
THE HAMILTON IN 4 VERY
DENSE FOG.
ONE LIFEBOAT SWAMPED
Fifteen COLORED WOMEN IN
THE LITTLE CRAFT FIND
WATERY GRAVES.

Norfolk, Va, May GA collision at
sea that cost the lives of twenty or
more people and the sinking of the
Clyde line steamer Saginaw, by the
Old Dominion Steamship companys
liner Hamilton, occurred between
Winter Quarter Lightship and Fen
wick Island lightship on the Virginia
coast at 6 o'clock in the morning. The
Hamilton left New York Monday af-
ternoon at o'clock for Norfolk and
the Saginaw passed out at the Vir-
glnla capes at 8 o'clock Monday night
pound from Richmond and Norfolk
LOT Philadelphia. A dense fog settled
along the coast shortly after nightfal]
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 fourteen
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 several minutes before the
collision occurred. According to Cap
tain 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 a ship length
away were invisible, and when the
two crafts hove in sight of each other
there was but a moments intervention
before they met.
Cuts Sasinaw's Stern Away.
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 vessel on the port
side about twenty 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 Hamil-
ton took her out of sight of the Grip
pied 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 her life boats.
Great was the CONSERVATION among
the passengers of the Old Dominion
vessel. and the first thought was for
their safety, but it was found the shin
was uninjured, save for a few plates
stove in. All efforts were then deyot-
ed to the rescue of those on the Saei-
nav.
When the Saginaw was again sight
ed her stern was under water and her
prov was high in the air. Panic
stricken people rushed over her decks
and scrambled toward the bow. The
hfeboats were lowered and into the
first fifteen colored women were
placed, according to Second Officer F.
l.. Norris, 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 officer and the colored
stewardess. The latter died before
the small boat reached the Hamilton.
more from injuries received from the
collision than by drowning. She had
been held up by First Mate Gesler.
who sank himself as the small boat
of the Hamilton reached them.
Decks Burst With Loud Report.
In the meantime the thrush of water
into the bow of the Saginaw had
caused the decks to burst with a re-
port like the roar of big guns, and
tons Of freight soon Uttered the sea.
The struggling people in the water
chung with desperation to this freight,
and many of them were rescued bv
boats from the Hamilton.
Before the lifeboats of the Hamil-
ton had reached the Saginaw the lat
ter had disappeared beneath the waves
and nothing but her topmasts were
visible. TO these several persons
were clinging. among them being the
aged captain. J. S. Smell. When he
was taken off it was found he suffer
ed severe internal injuries.
The passengers and most of the
crew of both ships were asleep below
when the disaster happened and when
che terrible shock and grinding noise
awakened them, a panic-stricken rush
&or safety took place, The discipline
OF the crew was admirable. "Women
FIRST" was the initial command of
Captain Tunnel after the lifeboats had
been prepared for lowering. The
frightened colored women piled into
the first boat from the Saginaw and
lost their lives.
No Sign Of Life Seen.
The Hamilton hung round the
scene of the wreck for more than an
hour, but no sign of life could be
seen amidst the mass of floating
freight.
Two bodies, one of a man and the
other a woman, both clad only in
nightdresses, were observed drifting
between bales of cotton and cases of
goods.
The first news of the disaster was
learned at Old Point, where the HamiI
ton stopped for few moments on her
way to Norfolk
She arrived at her pier in this city
about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Her
bow plates are stove in and much
wreckage still chung to her. All of
the damage, however, was above the
water line
The survivors of the Saginaw on
board the Hamilton had been given