The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1905-05-11
STEAMERSENT TO BOT TOM
Remarkable Marine Disaster Oc-
ours in Vineyard Sound.
ONLY ONE LIFE LOST.
Seventy-fve Persons Rescued rom Sink
ing Steamer After Collision--Youna
Woman Missing.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, May S.-With
the arrival here today of the tug Pa
thence came news of one of the most
remarkable marine disaster in the his
tory of Vineyard sound shipping.
The Joy line steamer Arkansas, bound
from Boston for New York, was struck
by the coal-laden barge Glendower, in
tow from Philadelphia for Boston, and
sunk less than fifteen minutes later, but
out of torty-sevCn passengers and crew
of twenty on the steamer, most of
whom We're asleep at the time of the coll
lision, only one life was lost. Miss Ma
mic Keller, p years of age, residence
unknown, was missing when the roll of
passengers was called.
Collision in a Fog.
The scene of collision was about n
mile and half southeast of the Pollock
Rip shoals lightship. Although the ac-
cldcnt happened ut /; 80 O'Clock yesterday
morning and at Il point only thirty-three
miles distant from this port, the sur
vivurs did not arrive here until early
today, the thick fog which prevailed ne
cessitating slow navigation. The disas-
ter was due to the fog
The Arkansas, Capt. Rood in command,
left Boston Saturday afternoon and was
we'll across the bay before she ran into
the fog. The steamer rounded Cape Cod
and proceeded slowly down the cape
shore. 1t was about midnight on Satur-
day when the steamer began to thread
her way cautiously across the perilous
Nantucket shoals.
At so o'clock Sunday morning, when
about "A mile and half from the Pollock
Rip shoals lghtship, the tug Patience,
with Il tow of three Reading railroad
barges, doomed up through the fog. The
tug cleared the Arkansas, but the barge
Glendower struck the steamer amidships
on the starboard side, opposite the en-
CINE, tearing open a great hole through
which the sea poured like cataract.
The GlendoWer was uninJured.
Steamer Begins to Sink
The engine room and fire room of the
Arkansas We're quickly flooded and some
of the firemen barely escaped being
caught by the torrents of water. 1t was
seen at once that the steamer was sink
ing and orders to lower the boats were
given.
Most of the passengers and crew were
in their berths at the time of the COLI
sion. but all were awakened by the
crash. They dressed hastily and rushed
upon deck. Although there was great
excitement there was no panic and the
discipline of the crew was excellent,
every man taking his appointed station.
Rescue of Passengers.
While some Of the passengers were
being transferred the Patience came
alongside the rapidly sinking Arkansas
and took off those who had not already
taken TO the boats. Those who had
taken to the boats were then transferred
to the tug or to the bargos in tow.
Among the passengers We're five wom-
On and one child. All were saved, with
Crocker remembers distinctly that he as
sisted Miss Keller TO the ladder leading
10 the lifeboats, but She was not seen
afterwards
Few of the passengers saved anything
except their clothing and small hand
baggage.
Vessel Swallowed Up by Sea.
As soon as the Arkansas had diSap-
pcared beneath the waves, the tug Pa
thence with the survivors on board, put
about and headed for this port. Some of
the passengers belonged in Providence
and others in Boston and New York.
The Arkansas had Il full cargo Of general
merchandise. most of which, it is said,
was insured
The Arkansas was a twin screw of 1876
gross tonnage. She was built in 1877 at
Wilmington. Del. Her dimensions were:
Length, 24l feet; breadth, $50 feet;
depth, 1913 feet. Her indicated horse
power was G5O. She was classed in the
government list of merchant vessels OF
the United States as an ocean passenger
steamer Her home port was New Or
leans She was formerly owned by the
Southern Pacific Railroad company and
for many years was employed in services
out of New Orleans, running from that
port to Havana and also between New
Orleans and New York