The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-08
SANK In Is MINUTES.
Passengers and Crew We're Near
~ All Asleep at the Time.
One Woman Passenger Only Is
Reported as Missing.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, May S.-Witn
the arrival here today Of the tug Pa
tience came news Of one of the most
remarkable marine disasters 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 Is minutes later but out of A
passengers and crew of % on the steam
er, most of whom were asleep at the
time Of the collision only one life was
lost. Miss Mamie Kelley, 27 years of
age residence unknown was missed
when the roll of passengers was called.
The scene of the collision was about
q. mile and half southeast of the Pol
lock Rip shoals light ship. Although
the accident happened at 1870 yester-
day morning and at a point only 80
miles distant from this port the survi-
yors did not arrive here until early to-
day. the thick fog prevailing =ecessitat-
ing slow navigation. The disaster was
due to the fog.
Ran Into a Fog.
The ship. Captain Rood in command,
left Boston Saturday afternoon and
was well across the bay before she ran
into the fog. The steamer rounded Cape
Cod and proceeded slowly down to
shore. 1t was about midnight on Sat
urday when the steamer began TO
thread her way cautiously across the
parilous Nantucket shoals At 80
o'clock Sunday morning when about a
mile and a half from the Pollock Rip
shoals lightship the tug Patience, with
a tow of three railroad barges, loOmed
up through the fog. The tug cleared
the Arkansas but the barge GlendoWer
struck the steamer amidships on the
gtarboard side opposite the engines,
tearing open q great hole through
which the sea poured like cataract.
The barge was not injured. The en-
CINE room and fire room of the AEansas
were flooded, some of the firemen
barely escaped being caught by the tor
rents OF water It was seen that the
er the boats were given.
Most of the passengers and crew were
In their berths at the time of the col
hsion but all were awakened by the
crash.
They dressed and rushed on deck Al
though there was great excitement there
was no panic and the discipline of the
crew was excellent, every man taking
his appointed station.
While some of the passengers were
being transferred to the steamers boat
the Patience came alongside the rap
idly sinking Aransas and took off those
who had not taken the boats. Those
who had taken to the boats were then
transferred to the tug or to the barges
In tow
Among the passengers were five wo-
men and one child; all were saved ex-
cept Miss Kelley. Mate Crocker re-
members that he assisted Miss Kelley
to the ladder leading to the life boats
but she was not seen afterward.
Few of the passengers saved any
thing except their clothing and small
hand baggage.
peared beneath the waves, the tug
Patience with 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 a full cargo Of
merchandise. most of which it is un-
derstOod was insured