The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-06-23

She Was Rammed Was Slightly In
jured.
What might have proven dangerous
occurrence took place on the Cape Fear
river yesterday afternoon when the
steamer Sea Gate rammed the steamer
Wilmington amidships. Both We're
crowded with excursionists and many
people were badly frightened. The
boats were bound for Wilmington and
went together just this side OF Big
Island. The bow of the Sea Gate was
badly bent and slight damage done 10
the railing of the lower deck of the
Wilmington.
An excursion was run to old st. Phil
ip's church yesterday under the aus
pices of ST. Thomas Catholic church |
and the Sea Gate was bringing the cx-
cursionists home The steamer VII
mington was on her regular 5:15
trip to the pier and returning she had
on board the excursion crowd of the
Brooklyn Baptist church, who spent
the day on Carolina Beach. In addi-
ton to the excursionists there were a
number of people on the boat who had
gone to the pier merely for the ride,
it being such delightful trip and so
beautiful late in the afternoon.
The steamer Wilmington was about
To thn nil nyha SGQ
Gate passed. 1t is some distance from
the pier to the channel and by the time
the Wilmington got in the channel and
headed for Wilmington the Sea Gate
was fully 800 yards ahead. There is
considerable rivalry between the two
boats and it was but natural that eacn
should endeavor to get to Wilmington
first The black smoke poured from the
Ismokestacks of each boat as firemen
ashoveled in the coal. Those on board
the Wilmingto could tell whenever the
fireman on the sea Gate put on more
=, coal for every few minutes the SMOKE
would change to a cloud of blackness
Swiftly the two boats glided over ths
waters of the Cape. Fear and the Sea
Gate for a few minutes held her dis
lance. Gradually, as the Wilmington
got up more steam she gained on tn
Sea Gate. When the race began fn
Deople on the Sea Gate appeared yer.
iudistinct to those on board the VII
mjneton. but only few minutes ha
elansed but it could be told that tn
Wilmington was gaining rapidly. VI
the stern of the Sea Gate is the nam
of the boat, Sea Gate, and also WI
mington, n. c., the latter being 1
smaller letters than the name OF ID
boat Passengers on the Wilmingt>'
Judged how much they gainlnf by no
well they could read the name OF III
boat
The Wilmington gained steadily aI
lust before reaching Big Island W:
almost alongside the Sea Gate when
loud blast of the whiStel was glF'
denoting that the Wilmington Wou
keep to the right of the channel ai
take of way. The signal was acknoM
edged by the Sea Gate. just as 7
landing at Big Island was passed.
Wilmington glided by the sea ud
Almost Immediately the Sea Gat
whistle sounded the signal denoti
that she would take the right OF We
The signal was sounded by the w
mington showing that she would I'd
the right of way as denoted Dy
first signal given and which is SAID
he the rule as to the passing OF y
sells. Passenger on the boats at t
iuncture began to grow very ner'
as the Sea Gate and Wilmington w
almost touching Captain Harper ST
ned to the side of the vessel and cal
TO the captain of the Sea Gate that
less he stopped bearing in so close
was going to report him for croWd'
The boats for some distance contln
tn race along side and side, now
then the Sea Gate managing TO
about even with the Wilmington
only to lose her position the next
ute Suddenly the Sea Gate tur
slightly and almost before the pass
gers, who by this time were crow
on the edge of the decks to see IL
boats were going to strike, real
what was happening the Sea Gate
med the Wilmington amidsnlps.
boats were going at full speed
when they came together they qulV
and drifted apart. The bow OF
Sea Gate was badly bent, as be
stated. and the railing on the lt
deck of the Wilmington was sllg
injured
Just as the Sea Gate and W1imln
came together great excitement
vailed on the two boats and many
bed life preservers. One OF the
hands on the Wilmington had
life preserver by the time the
Gate struck the Wilmington.
whole thing was over in few sec
and the, two boats proceeded on to
sl.o in orr