The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-07-22
'BOHErA SINKS N 81. JOE


The goeamers Idaho and Bonotn
came together in collision about four
miles above the o. r. = n. bridge Ia
the a. Joe river MOdnay afternoon,
resulting In q big hole in tho aide
Of the Bonean which eanBSd her 10
sink In sew minutes IN nftesn feet
Of water. The BOnsta was struck
broadside about one-thlrd Of the way
from her how, the Idaho making q
bole about i've feet So lsnRht IN tho
side Of her hull. Capt. Geo. Rsy-
nolds had charge Of the boat at the
time and succeeded en- running her
against the bank az che river before
she sank, where she nov lies with
her Dose ont Of water. being held BY
% line secured on the shore.
The Boneta was making her regular
trip up the river and the Idaho was
On her regular trip down. The bOats
met near a sharp bend and the Boneta
people claim that Capt. Reynolds
gave one blast on the whistle az a
signal that ne was approaching the
bend and that Capt. Eprague, the
pilot on the Idaho, mistook this for
. passing signal. Il Is claimed that
as the bOets came in sight the BOneta
sounded two whistles signifying her
intention Of passing 70 the starbOard
side and started to cross the river.
The injury to her hull. which Is on
the poit side, shows that she was
beaded for the right side Of the river
when struck
Those on the Idaho claim that as
aoon az the boats came IN sight the
Boneta gave one whistle for passage
on the port side and that the big
steamer was turned in that direction
when the Boneta again signaled with
two whistles to pass on the starboard
aide. and started across the river,
hut il was then too late to change the
course OF the Idaho and her engines
were reversed An an effort to prevent
the impending collision, without
success.
The captains Of both boats sgrse as
to the signals being given and dis
agree as 20 the answers and the mean
ings Of the signals, Capt. Reynolds
holding that bis first was a bend
whistle aud the captain Of the Idaho
claiming it 70 have been passing
signal, from which IL looks as though
there was a misunderstanding Of the
signals which resulted in the col
lision. who made the mistake or
lost his bead in the emergency is q
matter that will probably be deter
mined in the courts unless the owners
Of the tive boats can get together and
arbitrate their differences.
The Bopeta had Eve passengers
and two horses aboard together with
a small amount Of freight. The pas
seneers aud crew had no trouble
in getting ashore aid the horses
we're saved.
The Boueta was built last summer
at Johuson's boat works aud is owned
by Capt. J. d. Mcdonald and Capt.
Geo. f. Reynolds. The present ae-
cident to her is unfortunate as It was
her FIRST trip after having blown out
a cylinder head last week, which laid
her up fer repairs.
The Idaho is the large excursion
steamer Of the Red Collar Line.
She is strongly built aud escaped
Injury in the accident aside from q
broken jackstsff and some scratches
on her bow. She remained on the
scene long enough 20 see that no az.
sistanee was needed aud Brought the
flrst news OF the disaster to the city
Captain Reynolds makes the fol
lowing signed statement IN regard te
the collision:
1.-The Boueta was On her way az
the river to st. Maries when, at I
point about three miles above Chat
eoiet bridge, near bend in the rivel
known as Bend Wah, expecting e
meet the Idaho, blew an alarm
which 10 one long whistle, which tbs
law requires pilots to blow when eS.
pectiug to meet another boat in th'
bend of river.
''Just then the Idaho hove in sigh
coming around the bend. theI
blew two whistles to pass her on M
right. She answered the alarm
, whistle but never answered the pass
ing whistle. Az the time ! whistles
for sides the Idaho and the Boneb
we're about 500 or coo yards apart
The law requires the down boat &
take the outside Of the bend Of th
river, but the Idaho. instead Of keep
ing oa her course came straigh
, across the river "a where The Bonet
1r-..4in..a - naan lnA.