The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-09
ONE PASSENGER
WAS DROWNED
Fcrty-six Others and
Crew of 20 Trans
ferred to fine
THgb0at.
ACCIDENT DUE TO FOG WHICH
osscURED VISION OF PILOTS.
PASSENGERS ASLEEP AT TIME
AND THEIR ESCAPE is coNsIp-
Erred REMARKABLE AS COLL
SION CAME WITHOUT WARNING.
BY Associated Press.

Vineyard Haven, Mass, May g.
With the arrival here to-day of the
tug Patience came news of one of the
most remarkable marine disasters in
the history of Vineyard Sound ship
ping. The Joy Line steamer Arkan-
sas, bound from Boston to New York,
vas struck by the coal-laden barge
Glendower, in tow from Philadelphia
for Boston, and sank less than fifteen
minutes later, but out of forty-seyen
passengers and crew of twenty-nine
on the steamer, most of whom were
asleep at the time of the collision.
only one life was lost. Miss Mamie
Keller, twenty-seyen years of age,
residence unknown, was missing when
the roll of passengers was called.
The scene of the collision was about
a mile and a half southeast OF the Pol
lock rip shoals light ship Although
the accident happened at 1880 O'Clock
Yesterday morning and at a point only
thirty-three miles distant from this
port, the survivors did not arrive here
until early to-day, the thick fog which
prevailed necessitating slow nayiga-
ton The disaster was due to the
fog.
The Arkansas, Captain Hood in
command, left Boston Sunday morn
ing and was well across the bay be-
fore she ran into the fog. The steam
or rounded Cape Cod and proceeGed
slowly down the cape shore. Il was
about midnight on Saturday when the
he faatr
tiously across the perilous Nantucket
shoals. At $50 o'clock Sunday morn
ing when about a mile and half from
Pollock rip shoals lightship the tug
Patience, with a tow of three Reading
railroad barges, doomed up through
the fog. The tug cleared the Arkan-
sas, but the barge Glendower struck
the steamer amidship on the star
board side opposite the engines, tear
ing open great hole through which
the sea poured like a cataract. The
Glendower was uninjured.
The engine room and fire room OF
the Arkansas were quickly flooded
and some of the firemen barely es-
capped being caught in the torrents OF
water. Ii was seen at once that the
steamer was sinking. Most of the
passengers and crew were in their
herths but were all awakened by the
crash. They dressed hastily and rush
ed upon deck Although there was
great excitement there was no panic
and the discipline of the crew was
excellent
While some of the passengers were
being transferred to the steamer
boats. the Patience came alongside
the rapidly sinking Arkansas and took
of those who had not already taker
10 the boats Those who had taken tC
the boats were then transferred t
the tug or the barges in tow.
The Arkansas had a full cargo o.
general merchandise, most OF which
II IS understood. was insured.
The Arkansas was q twin screw O
l.l56 gross tonnage Her length wal
eil feet breadth 35.5 feet, depth L.;
1eeF. Her indicated horse power wa:
$50 She was classed in the govern
ment list of merchant vessels of tbs
United States as an ocean passengc
steamer. Her home port was New
Orleans. She was formerly owned b.
the Southern Pacific railroad and TO
many years was employed in services
ont Of New Orleans. running from tina
port to Havana, and also betweel
New Orleans and New York Tn
wreck of the Arkansas is reported I,
De directly in the path of coastwis'
steamers.