Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1905-05-10
STEAMERSENT TO BOT TOM
Remarkable Marine Disaster Oc-
ours in Vineyard Sound.
ONLY ONE LIFE LOST.
Seventy-fve Persons Rescued from Sink
ing Steamer After CoIlision-Young
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 GIendower, in
tow from Philadelphia for Boston, and
sunk less than fifteen minutes later, but
out OF forty-seven passengers and a crew
Of twenty-nine on the steamer, most of
whom were asleep at the time of the col
lision, only one life was lost. Miss Ma
ME Keller 27 years Of age, residence
unknown, was missing when the roll OF
passengers was called.
Collision in Fog
The scene of collision was about a
mile and half southeast of the Pollock
Rip shoals lightship Although the ac-
cident happened at /: 80 o'clock yesterday
morning and at a point only thirty-three
miles distant from this port, the sur
vivors 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
well 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 l. 80 o'clock Sunday morning, when
about a mile and a half from the Pollock
Rip shoals Gghtship, the tug Patience,
with a 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 great hole through
which the sea poured like cataract.
The t1lendOwer was uninjured.
Steamer Begins to Sink
The engine room and fire room of the
Arkansas were quickly flooded and some
of the fremen 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 barges in tow.
Among the passengers were five wom-
Ell and one child. All were saved with
| the exception of Miss Keller Mate
Croker remembers distinctly that he as
sisted Miss Keller to the ladder leading
| to 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-
tience 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 a full cargo of general
| merchandise, most of which, it is said,
| was insured.
| The Aransas was twin screw of 1856
gross tonnage. She was built in 1877 at
Wilmington, Del. Her dimensions were:
| Length, al feet; breadth, 35.5 feet;
| depth, 16.5 feet Her indicated horse
| power was $50. 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.