The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1906-11-24
STEAMERS COLLIDE
Dix and JEANNE, CONE TOGETHER
In SEATTLE HARBOR.
Half Those on Board The Dix,
Which Sank Immediately, Are
Missing-Accident Occurred
Early Sunday Evening-Man
at Wheel Ratified.

Seattle, Nov. 19.-The little Sound
steamer Dix, during the summer on
the Alki run, but lately running be-
tween Seattle and Port Blakeley, with
list of ~ passengers and Grew, col
lided with the Alaska Coast Compa-
ny's steamship JEANNE last night at
1924 O'Clock, two miles north Of Alki
point and sunk, carrying 80 Of her
passengers and crew to the bottom OF
the sound. The number Of missing is
80 and the known survivors, number 38.
The Jeannie was bound from the
Smith cove docks for the Tacoma
smelter. She was loaded with ore and
was in command of Capt. P. 81. Mason.
The Dix was outward bound and was
in command of Parker A. Lermond,
who was acting in the double capacity
of captain and purser. G. Dennison,
mate, was at the wheel of the Dix
when the disaster occurred.
The Jeannie pulled out from the
Great Northern docks almost DIS the
Dix left the Flyer dock for Port Blake
lev. They approached each other on
converging lines, and for a moment
or two were steaming side by side.
The JEANNE slowed down and signaled
for the Dix to pass. To do so it was
necessary for the smaller vessel to
pass across the Jeannie's bow from
port to starboard. In passing the mate
Of the Dix put her hard to starboard
instead of to port. The captain of the
JEANNE noticed the error and at once
reversed his engines, and was already
packing away when the impact came.
The Dix was almost spitted on the
bow of the JEANNE, then heeled over
into the sea, righted slowly and then
sank stern first.
Some of the people on board the
stricken ship managed to Chamber onto
the JEANNE, and few chung to the
martingale under the bowsprit. The
balance were either spilled off the tilt
ing decks into the water or were i'm
prisoned in the cabin of the sinking
vessel.
There was no time to put out a boat,
no time for the men to 60 to the res
cue of the women. The stern of the
Dix thrust itself into the smooth sea,
and with parting hiss of escaping
steam disappeared in wild whirl Of
water. The tragedy that has deluged
Port Blakeley with grief was over in
q moment.
The JEANNE was under such slow
speed when the collision occurred
that she was "oon standing by and had
her coats out to the rescue of those
in the water. After hours of search,
at nearly IL O'Clock, she turned her
head toward the Virginia street dock
with 80 survivors aboard.
The Dix's passengers were nearly all
residents of Port Blakeley, most of
them employees of the mill, who were
bound for home after spending the
day in Seattle. The Steamer JEANNE
is one OF he Alaska Coast Company's
fleet, and the Dix is owned by the
Alki Transportation Company and
operated by the Port Blakeley Mill
Company.
The government launch Scout, the
tug Tyee, sent out by the Alaska
Coast Company, the JEANNE and re-
lief boat are searching the scene Of
the disaster for any bodies that may
come to the surface or drift to ada
cent shores. The Dix lies in about
600 feet Of water, with most of her
dead imprisoned in her cabins, and
if she should re raised would probably