Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-19
One of the Vessels Was Sunk aud Fort-One Passengers and Mem-
 bers of Grew Are Missing
OTHER VESSEL NOT INJURED
Lake Was Smooth and Ships Were Sailing Close Together
 For Fifteen Miles.

DOunQ rom Seattle to Port Blakeley
 with passengers, sank two miles nortl
 of Alki Point, shortly after ' oclocL
 last night, after having collided witt
 the steamship Jeanie. Captain F. H
 Mason, of the Alaska Coast company
 Forty-one passengers and members
 of the crew of the Dix are missing
 and 80 were saved. The Dix sank
 The Jeanie was not injured in the
 least and no member of her crew was
 lost. The master of the Dix was
 saved. The collision occurred while the sound was almost as smooth af g mill pond and after the boats had
 been steaming within sight of each other for quarter of an hour.
 The Jeanie was backing when she colllded with the Dix and the impact was very slight The Dix was struck abaft of amidships on the Starb0ard side. She listed heavily to port for a brief period, lighted herself, then sank stern first. There was hardly time to launch life rafts or boats before she was almost entirely submerged. Pas sengers jumped from the decks into the water; women screamed and Oth. cers and men called orders that could hardly be heard above the din. The passengers from the Dix who could swim made their way to the sides of the Jeanie and were dragged aboard The Jeanie was not moved until after all who had reached her had been hauled aboard. Then she cruised about, picking up several who had managed to stay above water. It was after 10 o'clock before the Jeanie left the scene of the catastrophe and steamed to the Virginia street dock, Seattle, with her 8 survivors.
 The Jeanie. of the Alaska Coast company, had finished unloading at the Great Northern docks at Smlth's Cove and. had started for Tacoma shortly before seven o'clock just about the same time the Dix left the Flyer dock for Port Blakeley.
 There were no passengers on the Jeanie. The Dix was making the last trip of the night and was we'll filled with passengers.
 When within about two miles north of Alki point the two steamers were within a short distance of each other, steaming along converging lines. The captain of the Jeanie says he sig nailed for the Dix to pass him and his whistle was answered. The Dix was then within speaking distance of the Jeanie and to the port of her. Suddenly Mate Dennison, who was at the wheel of the Dix, put her hard over to starboard as If to cross in front of the other vessel. Captain Mason of the Jeanie. who was on the bridge, saw that an accident was im- minent and called out a warning to the man at the wheel of the Dix.
 Captain Mason gave the signal to reverse his engines and his vessel was slowly backing away when the two came together. There was but a slight crash, the force of the col lision from the Dix coming against the side of the larger vessel, and not that of the heavier craft against the smaller. For a minute all was still. then a panic followed. When the Dix started to sink, stern first, pas- sengers and members of the crew leaped into the sea. Some of the passengers huddled in groups on the decks while others knelt in prayer. The women who had little chance for their lives. stayed with the sink ing steamer and were drowned as in a trap.
 T got away from Smiths Cove a little before z o'clock and laid a course for Tacoma" said Captain Mason. had no passengers aboard. I saw the Dix headed for Port Blake ley and signalled to her. The mate was at the wheel. Suddenly the Dix came up astern of me to port. As soon as I saw the Dix was SO close I called to the man in her pilot house to know what he was oding. He put his wheel over to starboard and she started directly across my bows.
 "I signalled to the engine room of my vessel to back at full speed. but we could not get out of the way in time. The Jeanie was backing a It, tie when we struck. I guess it vas pretty we'll abaft of amidships and the shock was not enough to have in- jured an ordinary launch. The Dix listed heavily to starboard. righted herself and then sank stern first"
 Captain P. Lermon. master of the steamer Dix. told the story of the col lision after arriving at Seattle. He was shaking with the cold. his eyes still dilated with the horror of his experience.
 '.I don't know how it happened" he said. Charles Dennison, mate of the boat was at the wheel We were just about two miles due north of Aikf Point and running at the usual speed There was nothing to hinder us. 1t was a fine clear night and the water vas like a mill pond had seen the lights Of a steamer on our starboard quarter some time before. but had not paid any attention to them went below to collect the fares The boat vas crowded There were seventy passengers on board and it vas quite q task to Ret all the faresL I have been on the run for the past thirteen years and know al- nopt everybo1y aboard
 When vas in the Ia1IesF eakin [ hnor1 khs beIl signal ts sfsD. In . nlnuunt [ t1sueht t1at nnsthiss
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