The Washington herald., 1906-11-20

Seattle. Wash, Nov. I9-Forty-one per
sons were drowned last night in "A re-
markable collision between the steamer
Jeanne, of the Alaska Coast Company,
Captain p H. Mason. and the Puget
Sound steamer Dix, OF the Alki Point
Transportation Company Thirty-nine
passengers on board the Dix were saved.
The tragedy was due to d misunder-
standing OF signals. The Jeanie struck
the Dix on her starboard side just abaft
midshps and keeled her over. The
stricken steamer hlIed with water. right
ed. and then went down, stern first, sink
ing within five minutes Of the time of the
collision
There are grave and highly sensational
TumOTs In circulation tonight that the
Dix was unseaworthy. and that the re-
suit OF the impact Of the collision would
not have damaged an ordinary launch.
| TO lend force TO this latter argument
marine men tonight point TO the fact
that the Dix sank stern first 50 rapidly,
that thirty-seven Of the persons she car
ried had barely time 10 save themselves
[ By jumping into the water
The Dix was on her way 10 Port Blake
ley from Seattle and the Jeanie was
bound from Smith Cove TO Tacoma 10
unload ore for a smelter.
The collision occurred while the sound
was almost as smooth as "a mill pond. and
after the steamers had been steaming
within sight Of each other for q quarter
Of an hour. The boats We're about two
miles north OF Alki Point and were with
( IN a short distance Of each other, steam
1 ing along cOnverging lines.
Panic on Sinking Vessel.
The Jeanie was slowly backing away
when the two craft came together. There
was only a slight crash. and for min
ute all was still. Then a panic began.
When the Dix started to sink, stern
first. many Of the passengers and prac-
/ tically all the members OF the crew
leaped into the river Some Of the pas
sengers. however. huddled in groups on
the decks, while others knelt in prayer.
The women. who had little chance for
their lives. stayed with the sinking steam
ship and were drowned only a fifteen
year-old girl being saved.
Il got away from Smiths Cove a little
before o'clock and laid "a course for
Tacoma" said capt Mason. Of the
Jeanie y had no passengers aboard. ]
saw the Dix headed for Port Blake.ey.
and sigualed 70 her. The mate was az the
wheel
Suddenly the Dix came up astern Of
me 10 port. AS soon as / saw she was so
close. I called TO the man in her pilot
/ house TO know what he was doing He put
his wheel over TO starb0ard and she
started directly across my bow.
Il signaled 10 the engine room Of my
vessel 10 back az fun speed. but We could
not get out Of the way I'm time The
Jeauis was backing a little when we
struck. ! guess il was pretty we'll abaft
Of amidships. and the shock was not
enough TO have injured an ordinary
. launch. The Dix. however listed heavily
10 starboard, righted herself, and then
sank stern first"
Capt Lennon, master Of the Dix told
the story Of the collision after arriving
at Seattle He was shaking with the cold,
and his eyes stiu showed the horror Of his
experience.
wheelman Unable TO Explain.
I don't know how it happened" he
said. Charles Dennison, mate Of the
boat, was al the wheel We were just
about two miles due north Of AIki Point
and running az the usual speed There
NcS llthlllltE ~ illia't'i U.s. At was ft l-t-tr
clear night. and the water was like a
millpond.
Just as got on deck, on the starboard
side, I saw the bow of a vessel loom Up.
Almost instantly she struck us. The Jib-
boom crashed through US just aft Of
amidships and heeled the Dix over like q
top. She caTeeued like q fash on her
port bow and lay there for minute or
two. with the water rushing In and all
over
From below came awful sounds. Many
OF the passengers were penIed in below
and could not possibly escape.
For an instant l clung 10 the railing.
/ The sight fascinated me with horror.
/ Lights We're still burning. and 7 could see
/ people inside Of the cabin. The express
sions on their faces were of indescvibable
/ despair.
People on deck slid of into the water
and went down shrieking and desperately
Clutchiug at the water or at the Jeanie,
which still Ioomed up only a few yards
away
Il leaped into the water and managed
| 70 keep myself afloat. Others from the
/ sinking steamer We're floating near me.
Every once in a while one who had been
swimming until his strength gave out
would throw up his hands and with a last
despairing cry sink. This happened time
after time
1T must have been at least twenty-five
minutes from the time the Jcanie struck
US before boats were got out. and 1 guess