Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-11-19
PASSENGER Steamer Dix Rammed and Sunk
Through InexpIicable BIunder of
Its Own Pilot.
ATTEMPTED TO CROSS BOW OF THE JEANI
Boats Travelling in Parallel Courses for Some Time In Full
View of Each 0ther---Suryivors Picked Up
After Long Struggle.


er Dix, bound from Seattle to Port
Blakeley with passengers. sank two
miles north Of Alki point. shortly after
: last night. after having collided with
the steamship Jeani of the Alaska
Coast company.
FOrtyone passengers and members
of the crew OF the Dix are missing and
80 saved The Dix is a total wreck.
The Jeani was not injured. Captain
Lennon of the Dix was saved.
Accident Peculiar.
The collision occurred while the
sound was almost as smooth as 4
mill pond after the boats had been
steaming within sight of each Other
for 4 quarter of an hour
The Jeani was backing when she
cOllided with the Dix and the impact
was very slight. The Dix was
struck abaft the amidship on the star
board SIDE She listed heavily to port
for a brief period. righted herself. and
then sank. stern first.
Little Time to Save Lives.
There was hardly time TO launch the
life RATS or boats before she was al
mots entirely submerged. Passengers
jumped from the decks into the wate"
Women screamed and the officers AMI
men called orders that could hardly be
heard above the din.
Pulled Aboard Jeani.
Passengers who could swim made
their way TO the sides of the Jeani and
were dragged aboard The Jeani was
not moved until after all who had
reached her had been hauled aboard
and then she cruised about picking up
several who had managed to stay
above water. II was after 10 o'clock
before the Jeani left the scene of the
catastrophe and steamed to Seattle
with the 80 survivors. There were no
passengers on the Jeani.
SignaIed 10 Pass.
When within two miles of North
Alki point the two steamers were with
in n short distance of each other
steaming along converging lines. The
captain of the Jeani says he signaled
for the Dix to pass him and his whistle
was answered The Dix was then
within speaking distance of the Jeani
and TO port of her.
start tn Cross in Front.
Suddenly Mate DennisOn. who was
at the wheel of Dix put her hard over
to starboard as if TO cross in front of
the other vessel Captain Mason of
the .Ieani. who was on the bridge saw
an accident was imminent and called
out warning to the man at the whee;. |
Mason gave the signal TO reverse the
engines. His vessel was slowly back
ing away when the two came toSeth- |
er. and there was but a slight crash. |
For 4 minute all was still and then
n panic followed. Then the Dix start |
ed to sink stern first and passenger |
and members of the crew leaped into |
the sound.
Some of the passengers huddled tc-
gether in groups on deck while others !
kneIt in prayer The women. who !
had little chance for their lives stayed |
with the sinking ship and were drown
ed as in trap.
The Missing.
ALBERT MDURY. lumber surveyor. !
PIGOTT, filer.
c. BOYLER and his brother
FRED ROULETT, filer. Port Flake |
lay.
PETER RUZZATTIE, barber.
RALPH CLARK, clerk, Port Blake
ley.
MRS. GRANGER. Spokane.
AUGUST NELSON and wife, Port
Blakeley.
MRS. T. c. FORD. wife of superin-
tendent of Fort Blakeley Mill com
pany.
FRANK M'QUERIS. officer of a ship |
anchored at Port Blakeley
c. ]. KENNY. hospital steward, !
Port Ward, Wash
JOHN KEATING, st. Paul. MINI.
PAKER, engineer, steamer Dix.
c. DENNISON. mate. steamer Dix |
at the wheel when the collision oc-
Cured
BAZZINTIA GARCIA. a Filipino.
A. WEBSTER, Belair.
MARTIN HANSON.
WILLIAM MYERS
ALBERT MDONALD.
SVEN SWANSON.
WILLIAM BRACEFIELD, employed |
at the Port Blakeley Mill company.
PETER LARSON, oiler, Port Blake !
ley.
BOLAN PRICE, son of postmaster
of Port Rlakeley. !