The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-19
FORTY ONE LUNCE TO DEATH

him and his whistle was answered. The
Dix was then within speaking distance
Of the JeaHie 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 Imminent and
called out 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 q slight crash as the force of
the collision from Dix coming against
the side OF the larger vessel was 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 passengers and
members of the crew leaped into the
sound. Some OF the passengers hud-
died together in groups on the deck
while others kneIt in prayer. The
women, who had little chance for their
lives, stayed with the sinking steamer
and were drowned.
I got away from Smiths cove a lit
tie before o'clock and laid a course
for Tacoma said Captain Mason. Il
had no passengers aboard. / saw the
Dix headed for Port Blakeley and sig
nailed to her The mate was at the
wheel. Suddenly the Dix came up
astern of, ne to port As soon as 1 saw
the Dix was so close I called to the
man in her pilot house to know what
he was doing. He put his wheel over to
starboard and she started directly
across my bows
I signalIed 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 d little
when we struck. guess it was pretty
well abaft Of amidships and the shock
was not enough to have injured an or
binary launch. The Dix listed heavily
tc starboaTd. righted herself and then
sank stern first"
The Masters Story.
Captain F. Lcrmond. master Of the
steamer Dix told the story of the col
nsion after arriving at Seattle He was
shaking with the cold, his eyes still
dEated with the horror of his expert
ence.
Il 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 Alki
point and running at the usual speed
There was nothing to hinder US. 1t
was a fine clear night and the water
was 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. I went
below to collect the fares. The boat
was crowded There were 70 passen-
gers on board and it was quite a task
the run for the past 13 years and knew
almost everybody aboard.
when 1 was in the ladies' cabin /
heard the bell signal to stop. In a |
moment I thought that something |
must be wrong and rushed forward to |
see what was up. Just as 1 got on
deck on the starboard side I saw the |
bow OF a vessel loom I'D. Almost in |
she struck US. Inc jiDboom |
crashed through as just aft of amid |
ships and heeled the Dix over like a |
top. She careened like a flash on her
port bow and lay there for a minute or
two with the water rushing in. I was |
thrown against the deck house. For /
an instant the wind was knocked out !
Of me and I was almost paralyzed- The |
steamer lay for almost two minutes on /
her port beam. This was exactly at
l-24 o clock, as my watch stopped then. .
In moment I recovered my breath (
and sprang up on the house. Just theE |
the steamer heeled back to starbOard. (
There was another rush of water. cries /
ana screams OIL men, women ana chill 1
dren. From below came sounds such |
as human ears have seldom heard. |
Many OF the passengers were penned |
below and could not possibly escape
Then the steamer turned her bow up |
She filled and her stern went slowly I
down, until the bow was standing |
straight half out of water. For an in /
stant I clung to the railing. The sight /
fascinated by it's horror. Lights were /
still burning and 1 could see people in
side of the cabin. The expressions on
the faces were Of indescribable despair.
People Slid Into Water
people on deck slid off into the wa
er and went down shrieking and des-
oerately clutching at the water or at
he Jeanie which still Ioomed only a
ew yards away. Within the sinking \
steamer terror reigned- There were I
sries, prayers from men and women.
The vail of a child mingled with the
shouts of those who we're fighting des-
)erately to gain the deck.
What took place in that cabin will
lever be known as no people were
aved from there. The boat heeled
back and went down by the stern. The
'ther boat was only a short distance
Lway from us all this time. Some OF
he passengers who had been on deck,
Jumped for her martingale (the lines
between the bowsprit) and in this way
Ia m bered up to safety BY that time
he Dix was standing on end with her
DOW away in the air and then she start
ID to go down.
Il leaped into the water and man
Lged to keep myself afioat. Others
rom the sunken steamer were floating
lear me. Every once in awhile one
Who had been swimming until his
itrength gave out, would throw up his
yCor4iv,.,o5 ~, De- rrry,,e,