Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-20
Thirty-Seven Passengers Are Rescued
Before Ship Goes to the Bottom.
Women in Cabin Caught Like Rats in Trap and
Drowned Follows the Collision.

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
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. l went below to coll
lect the fares The boat was crowded.
There were 20 passengers on board and
it was quite a task to get all the fares.
I have been on the run for the past Is
years and knew almost everybody
aboard.
"Whcn l was in the ladies' cabin l
heard the bell signal to stop. In mo-
mant l thought that something must
be wrong and rushed forward TO see
what was up. Just as | got on deck on
the starhoard side | saw the bow OF the
vessel loom up. Almost instantly she
struck us. The bowsprit crashed
through us just afloat of amidship and
heeled the Dix over like top. She ca
rcen2d like q flash on her port bow ana
Law there for a minute or two with the
water rushing in and all was over.
was thrown against the deckhouse. For
an instant the wind was knocked out
CT me and 1 was almost raralyZed. The
steamer lay for almost two minutes on
her rort beam. This was exactly at "a
O'Clock as my watch stopped then. In
moment / recovered my breath ana
sprang up on the house. Just then the
steamer heelel back to starboard.
There was another rush of water. cries
ana screams OF men. women and chill
drca. From below came sounds such as
human ears have seldom heard. Many
of the messengers We're penned below
and could not possibly escape. Then the
steamer turned her bow up. She filled
and her stern slowly went down until
| the bow WAS standing straight half out
| Of the water. For an instant ! chung to
| the railing. The sight fascinated me
witt, horror Lights We're still burning
AVID | could see people inside of the
| cabin. The expressions on their faces
| were of indcscribable despair.
People on deck slid off into the wa
| ter. went down shrieking and desper-
| ately clutching at the water or at the
Jeanie, which still doomed only few
wards away. Within the sinking steam
er pandcmcnium reiSncd. There were
| cries. prayers from mcE and women
| The wall rf children mingled with sobS
Of those who were lighting desperately
to gain the decks.
| what took place in the cabin viii
| never he known as no person was saved
from there. The boat hecled back and
| went down, but the boat was only q
short distance away from us all this
| time Some of the passengers who haG
been on deck jumped for her martin
gale. Ghe stick beneath the bowspr;t
and in this way clambered up TO safe
| ty. BY that time the Dix was standing
on end with her bow way up in the all
and then she started to go down.
| 81 leaped into the water and managed
| to keep myself aflOat. Others from the
! sinking steamer were floating near me
| Every once in a while one who haG
been swimming until his strength gave
out would throw up his hands and with
a last despairing cry. sink. This hap
pened time after time.
| "All around were floating heads
which called for help and watched the
Jeanne as she slowly came towards US
and dropped boats which moved here
and there picking up men in every d.
rection. Finally a boat came to me. BY
| that time I was Indifferent and did not
Continued on Page Twc.)