Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-11-20
DROWNED LIKE
RATS IN TRAP
Walls Of Dying Rent Air As
Steamer Dix Went
Down

SEATTLE, Wash, Nov. 20.-Cap-
tain p. Lermond, master OF the
steamer Dix, told the story of the
collision after arriving at Seattle. He
vas shaking with the cold, his eyes
still dilated with the horror of his
experience.
Il don't know how it happened"
le said Charles Dennison, mate of
the boat was at the wheel. We were
jrst about two miles due north of
Alki point and running at the usual
speed. There was nothing to hinder
Is 1t was a fine clear night and
the water was like a mill pond. I
had seen the lights of steamer on
Cur starboard quarter some time be-
itre but had not paid any attention
70 them. I went below to collect the
fares. The boat was crowded. There
"ere 20 passengers on board and 1t
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.
Cries That Human Ears Seldon, Hear.
when I was in the ladies' cabin I
heard the. bell signal to stop. In q
moment I thought that something
must be wrong and rushed forward
to see what was up. Just as I got
on deck on the starboard side / saw
the bow Of a vessel loom up. Almost
instantly she struck. The 1iboom
crashed through us just aft of mid
chips and heeled the Dix over like q
top. She careened like flash on
her port bow and lay there for a
minute Or two with the water rush.
Ing In and all over. I was thrown
against the deck house. For an in
slant the wind was knocked out OF
| me and I was almost paralyzed. The
steamer stood for almost two minutes
On her port beam. This was exactly
at 1924 o'clock as my watch stopped
then. In moment I recovered my
breath and sprang up on the house.
Just then the steamer hecled back
| lc starboard. There was another
rush of water, cries and screams of
men, women and children. From be-
low came sounds such as human ears
have seldom heard. Many Of the
passengers were penned below and
could not possibly escape. Then tho
steamer turned her bow up. She
nlled and her stern went slowly
down, until the bow was standing
straight. half,sou OF water. For an
instant i chung to the railing. The
sight fascinated me with its horror.
Lights were still burning and l cotld
see people inside of the cabin. The
expressions on the faces were Of In
describable despair.
| Others Sank From Exhaustion.
People on, deck. slid on into the
water and went down shrieking and
desperately clutching at the water or
at the Jeanne which still doomed only
few yards away. Within the sink
| ng steamer pandemonium reigned.
There were cries and prayers from
men and women. The wall of chill
dren mingled with the shouts of. those
Who were fighting desperately to
gain the ground. ~
| What took place in that cabin
will never be known as no people
were saved from there. The boat
heeled back and went down by the
stern. The other boat was only a
short distance away from us all this
TIME. Some Of the passengers who
had been on deck jumped for her
martingale (the chains beneath the
oowsprit) and In this way clamored
lur to safety. BY that time the Dix
was standing on end with her bow
way up in the air and then she started
to go down.
II leaped into the water and man
aged to keep myself afloat Others
from the sunken steamer were float
ing near me. Every once in awhile
one who had been swimming until
mis- strength gave out would throw
Up his hands and with last despair
ing cry sink. This happened time at
ter time.
i In the Water Halt an Hour.
"All around were floating heads
which called for help and watched
the Jeanne as she slowly came to-
yards us and dropped boats which
moved here and here picking up men
in every direction. Finally q boat
came to me. BY that time l was In
different and did not care whether
was saved or not. 1t must have
heen at least I25.rminutes from the
time the Jeanne struck us that the
boats were got out and guess was
| in the water another ten. We were
taken on board. Tnere were - Of
cur people on the steamship The
Test were drowned There was no
sign of my little steamer. She was
gone completely.
| II don't think the vessel was very
bs dly damaged by the collision. It
was the heeling over on her port
beam that caused. her loss. She flied
with water as soon as she went. over
and this took her down.
"As to the cause OF the accident
cannot say. was not on deck and
don't know how III happened. I
heard my mate signal either one or
two whistles. / am not sure which.
also heard him ring a stop bell. l
l'cannot understand myself how Il
l-ould have happened. The night was
fa'most as clear as day and the sea
was smooth. This Is the first acct
dent that has happened on any shir
NJ -