Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-03

l hIS SWdIli TtSluillS di /
Dumfries. Va.
RiXey, little son of Mrs. Swami. |
Miss Fannie Smith. residing at
421 p street northwest.
With a crashing and a crunchng tina,
could be heard far off. the Norfolk and
Washington steamer Washington and the
Washington and Alexandria ferryboat
Lackawanna came together in collision at
80 o'clock this morning
One man is dead. two women and a
child are injured The Lackawanna was
beached to save her from sinking.
The Lackawanna's starboard side was
torn away by the sharp Prov of the
Washington. which c.eaved its way
through the heavy bulwarks of the ferry
steamer The bow of the Norfolk and
Washington steamer was badly damaged.
The collision occurred at a point in the
Potomac opposite the Firth-Stirling steel
plant at Giesboro point. Both vessels
were shrouded in the fog. Confusion Of
signals is believed to have caused the
accident.
Samuel Bilenken. who met death in the
collision. was manager Of the Alexandria
branch house of the 9TH street firm of
SdInuel III. uSdleT III CiOlllflS
He was about forty years of age. and was
born in Russia of Hebrew parentage. He
resided at 354 Mclean street southwest.
and leaves a wife and seven small chill
dren.
Those injured were Miss Fannie Smith
of i21 street northwest, and Mrs. E. +.
Swami and her little son, who reside at
Dumfries Va, but who have been stop
ping with h., her mothsr: Mrs, Key. at I'ses
I,hS srrvhnssf !, NO. ,;;rurecirod lies
beachad near the rhon.h or -Four Mile
run. The washIpgtDn,Js unhurt except
for hole in tie bow and railing torn
away.
Crash in Sudden Fog.
The Lackawanna left it's 7th street
wharf at 7:3O o'clock this morning for
it's regular trip. Capt. H. Kendrick at
the wheel According to him, he was on
the right side of the river:
Nothing was heard or seen of the
steamer Washington until bank of fog
suddenly descended on the channel. Capt.
kendrick said the fog and the steamer
met him at the same instant
There was confusion In moment,
caused by the sound of the Washington
at close quarters and the sudden shutting
out of all view of the channel to both
navigators. The Lackawanna's steam
was shut Off Effor, was made to veer
away from the supposed path of the big
steamer.
With a ripping crash the sharp bow of
the Washington struck about ten feet
from the bow of the Lackawanna and
stripped the entire side. lad es cabin,
wheel and shaft from the unfortunate
ferry boat Scarcely anything remains
of the starboard cabin, the damage .ex-
tending prac. .icaliy the entire length OF
the boat.
The two women and the child were
alone in the women's cabin. Shriek,ng.
they ran aft, trying desperately % es-
cape the big white prov that was shaw
knife. The ,hree of them were tossed
about by the heaving boards Of the
decks and dropped into the water, badly
scratched and bruised.
Hienken is supposed to have been
standing near the bow of the ferryboat
on the wrecked side. Gle was tossed
overheard. Deckhands on the ferrybOat
say he was struck by heavy timbers. He
being picked up from the water.
The ferryboats IifebOat was carried
away with the cabin. The rescues were
made by the crew Of the. washington
The twenty-five other passengers on the
ferryboat were taken back to this city by
the Washington.
Capt. Phillips of the Washington de-
clined to talk. He would make no reply
when asked for information When, ne
docked his boat this morning ne appeared
to be much worried
Capt, Hendricks Statement.
Capt Hendricks of the, Lackawanna
said: -e -s
Il was on the right side of the CHAM
mel and was following exactly my regular
course. 1t was easy for me to do this. for
there WAS absolutely no fog up to almost
the time of the accident. I could not see
far down the river. as it appeared quite
lhAa
The floating fog suddenly enveloped
everything. Then heard the churning Of
the Washingtons wheel. knew that
something would happen IL did not act
quickly. 49,,
"AIl / could. do. however. awaited moth
ing. My paddle wheel was taken or
sharp. | had hard work to turn the
boat toward the beach,
Shortly after th. Washington docked
Manager John Callahan and Treasurer
Smith of the steamboat company went
down the river in the tug ID. NJ. Key to
view the wreck.
TIE ferryb5at is visible for several
miles either way on the river lying on
he extreme west edge Of the channel
I'm the low water off the steel works at
Giesboro Point. She Ties on her side. the
wrecked part facing northeast. All along
the beach are the timbers and the eek
age. The shaft, which was torn away Is
sticking out of the water few hun lred
yards up s1ream, and. according to Capt.
Hendricks. marks the spf where the col
lision occurred. An ugly hole. ten feet
long. Is visible in he hull. near the place
whers the paddle box was.
On the trip down Mr.. Callahan said il
was the first acciden in which a l-fe had
been lost that the company had expert
ercod In seventeen years, He was dis
posed 20 consider, the mishap as purely
unavoidable. and would not place the
blame on any one
Injuries Of Victims.
When the passengers from the Lack
awanna were taken aboard the steam
er Norfolk after the accident DIR. Gold
heimer of, New York city, a passenger
on the Washington from Norfolk. im-