The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-01
GOES DOWN
Steamer Finance is Rammed by
the SteamsrI' { Georglc aud
SINKS Off NEW YORK

SINKS OFF new YORK
Collision Occurs in Dense Fog in
Main Channel-Three of the
Eighty-five Passengers on the FL
nance, One Member Of Her Crew
and Much Mail Lost.
New York, Nov. 2S.-In the thick
Of a. fog off Sandy Hook Thursday
the stout steel freighter, Georgia, cf
the White Star Line. rammed and
sank the lightly laden Panama
steamer, Finance, outward bound
with IS passengers, the Finance go
ing down within ten minutes, car
rying to their death three Of her pas
sengers and one Of the crew. The
rest of the passengers; who included
I19 women and Il children, as well
as othd Of the crew were rescued
ty thes bats Of the Georgia. The
treightsrSwas not damaged.
MisssIrene Campbell, Of Panama,
passenger who was lost, clung
frantically to the rail of the sinking
vessel and could not be persuaded to
release her hold, nor we're the men
who manned the small boats able
to remove her She was seen cling
ing determinedly as the vessel was
engulfed. VIM. H. Todd, third as
sistant engineer, jumped overheard
and was lost. When roll, call Of
the passengers of the Finance was
called, it was found that Charles II.
Schweinler, a policeman Of Panama,
and Henry Muller, a railroad con-
ductor Of Panama, had disappeared
and there is little doubt that they
were drowned.
The disaster occurred in the main
ship channel off Sandy Hook at 8
o'clock this morning, and as both YES
sells were cropping their way through
fog. The Finance had weighed
anchor and was picking her way
down the Swash Channel, when
Captain Mofbray, who was on the
bridge, heard the whistle Of an ap-
preaching liner. The Finance was
Immediately started astern, and was
slowly backing when the Georgia,
in bound from Liverpool, loomed out
of the fog and moment later crash
ed into the port side, and Just abaft
the beam of the Finance The prov.
Of the freighter penetrated the Side
Of the Finance nearly ten feet, tear
ing away an unoccupied state room
and leaving a ragged hole, through
which the water. rushed In,
The Panama keeled far over 10
starboard, while men and women.
many of whom had been awakened
from a sound sleep, were. thrown
from their berths. Hastily. covering
themselves with bed clothing, they
rushed in panic to the main deck,
which was fast sinking to the sur
face of the water. Many Of the pas
sengers jumped overheard, not stop
ping even to provide themselves with
life preservers. That more were not
lost was due to the discipline Of the
crew of the Panama, and the prompt
and intelligent work of the sailors
from the Georgia.
Immediately after the accident,
the freighter backed off and anchor
ed, her commander, Capt. Clark, in
the meantime having ordered the
life boats lowered. The boats of
the Panama were also cut away as
quickly as possible, though with diff
ficulty because of the heavy. list of
the sinking steamer.
A score or more Of those who
jumped overheard were picked up
by the small boats. Meantime the
Finance was settling steadily. To
add to the confusion moment after
the impact there was an explosion
of an ammonia tank In the forward
hold Of the Finance and the fumes
drove the engineers and firemen to
the deck. VIM. Todd, the third as
sistant engineer, was, partially over
come by the fumes, he, staggering
to the rail, threw himself overheard.
He was not seen again. Probably
half of the passengers with the crew.
stood by the ship, awaiting rescue,
and these were gotten off with re-
markable expedition.
Captain Mowbray and several of
the crew remained in a life boat near
the sunken ship. Only the masts,
stacks and part Of the superstruc-
ture of the Panama remained above
the surface.
The shipwrecked passengers AMI
crew were brought to this city to-
night and placed aboard the Panama
steamer, Alliance, where the women
and children were provided with
clothes. The passengers will depart
on the next outgoing bound steamer
for Panama.
Captain Clark, Of the Georgia.
states that he was feeling his way
into port slowly, and hearing d
whistle on his port blow, tried to
veer off and thought he would clear