The Washington times., 1908-11-26
Eight Lives Lost When the
Finance Sinks in Dense
Fog.
COLLIDES WITH
INCOMING LINER
White Star Line Boat Georgia.
Rams Outgoing
Vessel.

SANDY HOOK, n, J., Nov. 26.-Eight
lives are believed to have been lost as
the result of a collision between the
Panama steamer Finance, outward
bound, and the White Star freighter
Georgiac, inward bound, of Sandy Hook.
at 1880 today.
The Finance was almost cut IN two,
and now lies helpless wreck north
east Of the Hook. her deck houses.
funnel, and masts are all that can be
peen above the ocean OF the eight
persons unaccounted for, four were drst
cabin, three second cabin passengers,
and the other the third engineer Of
The Finance
The collision was due to the fog. which
has blocked navigation IN and about
New York harbOr since Monday, and
which held up feet Of twenty odd
ocean craft Of all kinds. The names Of
the missing have not yet been ascer-
tained.
Good Work Saves Many.
But for the excellent work Of the crew
OF both liners the death list must have
been very large, as the Finance had
on board eiBhty-fve passengers and q
crew OF siXty-five. They were all, how
ever with the exception Of the eight
who are missing, landed on the deck
OF the Georgiac, and will be brought
back TO New York on that vessel.
The Georgiac had been anchored on
the hook Hghtship since Tuesday, and
when II was seen that the maze was
lighter early today, her captain de-
cided to try TO make quarantine. as a
goOdly portion OF his cargo was Of
a|ahHan = IL
tain Mowbray got the Finance under
way, and she was proceeding slowly
outward when the big Georgiac loomed
up directly IN front Of her.
There was q quick succession OF sig
nails, bat It was impossible To avert
q smash, and the sharp steel prov of
the White star bcas tsashed into the
Yitals OF the smaller craft.
Passengers Are Terrified.
The passengers on the Finance were
terrified as the boat careened and at
once began to sink. Life boats, life
RATS, preservers, and rig were utilized
by the Finance complement, while
through the fog on the Georgiac could
be heard the orders to cut away the
life boats and go to the rescue. Quick
work was necessary as the F1anCe, NOR
tally damaged, was careening on her
beam ends and the water was rushing
into her cargo holds, The work Of res
cue was carried on as rapidly as pos
sible.
Seen in Lifting Fog.
About this time the fog lifted suffici-
emily for the observers at Sandy Hook
70 see what was going on and without
a seconds delay the big power boat
was got into the water and with her
crew Of life savers made for the scene.
These men lent all assistance possible
20 t-s imperiled men.
The GeOrgiac had a badly smashed
bow, out her damage was plainly above
the water line. The fog continued 20
lift so that there was soon plenty OF
help IN the vicinity.
The Finance is total wreck, and II IS
doubtful If much OF her cargo can be
saved, although the superintendent Of
the Panama Railway Steamship Com
pany. which owns her. and wrecking
tugs Of The Merritt-Chapman Company
are on the scene.
Left New York Monday.
The Finance cleared her dock at pier
81, North river, Monday morning. and
headed down the bay. She has been
caught in the fog ever since, and the
officials Of the Panama Steamship and
Railway Company were in constant
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