Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1910-05-27
THE GILCHRIST LINER JAMES z.
WOOD SINKS THE FRANK H.
GOODYEAR.
BABY TORN FROM FATHERS ARMS
Survivors Taken on Board the Steamer
Wood and Conveyed to Port
Huron
WOMAN AMONG THOSE RESCUED.

PORT HURON, Mich, May 24.-The
he Gilchrist Transportation company,
sollided with the steamer Frank FL.
Goodyear, owned by Capt. John Mitchell,
Turing a heavy fog, thirty-fye miles
aorth Of Point aux Barques, Lake HUI
ION. at $50 Monday morning. The
Goodyear sank in forty-seVen fathoms
Of water. The Wood reached here early
this morning She had a hole six feet
wide in her bow.
Capt. II. r. Heminger of AIgonac,
Mich, who commanded the Goodyear,
Chief Engineer Gibson, Steward Davis
Bassett, one wheelman and two passen-
gers, Mrs. Thomas III. Bassett and her
daughter of Marine City, Mich, were
saved and brought to Port Huron on the
steamer Wood. The only hope of the
survival of the others who were on board
the Goodyear lies in the bare possibility
OF their having been rescued by the
steamer Sir William Siemens which was
near the scene of the wreck and is due
at Detour and Sault Ste. Marie today.
Many Were Killed.
The Goodyear was struck amidships
On the starboard side while both Of the
BOWS Of the Wood were punctured. In
n moment it was seen the Goodyear was
doomed, as she began rapidly to fill with
water. Every one on board was supplied
with a life preserver and every effort was
made to man and launch the small boats
But the water poured into the hold so
fast that the heavy matches were forced
from their frames by the pressure from
underneath and shot into the air in every
direction, and the falling matches spread
injury and death among the terrified
crew and passengers of the sinking yes
sci.
With his infant child in his arms.
Steward Bassett had almost reached
safety in one of the lifeboats when one
Of the tumblfng matches snatched the
baby from his arms. The little one fell
into the lake and was drowned despite
the frantic efforts of it's father to re-
cover it.
Parted Amidships.
The cook had Just sounded the second
call for breakfast when the crash came
and many were in the messroom All
rushed on deck and then the boat began
to sink. Some jumped into the water
and managed to get out of reach of the
boat which was fast filling.
Suddenly the Goodyear parted in the
center and with g sound which could be
heard above the whistling of the Wood,
sank out of sight, carrying with her
all but five of its crew. The bow Of the
Wood was stove In, but a buIkhead re-
sisted the inflow of water, and although
some water rushed into the hold, she
kept afioat through the efforts of the
pumps.
When the Goodyear settled beneath
the surface of the water it was evident
that she was practically broken in two,
the action of the water having completed
the destruction begun by the blow re-
eeived in the collision
Wood in Danger of Sinking Also.
Following the accident, Capt Gibson
of the Wood ordered the lifeboats low
cred and gave the crew instructions TO
make every possible effort to save any
Of the sailors of the sinking steamer
Within a short time the yawlboat was
brought alongside the Wood and Capt.
Heminger, Steward Frank Bassett Mrs.
Emma Bassett, Frank Mollick and
George Grant were taken aboard, all in
an exhausted condition, caused by their
axertions to save themselves and the
length of time they were III the water.
For more than seven hours the Wood
remained at anchor near the scene of the
collision, her captain hoping that he
would be able to save some more Of the
crew of the Inflated steamer Of the Good
year When the fog rose there was.
nothing in sight and as his boat was
Capt Gibson returned to this port, ar
irving here today.
Upon the arrival of the Wood at this
port the captain notified his office of the
collision and tied up at the Grand Trunk
docks Capt. Heminger of the Inflated
steamer also notified the owners of the
Goodyear Of the accident and received
orders TO bring the surviving members of
the crew to Cleveland.
Saw the Goodvear Sink
PORT HURON, Mich, May 24-'I
was standing on deck when | heard
the alarm whistle" said enc of the crew
of the Wood. "a moment later the two
boats crashed together. [ ran forward
and surveyed the extent of the damage
TO our boat and then turned my atten-
ton toward the Goodyear and could see
that she was sinking fast
standing amidship on the Goodyear
were the entire crew, huddled closely to-
geather, and l saw first one and then
another jump overheard Suddenly the
Goodyear made a lurch to one side and
went down, leaving a big hole in the
water and the suction carried many down
with it.
Next | saw woman come to the
surface with a child in her arms Then
one of the matches bobbed up and struck
her as it descended. | was forced to
turn my head from the sickening scene.
Soon the fog cleared and all | could
see were small pieces of floating debris. ;"
No Survivors on the Siemens
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich, May
PA Special. THE steamer Siemens
passed Detour this morning without re-
porting any survivors from the Good
year. 1t is believed she would have re-