Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-27

SuaTleS 1OepkeE. 4Ol n street |
northwest.
L. E. Cameron. 62s North Caro-
lima avenue southeast
Jerome Kaufman, $50 II street
northwest.
Claude Burlingame, Gil Massa-
chusetts avenue northeast.
The crew OF the police boat viglant
today is dragging the bottom of the
Potomac, near Alexandria, seeking to re-
cover the bodies of Mrs. Sarah Thompson
Nelson and Mrs. Bessie Williams Haller,
young women who were drowned last
night as result Of collision between
the Angler, an excursion boat, and the
Lofts. gasoline launch owned by Arthur
w. Simpson.
The search was begun shortly after the
accident last night and was continued
until late hour. being given up finally
because of the darkness. Considerable
difficulty was experienced because the
accident occurred near the outlet of the
great trunk sewer and the searchers could
not well calculate where the bodies were
carried.
A. J. venable. pilot on the Angler. told
the harbor police that the small craft was
not more than thirty yards from the
Angler when he sighted it. The engine
was reversed and the PROV Of the boat
turned away from the launch. but he
thought the man at the helm of the little
boat made turn in the wrong direction
and the crash came
The Lofts was on it's way from Marshall
Hall, where the young men said they
met the two women, and willingly agreed
five men were on the launch when the
boat left here yesterday morning, Dam
eron having gone to the excursion resort
on the steamer Charles Manchester. He
and the young women were met at the
resort and taken aboard as guests
Unable to Check Boat.
1t was about 500 o'clock when the
Angler, on it's way to Motley Hall,
and the Lotus. returning from down the
river, met near the red buoy. After the
small craft was sighted there was no
time for the sounding of whistles or
signals Of distress nor was there time
to check the Roadway Of the big boat.
carrying 800 colored excursionists. to
prevent the collision.
While the colored excursionists be-
came greatly excited. it is stated. they
behaved remarkably well and render
bers of the crew lowered lfeboats,
threw ropes to the struggling men in
the water. and did everything in their
power to rescue the men and women.
The men apparently were good swim
mers. it is stated. but the cries of
Save me-" shouted by several of them
indicated that they were badly fright
ened. Charles Toepfer managed to
catch hold of one of the paddles of
the wheel Of the big steamer. and
once or twice. The door of the wheel
house was opened and when the wheel
was stopped the young man was taken
from his perilous position. having re-
ceived painful scalp wounds and
His escape from death was a
miracle" remarked one of the officers
of the boat.
Falls Back Into Water.
Cameron and Mrs. Halter were togeth-
er when the Angler was reached. Mrs
Halter had caught him about the neck
and begged him to save her, and he was
doing his best to succeed. He cautioned
her to be careful and not drag them both
to the bottom. however. and when a man
aboard the boat caught him and was
pulling him to the deck she loosened her
hold and fell back into the water.
Persons who were aboard the Angler say
she did not come to the surface after she
fell back. One by one the five men were
rescued and taken aboard the Angler
They were chilled by their plunge into
the water. and it was necessary for the
boat crew to administer stimulants.
Blankets were wrapped about them. and
they were made as comfortable as DOS
sible, until they could be returned to the
city.
Not Seen After Crash.
1t is declared by members Of the boats
crew that Mrs, Nelson was not seen at
all after the crash. They did not know
a second woman was involved in the ac-
cident until the men had been taken
aboard the Angler. The crew Of the
Angler lowered lifeboats in a remarkably
short time. 1t Is stated. and Mr.. Bensinger
had the men row about the river and
make diligent search for the women.
When 1t was certain they could not be
rescued and no trace of them could be
found the Angler proceeded on its jour-
ney to Motley Hall, returning to its wharf
in Washington about IL o'clock.
Signals Apparently Lacking.
Lieut.. Dean of the habor precinct
says statements he heard of the at
fair make it appear that the accident
resulted from the absence of proper
signal lights aboard the Lofts.
lone Of the men told me there was
a small electric light burning" said
the harbor precinct lieutenant, while
men on the Angler declare they saw
no light Under the law the small
craft should have had q white bow
light and a similar stern light, the
latter higher in the air than the for
mer. 1t also should have had a red
light on the left side and green light
on the right side"
Aboard the Angler when the accident
occurred were Samuel Benstnger and
Gilbert c. Bensinger, his son. who are
interested in the management OF the
boats affairs. They had as their
guests a number Of local business men
and a steamboat inspector, who were
en- route to Motley Hall to inspect the
grounds and look over the company's
new boat.
Deplores the Accident.
II deplore the accident very much"
said Samuel Bensinger to q Star reporter
this morning. Il did not appen to be
forward when 1t occurred. but hurried