Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-04-25
BIG GL|NERST. PAUL
0VERTURNS; 6 DEAD
American Steamer Lies Partly
Submerged at Pier; 500
or 600 Aboard.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
AN ATLANTIC PORT, April
25.-At least six men were
drowned and a number of others
are missing from the American
line steamer St. Paul, which over
turned here today. according to
some of the workmen who were
allowed to leave the pier. Five of
the dead were laborers and one
was a member of the ships crew.
The st. Paul overturned while being
warped around her pier. after coming from
a nearby dry dock. It is believed that
between 500 and 600 workmen were
aboard. The vessel lies two thirds sub
merged. with her bow on the bottom and
her stern high In the air.
Whether the ST. Parf1,s seacocks were
left open or the ballast shifted remains
to be determined,
The st. Paul, one of the crack steam
ships of the American line, registers
11,629 tons gross. For many years she
has been In transatlantic service, and
during the war has taken to Europe and
brought back as passengers many noted
persons.
Soldiers Placed on Guard.
Soldiers were placed on guard on and
around the pier Immediately after the
accident happened and information was
difficult to obtain. It was learned that
the ship had been brought alongside
the pier. She listed suddenly to port.
In ~
the roof OF the pier shed, this apparent
ly preventing her from turning over
entirely.
While the workmen on board were
jumping into the water or climbing to
the pier other laborers hurried to the
roof and endeavored to make fast the
masts and tunnels. These snapped one
at time. however, and the bow of
the vessel settled on the bottom, leav-
ing only about $50 to 200 feet of the
after part of the ship above the sur
face.
The military authorities revoked all
zone passes of adI!ittance to the piers,
Agents OF the Department of Justice
and other government bureaus began
an Investigation Police reserves were
called and approaches to the dock were
blocked. Ambulances also were sum
moned.
Four men found to be injured were
attended by the surgeons Two were
detectives and two were Iaborers, hurt
while making their escape. the hands
of two of the men having been lacer-
ated while sliding down ropes into the
water.
Many workmen appear to have been
imprisoned in the hold of the st. Paul.
Observers from the tops of buildings
overlooking the pier saw rescuers cut
ting holes in the part of the hull above
water. letting down ladders and bring
ing up the men who had been impris-
oned.
Passengers on passing vessel also re-
ported that they could see men at work
on the exposed part of the hull cutting
holes through the side with gas-fame
torches.
Police and fire boats prevented the an
proach of all other craft. 1t was reported
that soon after the st. Paul overturned
fire broke out in an unsubmerged part of
the vessel and that the flreboats fought
and extinguished it.
Workmen who escaped by Jumping in
the water said they feared that some OF
their number had been caught below.
The refusal Of the military authorities
to ellow representatives of the press
within the barred zone surrounding the
pier made it difficult to obtain definite
information as to whether there had
haon 1oQa oP life