Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-02
LINER ST. PAUL
SINKS At PIER
Famous Steamship Is Overturned
While Being Warped Into
Her Dock
THREE LIVES ARE LOST
Several Possible Causes For Accident
are Advanced But NO Real Explana-
tion IL Attempted

AN ATLANTIC PORT, April 25.-
The American line steamship st. Patti.
a famous passenger liner. overturned
and sank at her pier here to-day
while being warped into dock prcpar-
atory to loading for a trip to Europe.
Three men probably lost their lives in
the accident.
At the time the st. Paul was not un-
der steam. but was being brought by
tugs from dry dock, where for the
past week she had been undergoing re-
pairs. On her at the time were sew.
eral hundred men, majority of them
employees of the dry dock-who had
been sent with the vessel to complete
their work while she was being loaded.
The steamer is now lying on her port
side with about ten feet of her hull
amidships above the water. and is COM
rletely submerged both fore and aft.
A statement issued by the company
shortly after the accident occurred
said three men known to have been on
board. werc missing. and that 1t was
feared they had been lost Whether II
was believed these men were trapped
below decks a, the ship went over. or
were drowned by jumping overheard.
could not be ascertained.
A general alarm was sounded through
tho ship when 1t was seen that she was
in danger. and, as fully ten minutes
elapsed before she turned over. II is
thought lost, II not all the men reached
the deck. A large number Of the men es-
capped by simply climbing over the rail
and on to tire exposed side Ut the vessel
as it came upperricDt. while others leaped
ed into The water and were picked up by
the tugs.
Several possible causes for the accident
were advanced. but owing to the uncer-
tainty surrounding 1t no definite state
ment was given out, and will not be. off,
Gals of the line said. until officers of the
navy and federal officials and representa-
tives Of the company can complete an In
vestigation, which was begun immedi-
ately.
One Of the causes advanced, which
was supported by experienced marine
men. was that the ship. which was being
warped into her piers by lines from the
dock and assisted by tugs pushing. listed
so far that water entered open coal
ports. this resulting in an overcoming
of the center of gravity. Another ex-
PLANTATION offered was that the ships
sea cocks might have been open, either
by accident or design.
Steps to salvage the vessel were
promptly begun and number of large
wrecking barges. tugs and floating der
ricks are tonight engaged IN the work.
officials Of the company said they expect
ed to complete the work Of raising the
steamer early next week.
Immediately following the accident
heavy guard Of soldiers. police and marine
forces were thrown around the pier and
government tugs took up positions out
side the slip. All war zone passes were
ignored and no one. not a government OFF,
cial. was allowed inside the lines. A
view Of the overturned hull lying on her
port side in about 10 feet of water could
be seen from ferry boats passing up and
down the river.
AS the vessel went over on her side
her masts and tunnels struck the adjoin-
ing pier, steel structure. and were
broken off. Flying pieces Of wood hit
number Of the men and possibly a dozen
OF them were injured, some SO badly that
1t was necessary to convey them to hos
pitfalls. 1t is understood also that several
men were injured by being crushed be-
tween the overturned hull and barges
made fast to the pier on the opposite
side Of the slip.
1t also was reported that it was neces-
sary to cut holes with gas torches in the
exposed side of the vessel in order to
liberate some men who were caught below
decks. Men on the deck OF the st. Paul
claimed that they heard tapp!ngs from
workers entrapped inside.
Before leaving the dry dock the naval
gun crew, which accompanies the vessel
on her trips through the war zone. went
aboard the st. Paul. These men all
escaped. navy officials said, but they.
with the members OF the working crew
Of the ship. had to leave their personal
effects on board. The st. Paul had no
cargo. and aside from the damage to
the machinery and to her interior fur.
nishings the loss Will be confined to the
cost of salvage operations.