Republican farmer., 1918-04-26
STEAMER ST. PAUL TURNS OVER AT DOCK
Believe Sea Cocks Had Been Left Open By
 Members of Crew. SIX REPORTED TO
 HAVE LOST LIVES Four Injured and Sev- eral Others Are Known
 To Be Missing.

An Atlantic Port, April 25-I The American line steamer St. | Paul overturned while being warped around her pier here today after coming from a nearby dry dock. It is believed that all persons on board, be- tween 500 and 600 workmen, escaped, but as the vessel lies two-thirds submerged, with her bow on the bottom and her stern high in the air, the mili- tary authorities were unwilling to announce that no one per ished.
 was regarded as possible that some of the men might have been caught in the interior of the ship and drown ed. | s. ,-ss4s s.1 Whether the St. Paul's sea cocks were left open or whether the ballast shifted remains to be determined.
 Soldiers were placed on guard on and around the pier immediately af- ter the accident. It was learned that the ship had been brought alongside the pier She listed suddenly to port Masts and tunnels came into contact with the roof of the pier shed, this apparently preventing her from turning over entirely.
 
 jumping into the water or climbing to the pier other laborers hurried to the roof and tried to make fast the masts and tunnels. These snapped one at a time, however, and the bow of the vessel settled on the bottom, leaving only 150 to 200 feet of the after part of the ship above the sur face.
 The military authorities revoked all zone passes of admittance to the piers. Agents of the department of justice and other government bur eaus began an investigation. Police reserves were called and approaches to the pier were blocked.
 Ambulances were summoned and four men were found to be injured
 
 laborers, hurt while making their es- cape, the hands of two of the men having been lacerated while sliding down ropes into the water.
 Many workmen appeared to have been imprisoned in the hold of the St. Paul. Observers from the tops of buildings overlooking the pier saw rescuers cutting holes in the part o1 the hull above water, letting dowr ladders and bringing up the men who had been imprisoned.
 Passengers on a passing vessel alsC reported that they could see men a work on the exposed part of the hull cutting holes through the side witt gas flame torches.
 Police and fire boats prevented the approach of all other craft. I was reported that soon after the St Paul turned over, fire started in al unsubmerged part of the vessel which the fire boats fought and ex tinguished.
 Persons who saw the St. Paul bein, warped in said she had a decided lis at the time, indicating the thrush o water or shifting of ballast, whateve the cause, began some time before sh reached the pier,
 Workmen who escaped by jumpin into the water said they feared tha some of their number had been caugh below. The refusal of the militar authorities to allow representatives ( the press within the barred zone SUI rounding the pier made it difficult obtain definite information as whether there had been loss of life.
 At least six men were drowned an several others are missing accordin to some of the workmen who were a lowed to leave the pier Five of th known dead were laborers and or was a member of the ships crew.