The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-04-13
TEN LIVES LOST
WHEN SHIPS COIiIabH


OF Steamer Governor Unaecounted
For. Ship Sinks After Hit by
FreightSf.
Seattle. Wash. April 1.-The Pacific
Steamship Company this afternoon an
nounced that complete and careful
recheck of survivors from the steamer
Governor sunk of Point Wilson carly
today after collision with tho steam
er West Hartland. showed seven pas
sengers and three members of the
crew. unaccounted for.
The West Hartland, which arrived
here today with survivors, struck the
Governor in a slantlng direction. ac-
cording to ships officers, crumpling
the freighter's bow. and cutting the
passenger boat almost In two from the
starboard side.
According to passengers. the West
Hartland partly supported the Coy
ernor with her nose driven doeDly into
the Governors side. but rs soon as tho
freighter backed clear tho passenger
ScSSel DeSan 10 Sink.
The collision occurred less than n
mile or shore. directly opposite tho
Point Wilson light house nesr Port
Townsend. in the Strait Of Juan do
Fuca The Governor Is beloved to He
in about '25 fathoms Of water. Accord
ing to Purser Holser the Governor was
on irs course, 1t being customary I,
steaIn close to shore In making the
Point Wilson light.
Ships officers declared the night
was fairly clear with light fog over
hanging. William G. Thomas, keeper
or the Point Wilson lighthouse, who
was in his tower at the time of the
collision, said he plainly heard the
crash and could see the two sh;ps to-
gether from his window.
Purser Holser saved only the log and
the payroll OF the ships papers. Other
records, Including the passenger list,
went down In tho safe, which also con-
tafned a considerable amount Of
money, Holser said.
An anxious crowd gathered at the
pier here as tho West Hartland, her
deck crowded with huddled fffrong OF
survivors IN motley OF blankors and
borrowed clothing. warped into the
slip. A cold drizzlfng rain added to
the misery of those on the big freight
eT's deck throughout most of the slow
Jur,fey from the scene OF tho colli-
sion. Few OF them had been as5le to
escape completely clothed. A number
were In their night clothes and some
were wrapped In blankets lent by
members of the West Hartland's GROW
Neither Captain T. p. Bartlett, or he
Governor nor Captain John Alwen Of
the West Hartland. would discuss the
affair. except to say order was NAM
tanned on the sinking vessel Mrs. Fl.
William, who is blind. was given spe-
cial care by the crew. her daughter.
Mrs. II. Weisner. OF Summer. Wash,
said They were accompanied by their
husbands. "The men OF the crew were
simply wonderful" said Mrs. WeIsner.
They put life preserver on mother
carried her up the ladder and put us In
boats"
Grant Christensen, second assistant
engineer Of the Governor. Is believed
by the ships officers to have gone to
his death when he insisted on going
down to the engine room to see IL he
could keep tn ships engines running.
Several children. at least two OF
them babies In arms, were included
among the survivors and were brought
Off the West Hartland swathed in
blangets.
Federal steamship inspectors tonight
began preliminary investigation OF
the collision. The inquiry, which was
called to determine whether officers of
either ship should be charged with re-
sponsibility for the accident, was held
behind closed doors.
Honor Roll OF Lisbon School
rIN DoI