Evening star., 1936-07-15
GOV. NICE AND 235
PASSENGERS SAFE
AFTERSH| CRASH
Landed in Baltimore by
Ferry Following Ramming
by Freighter.
FLOOR SHOW IN FULL
SWING AS BOATS MEET
Automobile Trade Group Was Re.
turning From Convention When
Accident Occurred.
6y the Associated Press.

6y tne Associated treSS
BALTIMORE, July 15.-A steel
laden freighter, plowing through the
darkness, rammed its prov deep into
the side Of a Chesapeake Bay boat
outside the harbor here and gave the
235 passengers what one of them de-
scribed today as the closest shave
ever had"
After a scene of near panic aboard
the rammed ship and several hours
anxiously awaiting rescue, the pas
sengers, Gov. Harry w. Nice among
them, landed safely in port at day
break aboard ferry boat. Nearly all
had been badly jolted and some were
painfully bruised in the collision.
Tightly locked together. the two ves-
sells. the bay ship State OF Virginia
and the freighter Golden Harvest
drifted aground of Seven-Foot Knoll
with their crews still aboard. The
Coast Guard cutter Apache. which
aided actively in the rescue, stood by
Probe Is Started.
Ship officials started an investiga-
ton into the cause Of the collision
which occurred between 1890 and
1O:45 o'clock last night.
The passenger boat, three-decker
was returning members of the Automo-
bile Trade Association of Maryland
from two-day convention at sea. The
terrific impact brought floor show to
a sudden halt and interrupted merri-
ment going at full blast aboard the
ship.
Some of the girls in the show became
hysterical. Woman passengers screamed
and men turned from fun-making tc
kneel on deck and pray for safety.
Danger Soon Passes.
William j. Wells, jr., Baltimore Sun
automobile editor, who was aboard
said the crash was "the closest shave
! ever had"
The danger soon passed and the
passengers speedily regained theii
composure, Sergt. Manash Katz OF
State Police, personal aide to Gov
Nice, aided in restoring calmness by
leading them in old-fashioned songs.
The ferryboat Pittsburgh took the
passengers from the Golden Harvest
and brought them to port. They had
gone aboard the freighter soon after
the collision.
Capt. w. I. Woodall of the Pitts
burgh, veteran of many bay rescue,
said his latest one was all in the days
work"
Governor Tells of Crash.
Gov. Nice, smiling broadly as he
came ashore from the ferryboat, told
Of the crash as follows:
1T occurred about 10:45 pm. of
Seven Foot Knoll. Every one was in
the main salon when the crash came.
The next thing We heard four blasts
of the boat whistle and men rushed
to their state rooms.
THE freighter struck us on the
port side, near one of the state rooms.
The bulk of the freighter crashed
clear through the state room and
broke several pipes.
Knocked From Chair.
II was sitting on a chair near the
top of the stairs when it happened.
The impact knocked me from the
chair and everybody around me was
either knocked down or jolted.
I'VE rushed down the stairs and
there was a great deal of excitement
However, there was no hysteria among
the many women passengers or panic,
"The captain of the Golden Har-
vest had the presence of mind to keep
his motors runnin to keep the nose of
his ship against the hole it had bored
in our boat 1t was two hours before
we got help"
The Governor said the only injury
he received was a bruised arm. Others
reported similar hurts.
Wells said that while he was watch
ing the floor show there was a
terrific crash.
People were thrown from chairs
Those standing up were thrown in
heaps on the floor. The girls in the