St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-05-21
The Late Steamship Disaster.


of the rescued cabin passengers, gives
the following details of the disaster.
He says: For several DAYS previous to
the 9TH of May, the weather was thick
and hazN, during which time it was i'm
possible to take any observations. At
: o'clock on the evening of that day.
there arose Il very dense fog, and all
sails were lurlcd and the engines re-
duccd t" half speed. went forward
to the forecastle to look for the Scilly
lights. | could see nothing, but | had
been there scarcely an instant when |
received Il sudden shock. We had run
upon the rock. Three or four shocks
followed in rapid succession, when the
ship stuck fast. hastened back to the
saloon deck, and was met on the way
10y Smith Won Schulhof and Walter, to-
gether. We went into the saloon and
desired to aIouse the women and chill
dreu, who had all retired to rest. We
went below to look for the life preserv-
ers, and, with the aid of Hcrme Tin
keiscn. distributed them to the passen-
gers. | gave the last one to Mrs. Beck
or of Philadelphia.
In the meantime the sea began to
break over the vessel. so that ii Was i'm
possible to remain on deck. The cap
tam WAS standiug Oh the bridge and
did every thing within human power to
establish order. He ut first fired his re
volV-r over the heads and then among
the sailors who refused To take up with
the passengers. but all i'll vain: all dis
clplIne WAS at an end.
There Was Il fearful SEA raging. the
waves NcIe irrcsi>tihlN rolling over the
ship. and whoever could not cling to
some firm object at Il sheltered spot was
pitIlcSsll swept overheard. never TO lie
seen again.
At arsut II o'clock | succeeded in
climbing up the mainmast. where was
at least protected from the immediate
rage of the waves. Toward midnight
the fog cleared up, and saw the light
of Bishops rock clear before us at no
great distance. But an hour after. it
became dark again, and could hardly
/ distinguish anything bat the white
heads of the waves and the parts of the
vessel nearest to me. The third Off
ccl kept firing rockets and blue lights.
/ from time To time. ;i> often as the rage
of the elements permitted IT. III order
/ To secure help from the shore. There
were lights burning III the pavilion. up
to | O'Clock then suddenly there came
Il tremendous SEA that carried every
thing before itself. aud swept the whole
house. with all who We're III it. mostly
women aud children. clean oil the deck.
Ome healt-lcnding "utcrN OF many Vol
ce> rose to the skies. then there vas
the silence of the grave. ManN per
SONS who had sought refuge on the
bridge were gradually swept away 10y
the greedy waves. ut last also the cap
tain. who stood AT his post like {;
brave man. as he WAS.
At 3 o'clock in the morning one of the
tunnels fell and smashed our last avail
able boats. Not long aftrrward also
the doctor and first engineer wer,
washed overheard. y boat WAS lower
ed. but it was STAYED and broken be
fore it scarcely touched water. Anothrl
and more fortunate attempt WAS mad,
bv three sailors. who got safely away
from the ships side. but these mel
could not hc induced I" allow any 9th
erS to get in. soon after this. the life
boat WAS launched from the >tlrhoarc
side. with Pulcmanu i'll command. hui
she caIcclrd over Immediately. an,
till>tt lIlt 'lf.ilI t'l ullHN pl ll'f~t " III
had rot in They succeeded. however
in righting her. and she ltterwar,
reached shore with ten persons. assist
ed 10y the first boat. la this boat wcr,
Mrs ,Jorn>. the only surviving woman
There WAS II fearful state OF excite
mcui ana confusion on board. Man,
of the crew and passengers were int"N
icatrd. on, OF the officers having ceIc
hratcd his birthday. that evening
Morning NOW began to dawn. and
counted ah"ut thirty persons hangm!
with nae III the rigging of the mainmaSt
Kuhn WAS above me, and beneath mt
there WAS WrStr. The ship gradual,
went deeper and deeper and began t,
settle down on one side. 81 that tn
waves went over the rigging. Brtwccl
> and Il o'clock. our mast suddenl,
snapped of, and We were all hurlc,
down into the deep and all. believe
except me. who had saved thcm>clvc
, in the rigging. we've either slain 10y til
falling debris or drowned. Most q
them were Weakened 10y exposure AM
, flight tu such degree that they wcr
unable to make the least further effort
and alphabetically submitted to thci
fate.
After being thrown down into tn
= water succeeded in catching two float
: ing beams. with aid of which | kel
7 atioat. and was washed toward til
i cliffs. A. far aS | can remember, ha
been in this condition for about tw
:, hours. when | SAW Il boat AT last.
cried for help. They heard me. and
a few minutes ! was saved. In tn
u same boat | saw Goldberg and West'
: The boat which saved us was from :
u Agnes island.
II Capt. Thomas deserves the highr>
praise in every respect. An able st;
: man courageous and skilltul, he iii
II everything he could to assist tho>
whose lives were entrusted to him
II the hour of danger. His sad fate wi
@ be lamented by all who knew him.
must acknowledge here, with gre;
u gratitude, the assistance rendered n
y by an American captain AT the momel
II | most needed it, who recommendc
l. me to hold to the mast us the safe
III position until assistance came. W
II talked together long time while "
Il were in the rigging, but. after Il whll
e he succumhcd to the cold and SCENE
Is unable to answer. and WAS finally killt
II by the falling of the mast.
1t The Man with the Fleas.
20 4 man has ust died here who b;
It. his hours of glory and whose fame hi
l. reached the uttermost pats of the cart
y He WAS the colleague of the man wi