Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-12-04
Collision of Ships in the English
Channel, November 25th.


A London dispatch of Nov. 26, 1878,
says: The Hamburg-Am steamer
Pomerania, under command of Captain
Schwensen, which started from New
York on the l4th of November for
Hamburg, and arrived at Plymouth a,
midnight on the oath instant, came in
collision last night, about midnight,
during heavy fog, about eight miles
southeast of Folkestone, with the Welsh
bark Noel Eilian, OF Carnarnon, from
Rotterdam for Cargif, in ballast. The
Pomerania at the time was on her way
from Plymouth TO Hamburg. The
steamship foundered in about ten min
utes. One hundred aud seventy-t two OF
her passengers and crew were saved by
the iron screw steamer Grengarrv, OF
Marlborough, and landed at Dover.
The -Pomerania was struck on the
starboard side Didships and sank ir less
than twenty minutes. Distress signals
were given a0d responded to BY the
steamer GleDgarry, proceeding down
the channel, which made all speed to-
ward the scene of the disaster.
There were nine boats on the Pom
erania, four of which were crushed in
the collision. Five we're got of, but
one, being oyercrowded with passen-
gers, was sunk. All the boats pulled
away from the doomed ship, leaving the
captain, who refused to go until the last
momen. After rowing for half an hour,
tie survivors were picked up by the
GlengArry. The Glengarry stayed near
until day break, when the Pomerania
was seen with her masts above water.
The former vessel then proceeded to
Dover with those saved, and landed
them at nine o'clock, when they were
taken to the Sailors Home, treated
with every kindness and breakfasted.
The story told by the survivors tends
to show that the greatest possible order
under the circumstances was maintain
ed BY the officers and male portion OF
the crew.
The following is the narrative Of
Louisa Lauman, of Akron, Ohio:
"We had capital run and got to
Plymouth about three o'clock on the
morning of the 25th inst. We landed
some passengers and took some for Ham
burg, and then ran for Cherbourg and
landed passengers, nearly all OF whom
we're cabin. Those left were mostly
between decks. The crew consisted OF
Ill. We have here lat the Sailors
Home) l72 | was in bed las, nigh,
about quarter to IL O'Clock, when |
felt sudden bump, as if the Pomera-
nia had struck upon a rock. was
alarmed, but l did not think at first
that it was anything serious, as we had
kept good lookout and the captain
appeared to be very careful. 1t was
bis hundred and twenty sixth voyage,
he had told US. He celebrated his
hundred and twenty-tifth when he was
last at Hamburg. A few seconds alter
the collision the steward and some OF
tie crew came running to US aud said
sailing barqus had run into US, aud we
we're all to go on deck. l went on
deck directly and saw our ships light,
bu, the fog was so great that l could
see nothing else. But they told Lae the
barlue had run away. The boats we're
then all busy lowering boats. Tn.
ship was beginning to sink. In lower
ing the boats there was geeat confusion,
every body trying to crowd into them.
One filled aud sank Immediately after
it got into the water, and two others
we're smashed by the collision. They
were fastened up tight and We could not
get them undone. This Pomerania was
sinking rapidly. There we're number
of women among the passengers. L
don't know how many, but eight have
been saved, together with a baby. 1
think the baby's mother has been
drowned. Our captain bad some fire.
works on board and let them off. We
managed to get into the boats that re-
mained, and had been there about ten
minutes when the steamer Glengarry
picked us up. She cruised about long
time. Our captain had a chance to
save bis life, but would stick to his
ship. | saw him when our boat got
away from the steamer, standing on the
bridge giving commands, trying to OBJ
tain order and save as many as he
could. In twenty minutes after the
collision the Pomerania went down.
She did not keel over, but went down
gradually. The ship which ran us
down ! nerer saw at all. They told
me she was a sailing tarque, and that
with a north northeas. wind, she came
bowling along and ran right inio US. l
thought, until We landed, that we had
run upon a rock, as the Schiller did.
1t was very thick weather. There was
a good lookout on the Pomerania all
the time. She had smart sailors, aud
there were always two or three on the
bridge and two on the foreport from the
time she neared the Channel. Our
boat was so crowded it was nearly even
with the water"
Mr. c. Pappenhusen states that he
had gone to bed and was awakened By
the crash. He thought there had been
collision, aad, half dressed, rushed on
deck. He was met BY the doctor, who
said g. You had better put on a life
preserver," which he did with the doc
tors help. He did not attempt to save
any one of his effects, but 90; into a
boat, which was Immediately lowered
This was the second boat. 1t was fol-
lowed so closely by a third that they
nearly swamped each other. Mr.. Pap
penhusen saw Captain Schwensen on
the bridge as the boat put off.
Albert Fabcr states that he was in
his berth only two sections from the
spot where the vessel was stove. He
rushed on deck partly dressed aud
found everything in confusion and thick
darkness. He met the Misses Clymer
and assisted them into a boat. The
ladies we're cool and collected.
Mrs. Ohrnstiel saws that she had re.