Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-12-06
A Steamer sunk---About Forty Lives Lost

LONDON, Nov. 26.
The Hamburg-American Line steamer
Pommerania, Capt Schwensen, which
sailed from New York the 18th of
November for Hamburg, and arrived
at Plymouth at midnight the oath, came
in collision last night about midnight,
during the fog, about eight miles south
west of Folkestone, with vessel re-
ported to be the Welsh bark, Noel
Eilian, of Carnarvon, from Rotterdam
for Cardiff, in ballast. The POM
merania at the time was on her way
from Plymouth to Hamburg. The
steamship foundered in about ten min
utes. One hundred and seventy-two of
her passengers and crew were saved by
the iron screw steamer Glengarry, of
Middlesborough and landed at Dover.
| The vessel with which the Pommerania
was in collision is anchored off Fake
stone, with her bows stove, and her
| forward compartment full of water.
Further particulars of the Pommera-
MIA disaster show that at the time of
the collision she was near Dungeness
Point, about three miles from shore.
She was struck on the starboard side
amidships and sunk in less than twenty
minutes. Distress signals were given
and responded to by the steamer Glen
garry, proceeding down the channel,
which made all speed toward the scene
of the disaster.
There were nine boats on the Pom
merania, five of which were crushed in
the collision. Five were got off, but
one being overcrowded with passen-
gers was sunk. All the boats pulled
away from the doomed ship, leaving
her Captain, who refused to quit the
ship until the last moment. The last
boat to leave was under the chief Of
ficer, who did all in his power to per-
suade the Captain to leave. After pull
ing for half an hour survivors were
picked up by the Glengarry. The Glen
garry stayed near the scene till day
break, when the Pommerania was seen
with her mast above water; the Glen
garry 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 kind.
: ness and breakfasted. The greatest
! possible order, under the circumstances,
was maintained by officers and crew.
The various accounts of survivors
concur in praising Capt. Schwensen and
his officers, but represent that the crew
, only added to the confusion by de-
termination to save themselves. Capt
, Schwensen, to quell the excitement
told the passengers the vessel was
! aground. Roderick Schneider, a pas
senger, states that the Captain, reply
! ing to repeated entreaties to get int
one of the boats, asked them to stanC
alongside, when the mate shouted
: "We have waited long enough" Th'
!. Captain told them to pull away littl,
and wait. Just then the vessel wen
!, down. Capt. Schwensen threw up hi
arms and exclaimed: go, Godn
While the boat was rowing about w
saw many people in the water with lif
preservers wrongly put on, so that tn,
lower part of the body was floating
while the head was under water. Th
4 conduct of the second boatswain Of
: board the steamer in endeavoring Il
/ save the ladies was admirable, and tn
carpenter stood by with a hatche
!, threatening to kill anybody who at
y tempted to rush into the boats.
e Capt. Pritchard, of the bark Noe
$ Eilian, is very reticent, and refuses t
y show his log. He says he was goin
q down the Channel at five knots an houl
e he was on deck. The Noel Eilian ha
!: been sounding the fog horn all nigh
, y until the steamers lights were visible
" The collision occurred almost befor
e those on board the Noel Eilian weT
y aware. The blow was a glancing on'
q q the bark bounded off, and he did NJ
:. again see the steamer. Capt. Pritcl
n ard thought he was sinking. The No,
le Eilian was toe much disabled to rendt
n assistance. Seven feet of her bow VIZ
i, carried away. Her lights were burnin
As brightly at the time. She was sailin
ID free on the starboard tack. The Pom
!. merania ran across her bows and can
al on to the port bow, turning her aroun
ir completely, and then went away at fu
al speed. He was not aware that ii
~ Pommerania had sunk until he arrive
es at Folkestone.
as New YORK, Nov. 26
m ~, The following, furnished by the Har
n burg-American Steamship Compan
co is believed an accurate list of the 10
ak ak and saved passengers by the Pommer
% mia:
- Saved-Landed at Plymouth al
co Cherbourg: Mr.. E. A. Ward, fami
he and nurse, New York; Mrs. Ruff
a a King, New York; Miss f. Konigs, Cr
he field; Mr.. and Mrs. e.. Arnstein, fami
ed and nurse, San Francisco; Mrs. Clel
gn entine S. DeFreire and family, Was
yo ,es ington Miss Victoria DeFreire, Was
to- ington; l.. +, Schwartz, New York. j
aid lus Charles, New York; Professor He
II ry Robyn, st. Louis; Otto Corneman
1e, 'Se New York; Caroline Kozi, New YoI