Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-12-04
ANOTHER OCEAN HORROR.
The Steamship Pommerania Sunk in
the British Channel---Full Account of
the Terrible Disaster,

the Terrible Disaster.
A London dispatch of Nov. Goth
says: The Hamburg-American line
steamer Po'nmeru1aid, under Capt
Schwensen, which sailed from New
York en- Nov. IA, for Hamburg,
and arrived at Plymouth at mid
night on the oath inst, came in coils
ion. about midnight last night, during
the fog, eight miles southwest of Folk
stone, with vessel reported to be the
WEIGH bark Noel Eihan. of Carnarvon,
from Rotterdam for Cardiff, in ballast.
The PomnaeTdniG, at the time, was on
her way from Plymouth to Hamburg:
she foundered IN about ten minutes;
172 of her passengers and crew were
saved by the iron screw steamer Glen
Q0qTy, of marlborough, and landed at
Dover The vessel with which the POM
nleranja was in collision, is anchored off
Folkstone, with her bows stove in and
her forward compartment full of water.
& tug has gone to her assistance.
The agents of the Hamburg Ameri-
can steamship company say that AZ of
the passengers of the Pon1naerGnid were
to have landed at Plymouth and Cher
bourgh, leaving 104 on board. Four
second and one third class passenger
embarked at Plymouth, making a total
number of passengers on board when
the disaster occurred OF 100, provided
the AZ landed as intended. The agent
at Plymouth says the following passen-
gers landed there: Miss E. Konigs,
Miss Wilson, and Messrs. Brock, Eas-
Textbook, Hunt, Van Kervis, Pearce.
.Pearn, Phillips and Thomas-ten in all.
The particulars of the Pommeranid
disaster show that at the time of the col
lision she was near Danguess Point
about three miles from shore. She was
struck on the starboard side, midships,
and sank IN less than 20 minutes. Dis
tress signals were given, and responded
to by the steamer GlengaaTy, proceed
ing down the channel, which made all
speed towards the scene Of the disaster.
There were nine boats on the P0mnaera-
aia four of which were crushed in by
the collision; the five were got off, but
one, being overcrowded with passen-
gers, sunk. All boats pulled away from
the doomed ship, leaving the captain,
who refused TO quit the ship till the last
moment The last boat to leave was
under the chief officer, who did all in
his power to persuade the captain. At
ter pulling for half an hour, the surviv-
ors were picked up by the GlengarTy.
One gentleman was taken from the Wa
ter III an unconscious state and restored.
The Gienga7Ty stayed near the scene till
daybreak, when the PomD2eran5d was
seen with her mast above water. The
G5enQdrYy then proceeded to Dover with
those saved, and landed them at 9
o'clock, when they were taken to the
Sailors Home, where they were treated
with kindness and breakfasted. The
greatest order, under the circumstan-
ces, was maintained by the officers and
crew.
CAPT. sCHWENsEN's
last voyage to this port completed his
10th round trip between Europe and
America as commander of the steam
ships of the Hamburg & American
Packet Co. He was born in Flensburg,
Schlesswig, on the 20th day of August,
1926. When he completed his Tooth
voyage to this port, which he made in
April, 1875, a record of his voyages was
published in pamphlet form.
The cargo of the Ponanaerdnia WAS
valued at about S250,000, and was al!
consigned to Hamburg except $195, 900
Mexican. consigned to London, and I'M
dOubtedly delivered at Plymouth. Sew
enteen bags of letters and twenty-five
bags OF papers are all supposed to be
lost.
THE POMMERANIA
was built at Greenock-on-the-Cly in
1873; she was of 3S3 tons burden The
following were her principal proper
tons: length, 500 feet; breadth, 40 feet;
depth of hold, So feet. She was brig
rugged; her engines were compound,
and OF 900 nominal horsepower. She
had six bulk-heads. She was the most
popular vessel of the line.
STATEMENT OF LADY PASSENGER.
a Dover dispatch says: One Of the res
cued passengers, German lady. makes
the following statement: [ intended to
have left the Pom1n1eraria at Cherboug
When we touched there, but changed
my mind, and resolved to come on to
Hamburg, feeling SO pleased with the
kindness Of the captain and officers.
Last night [ shared my cabin with
another lady. We retired soon after 10
O'Clock III excellent spirits, looking for
ward to speedily seeing dear old Ger
many again. Afterwards the light was
turned down. About this time we were
rapidly approaching the straits of Do
Yer. Capt. Schwensen told me he was
going on the bridge, as it always
required great care in passing this
spot, especiallyif any fog prevails. I
think it might have been nearly mid
night when | heard a fearful grating
crash then screams and other sounds
and confusion. I instantly reused my
companion, and we dressed ourselves
under the impression that the ship
was sinking. AS soon as we reached
the upper deck we found large num-
Der Of passengers were there ahead of
US. 1t was too dark to see what was
going on; | saw my good, kind friend,