The New York herald., 1878-11-27
DETAILS OF THE DISASTER, GATHERED By
SPECIAL HERALD CORRESPONDENT.
(BY CABLE TO THE HERALD

bosEn, NV. ~, iofos
Shortly after eleven O'Clock to-day the startling
news arrived at London that the Hamburg American
steamship Pommerania. Captain IL. F. swensen,
had been run into by bark and had
started Immediately for Dover. and arriving there
fortunately found that the loss was by means so
great for out Of 226 passengers and crew only fifty
eight now missing In this careful enumeration
of the lost do not include the Captain whose safety
is assured by telegram which have inst received
from Maasluis "a fishing town nthe Holland coast,
near Rotterdam) announcing his arrival at that port
in the steamer City Of Amsterdam. ;.
SAFELY ACROSS THE OCEAN.
1t appears that the Pommerania touched at Ply
mouth at three O'Clock the morning Of the 25th
and landed passengers and mails. The names Of the
eight people who went ashore at that point were:-
Samuel Brock, Cleveland. Ohio W. Easterbrook. New
York; Edwin Hunt Arizona; John Mankewis. Cali
fornia; Edward Pearce, California; W. H. Pearn, Ne
vada Thomas Phillips Nevada. and Charles Thomas.
Colorado. These all in the steerage. An equal
number Of passengers taken and the
ship proceeded to Cherbourg, where the following
first cabin passengers were supposed to have
landed Mr.. Alexandra, Paris: Mr.. Benedict Arm.
Columbisna. Ohio; Mr.. z. Arnstein. family and
nurse, San Francisco; Mrs. Clementne S. de Freire
and family. Washington city; Phil Gross, St. Louis;
King, New York; Miss +. Kocnig, Crcfeld Louis F.
Schwartz. New York: Louis veith, Buffalo Mr.. Z. A.
Ward. family and nurse. New York; Otto Kornemand.
New York; Miss Caroline Kozi, St. Louis. and Pro-
have gone ashore at that point.
AT THE POINT DANGER.
The Pommerania left Cherbourg on Monday sfter-
noon. proceeding mp the Channel toward the North
Sea. At fifteen minutes before midnight the South
Foreand light was OF the port beam, distant about
six miles, while the Dover beacon ahead
over the port bow. twelve miles. The night
intensely dark and heavily overcast. drizzlng
rain was falling. Lights were from the Pom
merania and proved to be tho iron bark Noel Elian,
from Carnarvon bound for Cardiff. The Captain says
he saw the lights Of the Pommerana burning brightly
before she crossed his vessels bow. and when she
was within three lengths he could see very dim
green light.
WHAT OF THE MIGHT?
Sailors Of the Pommerania, as will be seen by
Kurres statement given At the end of this despatch.
say that they observed the bark six minutes before
tho collision and thst tho darkness was intense. One
sailor says :-.I couldnt see my hand when before
my face" Another ays:-"There Was intense dark
ness and drizzng rain fell At the time While tho
majority Of survivors unite in saying that there
no very dense fog. Still when I reached Dover
shortly sftcr midday thick fog hung the Chan
mel and prevented me from seeing more than 200
yards seaward from the Admiralty pier. Iconclude,
therefore, thaa addition to the darkness. the mist
must have been quite thick. although it may not,
technically, have pcssessed she density OF fog.
FIRST SIGHT OF EACH OTHER
At any rate, it is established beyond cav that the
vessels each other clearly. and it becomes highly
important to know all the facts regarding their
ments up to the moment Of contact The statement
in detail Of Captain Pritchsrd Of the bark will be
duce small portion of it here to settle his conduct
from his own point Of view He says:-"we were
steering course for the west The Pommcranis
was crossing from leeward two or three points As
to the wind. what little there was came from tho
north or north by east We going FIVE knots
when the Pommerania into She slowed us
right around II she had into side We should
have gone down Immediately. We were also on the
starboard tack sailing free. Our lights burning
brightly when the steamer us. striking
in the port bow. After struck we shouted
loudly as we could all OF watch Stop her stop
her! We feared needed help. She went right
ahead, however, fast she could, turn
ing MS completely around in doing The
vessel passed quite away from and we
did not know till this morning that the Pommerania
had sunk" This is very strong statement and
have taken IL down with the utmost and read it
on to the Captain for his approval. He says furthcr
'It could not have been tho speed at which were
travelling that caused such extensive damage The
pommerania must have starboarvied her helm she
would have run us down amidships." This last
statement ia of course only opinion although it is
highly inportsnt
FATE scpGMEyr. a,ss
I am sorry that cannot get better statement
from First Ohcsr Frsnssn, Of, the Pommcrana, than
is appended below When first called on him at tho
Sailors Home here found him not only rcticent but
extensively sury. refusing to give any information
except to the German Consul. 1 learn, from other
Trustworthy sources, that the Pommcrana seeing the
. starboard in order to avoid the collision Never
theicss the bark did not change her course and the
pommerania. in altering her course, seems to have
brought her mtdships section into such position
that IL was fair target for the iron bow OF the bark