The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-11-27
Further Particulars of the Pommerania
Disaster.

Disaster.
LONDON, Nov. 26.-The Noel lillian is
magnificent new iron harque of l,l00l
tons gross owned in Liverpool, built at
Sunderland last year. What was her bow
is merely a gaping fssure. Only her
water tight compartments kept her atioat.
Mrs. Ohrnstein says that she bad retired
and was awakened by terrific crash. She
spraDg from her berth aud gained the
deck, where alLwas impeDetrable darkness.
The steerage passengers were crying loud
ly. She was pushed towards the life boat,
which was just then being lowered. Even
after getting ahoat there seemed little
hope for safety, but they soon saw the
lights of the Gleugarry, which took them
on board All speak 10 the highest terms
of the captain, VINO was on the bridge near
ly all of the previous three days and
nights
The Pommerania landed fourteen first
class passengers and twenty-six others ut
Cherbourg, Chief Officer Franzen com
manded the last boat. As he put off, the
captain, who was on the bridge, called to
him to keep as close to the POmmerania as
possible. He laid to about ten yards from
the steamer, but she went down 10 few
minutes.
ROderick Schneider, a passenger, states
that the captain, replying to repeated en-
treaties to get into one of the boats, asked
them to stand alongside, when the mate
shouted I'VE have waited long enough.
The captain told them to pull away little
and wait. Just then the vessel sank. AS
he went down Capt. Schwenzin threw up
his arms and exclaimed, "Oh, God. I"
While the boat was rowing about we saw
many people in the water with life pre-
servers wrongly put on, so that the lower
part Of the body was floating while the
head was under water. The conduct of the
second boatswain on board the steamer in
endeay0ring to save ladies was admirable,
and the carpenter stood by with Ratchet
threatening to kill anyone who attempted
to rush into the boats.
Mary Clymer says she was in the same
berth with her sister Rose. They were
awakened by the crash and rushed on deck
half dressed to where the boats we're being
put up They were there jnined by their
brother, who assisted her Nary into the
boat. A sailor threw Rose in, nut she fell
into the water and mad to be- dragged out
Young Clymer, who remained ON the
steamer, seeing the boat full and the sailors
trying to get aboard, thus endangering the
ANBo VI Oil, bub IUDCS anu SGT ubT
saying Good bye" to his saved relatives.
He thought his mother and other relatives
were in the boat, but a sailor prevented
chem from getting in. Ii is a noticeable
fact that lO8 sailors out of Ill are saved
Louisa Rassman, of Philadelphia steerage
passenger, who escaped, says Captain
Schwenzln s last words, when the boat
was obliged to row away to avoid being
unnraH Hnrun IN flor0,n, ttEo-o.Il
children" There were good many peo-
pie around the Captain crying for help
and clingiBg to him and to each other.
Henry Smith, steerage passenger, says
the plug was missing from the boat first
lowered, which prevented her from being
righted when capsized Six persons were
drowned from that boat. A rowlock was
missing from the second boat, which pre-
vented her going to the assistance of the
strugglors. One OF the Pommerania s
crew says he saw the bark's light ten min
utes before she struck, but the collision
did not seem probable until three minutes
before it occurred. As the Noel lillian
was going free she might have avoided
striking us. The Pummerania went TO
port as far as she could, but the collision
was then unavoidable.
First Officer Frapzen says il wa, his
watch, tie was 10 charge OF the shin.
Capt. Schwenzln was on deck but not on
the bridge. Franzen declines to say
whether the whistle was blowing,
A telegram has been received at the
Lloyd 's,irom Maaslius, Holland, Announcing
that the steamer City OF Amsterdam has
arrived there with the Captain of the
Pommerania on board.
DOVER, Nov, 26.-One Of the rescued
passengers, German lady, makes the
following statement Last night / shared
my cabin with another lady. We retired
soon after 10 o'clock 10 excellent spirits,
looking forward to speedily seeing dear
old Germany again. Soon afterwards the
lights we're turned down in the cabin
About this time we were rapidly approach,
ing the straits of Dover, Capt. Schweuzir
told me he was going on the bridge, as il
always required great care in passing Thu
spot, especially ii any fog prevails. I
might haye been nearly midnight when