The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-15
CAPT. SCHWENZEN'S STORY.
Ills Experience on tbe Night He Went
Down with the pOmerania.


HAMBURG, Dee Capt. Schwenzen, OF the
pomerania publishes in a newspaper of this
city n statement of the events reiating to the
catastrophe of midnight, November 20. He
says: "When the steamer sank | was sucked
down into the vortex. | did not have life
belt. and only gained the surface after des
perate struggle. where. most fortunately, ]
encountered a spar, aided by which, floated
for an hour and II half. seemed to be utterly
alone on the surface of the water until at last
the lights of n steamer, that proved to be the
City OF Amsterdam, came in sight. l shouted.
| was heard A boat was sent and was taken
on board the steamer In semi uDconcious
state My watch stopped at 1908; thus l am
able to fix the time exactly"
The captain will remain for the present at
Hamburg on account Of his serious illness
growing out OF the shock TO his nervous sys-
tenn. His physicians encourage the hope that
he will soon be out once more. restored to
health. Capt. Stevenson details the events
following the collision, which occurred while
he left the bridge for few moments to visit
the chart-housc in order to examine the
course. He exhonerates First Officer Franzen
from blame. Respecting the conduct of the
captain continues, Il can only speak in terms
Of the highest praise. My orders were carried
out calmly and eifectually. The report that
some of the crew attempted to save their per
sonal property and neglected TO attend 70 the
proper equippng Of the boats or to the safety
Of the passengers is, according to my infor-
nation. utterly nnfounded Into the last boat
that pulled away | saw a passenger hurl an
an irOn-cOrnered Golfer clear from the deck,
knocking hole I'm the boats bottom and en-
dangering the life OF every passenger IN the
craft
"Chef Officer Franzen was on deck dis
tributing lfe-belts and experimenting the
lowering of the boats until within few sec
onds Of the sinking OF the Pomerana. pr.
Schreiding, the surgeon, was also distributing
life belts. Chief Engineer Helms assured me,
soon after the collision, that the steam had
been shut off in consequence Of there being 50
much water in the engine-rOom that nothing
could be done Second Officer FOkkeS was on
deck to the last, and declined to enter the
boats, refusing to leave his captain. Third
Officer Tarn0n was at his post till the sinking
OF the ship, firing rockets. Thus it will be
seen that the first engineer, second ana third
officers and the surgeon periShed while doing
their duty AS to myself, l say nothing,
only that was saved by miracle
The words Of praise which the captain
speaks in behalf OF his officers conduct In the
moment OF trial are touching and generous,
coming as they do from the lips Of a com
mander who lives to hear it said of him that
he went down with his ship and would not
leave her while she floated In conclusion,
Capt Schwensen says: 81 do not wish to be
understood as singing any one man out Tor
more praise than another. | DO not know a
man Of the ships company who did not 90
his duty. The Fomerania's decks We're only a
few feet above the water when the last boat
left the ships si;le by my express orders, and
just in time to escape the terrible vortex that
followed the sinking OF the vessel. IL seemed
a Niagara in the ocean.
1t will be gratifying to the friends of Capt.
Schwensen in America to know that the
steamship company has declared its full con-
iidence in the unfortunate commander, and
has offered him the command Of the West
phalia, now building, and expected to be ready
for sea in the spring