New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-07
CAPTAIN SCHWENSENS STORY.
DETAILS or THE SINKING or THE PoMNERtNTA-
HOW TT FEELS TO BIZ DROWNING.

now TT FEELS TO BIZ DROWNING.
Captain Hans F. SChwensen, the commander
OF the HAMBURG steamship Pommerana. which was run
down and sunk by the Noel Eian last November, sailed
INTO this port on Saturday morning, occupying the
"bridge OF the slesia which he commands whlle the
Westphaia Is being oyerhaued and made ready to bo
placed in his hands next June. Flags were displayed
on the City Han IN Captain schvensens honor. and
committee OF Aldermen went board his steamship I'm
the afternoon to invite him TO reception In the Gov
ernors room OF the City Hall at y. to-day 70 re-
ceye the congratua ions Of the residents and the gov
eminent Of the Cry Of New-York" Captain schwensen
accepted the prored honor aud said in answer 10 the
complimentary remarks addressed to him: 81 only did
my duty as seaman Bat wonder how It Is that am
here / am glad" Conrad P0ppenhusen. one OF the
rescued passengers OF the Pommeranl came back with
the Captain. Captain schwensen dned yesterday with
Mr. Meyer the agent OF tho Hamburg Company at the
atters residence in oboken. Here he related the par
tcuars OF the terrible board the Pommcrania
during the dtseu minutes between the striking end the
sinking Of the ship
"Ihaye scarcely ever b'acEer night at sea-" he
said 1t was between the 2jth and 10Th Of November,
not foggy hut black clouds hung the sky and there
steady drizze. The ilrst officer and were having
our watch together the bridge This painting on the
wall shows you the very spot where were We bOtn
lost Git OF the Dungeness Light behind that Gill; aud
looking out for the East Goodwin light by Dover.
intending change course to sail through the
Straits into the German Ocean As soon a. this ght
came In view, fifteen minutes before midnight. went
into my cabin work out our position on the chart.
Barely had taken my compaasses IN my hand, when
the crash came, shaking the ship from stem to stern.
ran on deck meeting the first officer who running
to me- saying that q sailing ship had run into and be
thought we would sink. 1 ordered the stewards and
some OF the 10 wake up the passengers aud get
them deck while the doctor and the baker ont
the hfe-proseryers First Engineor-Ielms, hurried
tha hnt nd saIl ha rtu
He hurried back, and that tie last We saw Of him
can't describe to you the darkness aad confusion that
regned on that deck Two OF the boats were stove IN
by the collision. Tho other eight were manned aud
stripped inside OF i've minutes Every officer and sea-
man must have been In his place DO this Men, women
and children were crowd.ug about the boats. |
HobOkcn family, husband, vie and babe that had been
placed IN my charge and led them 10 the first boat
swans boat, tho nrs. that was lowered. Here saw
young Clymer, with three lfe-preservers
about his body Then / hurried to the other boats,
winch we're being u-d with the passengers II was
some Of Tue lanterns had been from the rigging
they bad been lashed Then WAS told that boat
found that young Cymcr had cut the rope AT one dIy
since link IN the rope had prevented IL running
this boat ana when tho rope was cut the boat went
down uGeyeny and wa; sTauled. some OF those IN 1t
Scrambled up the ships side The doctor was among
The frst officers boat last leave the ships
side. thought tho passengers we've all OIL Imagine
my surprise when going 10 the quarterback / found
tLere the HobOken family thought were IN the first
boat. They WCrO beside themselves WIKI terror.
seized The babe nom It's mothers arms and followed by
husband ana wife forward, calling 10 the first
officer come back that there other passengers
to saved lie starte back bu the husband who was
out Of at again and the mother, pulling
the child from me, followed after him tue darkness
luis WAS tue origin of the story that mad Iced TO save
hid said To De my at once shouted ~ the uTst
officer TO pull % last possible and his boat barely
escaped being down with the ship. Third Oncer
t5,N
and then threw dun light over the ship. Then
two or three asscnsers running here aud there, but il
too late The wafer pouring the sides. and
had already "a my own uind made up h.y account. 1
snd, shaking aim, found that b. was dcAd-perh4ps
from excitement and apopleIy. TLen stumbled upon
the second oncer tOkkeS,' crcd why are you here
and not Ia your bostf captain be answered my
boat ia in good command tue carpenters boat was
Stove ~ 80 pti MN ~ mhr, ana ddut want 10 leave
my old captain A. tASg moment tAe ship lurohed we
wOr0 stauuing In water; the bow pltcned down; VIC
said Good by TO one another. and tnal blue llzht
at, showing Elat Zarnow faithful TO thr ucatn
the last thing SOW as the water closed over
" DO you want 10 know how mau feels when he 10 |
being crowned ~ asked tho captain " had "A feeling
down Then came the sensation OF beInz forced 1hrough
tho water Il had been discharged tIOUl a cannon,
my mouth aud found [ was at tho surface with !
n"atnE .Ainss ABOUT me. Iound a hoard SIX feet
could see them brcausc they were painted white For
al hour The tide carried rapidly toward the Ger
man ocean. Then she light a steamer coming
TAKEN glt, crsIp I'M the lrr. AMI tbnn,t tor sa,"|d
time tl.t mu,t surely dIo. Yos tho steamer came |
nearer. shouted. the steamer stop, ght 70
down tHe side ana heard DIP oars boat.
Then mana eusped me and tainted. The thing
remem6er "as tee!ug bail OF hgnt before nr. su-
rounded by "a dark rainbow, which kc.t growing /
brighter and brighter. Then pric.ly feeling be- /
g.nuiAg ~ my lcct went UP NY whole body. /
NY eyes opened and Ouud IlyrtIf lookug al lamp
burning tie dccA Of the CITY OF Amsterdam yhcI
caIuet ne mo ho1terGam where I! SICK Tor thee
days."
cen 80 Tor The c.cw Of tue Pommcraaia great dca.
haa been ANA against them on lhs sipo The facts thHt