The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-23
TIRE CIMBRIA DISASTER.
No Traces of Survivors Bodies-Statement
of the CAPTAIN of the Sultan.


No Traces of Survivors Bodies-Statement
of the Captain of the Sultan.
New YORK, Jan. 22-The agents of the
steamer Cimbria received the following dis
patch this morning from the Hamburg
agents:
Our steamer Hausea has returned from
her cruise. She saw the wreck of the
Crimbia five miles northwest OF Borkum
lightship, the topsail yard above water She
saw no trace of survivors or bodies, although
the weather was clear She inquired at the
Borkum lightship, where nothing is known
about any boat or persons saved"
London dispatch says: "TLe Cimbria
lies sunk in ninety feet of water. Three
boats were launched before she sank"
One of the boats which the crew succeeded
in launching before the laundering of the
ship Cimbria, capsized i'm mediately and it is
feared all the persons at present missing have
been lost.
A Vienna telegram says there were seventy
two Austrans and Hungarians on board the
Cimbria. Eyewitness OF the disaster state
that on all sides were lhen, women and
children wildly implorng aid.
A Berlin dispatch says that, according to
accounts published in that city, the women
and children on board the Cimb.ia were
placed first in the boats. Boats No and 7
got off clear, but No. as so overcrowded
that it capsized. The first officer held burn
ing torches while the passengers were enter
ing the boats. He was drowned The third
and fourth officers and the second engineer
were saved.
The survivors describe the moment OF
sinking a terrible one. The air was filled
with the cries OF the drowning hundreds
who remained floating short time until be-
nnmbed by the icy water, In a few minutes
all was over.
OF the women on board the Cimbria only
three were saved. One was young Polish
girl, who was on her way to ion her parents
in America, with her aunt who drowned be-
fore her eyes. Another girl saved herself by
holding fast to the edge of boat She could
only be dragged into it after an hour and
halfs immersion.
Up to the last moment the survivors en-
deavored to rescue all they could, but as
silence came on they found no more alive
but only met occasionally with the bodies of
the drowned
OF the eight boats OF the Cmbria only four
could be lowered
In answer to telegraphic inquiries at Bor.
kum and Nordeny, the reply received is
that no further rescued are known
at those places. There has been some
feeling expressed against the officers of the
complains that he could not extract any ex-
panation from the officers or crew, who all
observed rigid silence in reference to the
questions he put.
Christian Bahm and Joseph Quotes, Amer.
leans are missing.
STATEMENT FROM THE CAPTAIN OF THE SULTAN
The captain of steamer which has ar
rived in the Humber from Hamburg make,
the following statement, at the request OF
the captain of the Sultan
"The Sultan had made an unusually rapid
passage and sighted Borkum light between
l and o'clock Saturday morning; the
weather was hazy, and soon after becama
very foggy. The engines were eased to dead
slow, and the steam whistle was sounded
every few seconds. The captain and CHIEF
officers were on the bridge, and two OF the
hands were looking out forward. Suddenly
the green and masthead lights of
steamer were seen two points on the star
board bow, and the captain of thu
Sultan thought the approaching
steamer would keep her course
and go clear. 1t was noted
however, that she evidently posted
and came around rapidly. 1t was too late to
do anything but stop and reverse, which was
done, By the time the engines had revolved
once the captain noticed the other steamers
port-light coming rapidly toward the Sultan,
and the next instant, with the great way she
had on, she caught the Sultan's bowsprit in
her port fore-rigging, bringing it right
around. There was great CONSERVATION on
board the Sultan, as it was feared so much
larger a vessel would sink her. The Sultan's
crew hailed the Cimbria to stand by, but no
reply was received. The vessels parted in
the fog, and few seconds later the mate of
the Sultan saw the Cimbria coming up on the
other side. He called to the German master
to go full speed astern. This was done, and
the Cmbria again crossed the Sultan's bows
and then disappeared.
IAN examination of the Sultans damage
showed that the upper part of her hawse
pipe and everything forward had been driven
through the collision bulk-head into the
forecastle where the crew had a narrow
escape. The Sultan remained on the scene
five hours, and the captain heard no sound
during the whole time, and was severely
blaming the German captain of the Cimbria
for leaving without having ascertained the
damage TO the Sultan He had no idea the
Cimbria had foundered until he arrived at
Hamburg. Before the collision occurred he
heard no sound from the Cimbras whistle.
When he first saw her the Cimbria was going
at full speed. He supposes the Sultan's
beams ripped open the Cimbria's plates"
STATEMENTS BY SOME OF THE RESCUED
A Hamburg dispatch says: The Diamante,
one of tho steamers sent in search of the
missing passengers and crew Of the Cimbria,
arrived this afternoon with sixteen passen-
gers and a fireman OF the ill-fated vessel
The rescued passengers state that after hav
ing left the Cimbria sinking, their boat also
capszed and they sought refuge in some rig
ging of the Cimbria which was still above
water. They remained in this position ter
hours, freezing from cold and expecting every
minute to be their last, until they were res