The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-23


cued by q boat from the Diamante. Many
of those who were in the boat
Nhen it left the Cimbria were drowned upon
lis capSizing, and many others, after
reaching the rigging, were obliged to release
their hold and were drowned. The sur
vivors describe the scene rs horrible and
hcart-rendiag. All OF them praise il the
highest terms the conduct OF the captain and
crew OF tho CimbriG, who never moved from
their nOS;S and did everything in the power
III ma 10 save life unit! they themselves were
carried down in the waves. The rescued pas
-eDgers affirm that while they were in the
rigging The lights Of the Sultan were clearly
visible, and THAT their cries for help must have
teen heard on board the Sultan, which, in
stead of coming to the rescue, steamed away.
Most of the survivors present a miserable
spTearance. having lost everything. Since
landing here everything possible has been
lone for them. Some have been sent back
10 their homes. and the remainder will con-
time Their voyage on Wednesday.
THE SULTAN SEIZED AND HER OFFICERS M
PRIsoNED.
a Frankfort dispatch says: The Frank
furter Journal announces that the officers
OF the steamer Sultan have been placed in
jail
A London telegram says: "a dispatch
from Hamburg states that the steamer Sui
tan has been seized by the police. Her cap
tain asserts that he waited at the scene of the
disaster twelve hours after the collision"
Sinking of the Pommerania.
New York Herald.
The loss OF the Cimbria recalls to mind
the terrible disaster to the Pommerania, of
the same line, on Nov. 20, 1878, off Dover.
Shortly before - o'clock that night, on a
voyage from New York to Hamburg, after
having touched at Cherbourg, she collided
with the English bark Noel Eilian. and sank
within thirty minutes. There were 226 pas
sengers on board. A few went ashore at
Plymouth and several were landed at Cher
bourg. The night of the collision was in
iensely dark and a drilling rain was falling.
The Noel Eilian was of iron, and the blow
given the Pommerania disabled her engines
at once. Captain Schwensen and one of his
officers were on the bridge at the time Of the
collision. The bark was left in the darkness,
owing to the speed of the steamer, and when
1t was desired to answer the cries for help
that were heard from the smaller craft it was
discovered that the machinery would not
move. The steamer came to a dead stop
ott1 pNEhh " 0iiAh ( thCSHiN vi VIC Nttu
swell. The boats were then the only hope of
safety.
1t was quickly reported that the engine
room was flooded; that half the fires were
out and that the vessel would not float more
that half an hour. The bulkhead openings
throughout the ship were closed by the di-
rection of the captain and the passengers at
once aroused. The boats. save two that had
been crushed, were ordered TO be lowered.
Signal rockets were fired and the whistle
loudly blown. Below deck the greatest con-
sternation prevailed. The passengers not
thoroughly awakened by the shock and noise
of the collision were soon made aware of the
terrible condition OF affairs. Many of the
passengers went on deck in their night
clothes. None had time TO save anything.
Without thinking of life belts, a rush was
made for the boats. 1t was the opinion Of
those saved that had the life belts been used
not a person would have been lost. as the sea
was very smooth. The excitement of
the passengers could not be al
layed. One of the six boats
was swamped in the attempt to lower it. and
four men who were in her tending the blocks
and getting out the oars were dumped into
the sea. The boat hung by the sier,4 tackle,
and before the ropes could be cut more than
thirty people sprang over the vessels side
into the h~alf-sunken craft. The boat cap
sized, and, with a few exceptions, all these
people were drowned. Now, the panic be-
game gtueTdi- Men utu Hplllen RUSHED IRAN
tically hither and thither; some knelt silently
in prayer. Shrieks and prayers were heard,
mingled with the commands OF the officers
and the wrangling OF the crew.
Many of the passengers had to be dragged
over the steamers side, so terror-strickeu
were they. Five boats were soon in the water
loaded with hnman freight. Some of the
passengers refused to enter the boats. not
withstanding the entreaties of the officers,
and finding delay useless the five boats pulled
away from the sinking ship, leaving about
twenty passengers and Captain Schwensen
on board. The Captain remained on the
bridge. The fires we're out; the whistle
could no longer be blown for want OF steam:
the steamship was lost and the shore six
miles away. Captain Schwensen jumped
overheard at the last moment. and after a
desperate struggle in the water found a spar.
aided by which he fioated for an hour and a
half. He afterwaTd said that he seemed to
be utterly alone on the surface Of the water,
until at last the steamer City of Amsterdam
came in sight, and in answer to his shouts
picked him up. Captain Schwensen was i'll
for n long time on account of the shock to
his nervous system. About fifty persons
were lost by the collision.
Captain Schwensen arri we'd in New York
from Hamburg on April 3. 1879. and the flags
m the City Hall were displayed in his honor.
A deputation from the Common Council
visited him to tender the congratulations of
the people and government of the city of
New York and the use OF the Governors
room. and to arrange for a reception which
was rendered him on April I. on which oc-
casion Mayor Cooper presented him with a
finely engrossed address. Captain Schwen-
sen. in May, 1882, completed his one hun
dred and fftieth round trip across the Attain
tic, and on May u, that year. he was ten
dered a reception by the Arion Society in
honor of the event. On his return to Ham
burg he was mao commodore OF the feet"
by the German government.
THE HORROR.
The Coronsrs Verdict-Statement of a Res