The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-01-27
COLLISION IN THE NORTH SEA.
The Steamship CimbriG Ran do,cn Jy the
Steamship Sultan, and oper 400 Persons
DrOtcned.

|
The Hamburg American Line steamer CHM
bria, which left Hamburg on Thursday of last
week for New Y ork, came into collision with
the British steamer Sultan on Friday morning,
off Borkum, an island of Prussia, in the North
Sea, 26 miles north west of Emden. The
Cimbria quickly sank. A boat which has ar
rived at Cuxhaven has landed SO persons.
The Cimbria was to have left Havre on Sat
urday for New York.
The Cimbria left Hamburg on Thursday
with $50 passengers and crew numbering
10. She ran aground before leaving the
Elbe, but got off with the flood tide, with the
assistance of the Hansa, without having sus-
tanned damages and she put to sea at 2.3O
o'clock in the afternoon. On Friday morning
she came into collision during thick fog off
Borkum with the steamer Sultan. The CHM
bria sank in a short time. When the boat
with the 80 passengers arrived the company
sent out the steamer Hansa and the four
largest available steamers at Cuxhaven to
search for other boats. The West Indian
steamer Bavaria also left during the night with
similar object. The steamer Sultan, which
sustained heavy damage, has arrived in the
Elbe.
The Cimbria sustained such severe injuries
that it at once became apparent she must sink
almost Immediately. The officers did all in
their power to save lives. Without mo-
ment's loss of time life belts were distributed
among the passengers, and an order was given
to lower the boats. This, however, in conse
quence of the vessels heeling over on her
side, was found to be very difficult on one
side, and absolutely impossible on the other.
AS the second officer was still engaged in
cutting the spars loose so that there should be
as much driftwood as possible for the people
to cling to when the inevitable laundering &C.
Cured, the vessel went down under his feet.
He seized a spar, but, as several other per-
sons chung to it, was obliged to let go, and he
swan to boat. This boat was subsequently
picked up by the Theta. The second officer
steered the Theta to Cuxhaven.
The steamer Hansa returned from her cruise
on Monday. She saw the wreck of the Gina
bria five miles northeast of Borkum lightship,
head to northwest, topsail yards above water.
There was no trace of survivors or bodies, al
though the weather was clear. AT Borkum
lightship nothing was known about any boats
or persons saved 1t is feared that all the
persons at present missing have been lost.
The steamer stands upright in ninety feet of
water. Her top yards are just visible at high
tide. Three boats were launched before she
sank. 14loyds state that one of the boats
which the crew succeeded i'll launching cap
sized Immediately.
The London Times says the officers of the
Cimbria seem to have done their duty, and
made every disposition for saving the lives of
the passengers and crew that was possible at
the moment.
The Diamond, one of the steamers sent in
search of the missing passengers and crew OF
the Cimbria, arrived at Hamburg on Monday
afternoon with sixteen passengers and a fire
man of the Inflated vessel. The rescued pas
sengers state that after having left the Cimbria
sinking their boat was capsized, and they
sought refuge in some of the rigging of the
Cimbria which was still above water. They
remained in this position ten hours, freezing
from the cold and expecting that every minute
would be their last until they were rescued by
a boat from the Diamond. Many of those
who were in the boat when it left the Cimbria
were drowned upon its capsizing, and many
others, after reaching the rigging, were obliged
to release their hold and were drowned. The
survivors describe the scenes as horrible and
heartrending.
The rescued passengers affirm that while
they were in the rigging the lights of the Sui
tan were clearly visible, and that their cries
for help must have been heard on board the
Sultan, which, instead of coming to their
rescue, steamed away. Most of the survivors
present miserable appearance. having lost
everything. Since landing at Hamburg ev-
erything possible has been done for them.
Some have been sent back to their homes,
and the remainder will continue their voyage
on Wednesday.
Of the 4S7 passengers and crew only y
seem to have been saved.