The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-04-17
TRAGEDY AT SEA.
Particulars Regarding the Loss OF
the Steamship Daniel Stein
mann.
One Hundred and Twenty-nine
Persons Find Watery
Grave.

WtTD MulCH ~ ohN A'S" @N~f
with general cargo. She carried crew OF
thirty eight men, and had ninety-eight pas
sengers on board. The vessel made good
passage until she approached what is known
rs Mad Rock Shoal, near the entrance TO
Halifax harbor. A terrible gale and dense
fog prevailed. The ship was being tossed
about like cork by the enormous
sea, when she struck upon the rocks.
She Immediately backed of, and
tie next moment struck upon another
shoal. Two immense holes were knocked In
her bottom. The doomed steamer Immediately
filled with water, and in few minutes went
down, only the top sail-yard being left above
water. Dispatches from Halifax, N. 3, give
the following details of the awful catastro-
phe: Ninety-one passengers. thirty-three sali-
ors, and five officers were lost on the Banlel
Steinmann. The agent of the White Cross
line yesterday reached the island, where
the captain and eight other survivors
were. From the captain the story
of the wreck was obtained IL
appears in the two days prior 10 the disaster
the weather had been so feggy that he could
get no reckonings. About lC o'clock thurs
day night he saw "a light, which seemed about
five miles away, owing 10 the Jog, and
which he thought was Cherbucto light.
AS he approached he saw that he was almost
in Sambro. Before he could give any orders
lie tried to run her ashore, but she went
down. As soon as she struck he ordered the
passengers on deck, but they were swept
overheard and drowned by the heavy seas.
Two passengers and five of the crew managed
to get out a Loaf and reach the shore. The
ship settled stern first. The captain, who was
at his post threw of his boots and coat and
took to the forward rigging. She sank faster
than he could climb, and he let 90 OF the rig
ging. Finally he managed 10 get to the top
ro1l antx ard ytnr ha 4ltt ann of no
passengers till o'clock Friday morning,
when they were rescued by a boat from the
island. The captain declared that the first
shock was light but the second heavy, and
that the steering gear was lost then. He did
not hear any FOG signal during the whole OF
the time. After the second shock the steamer
drifted over the rocks and anchored. There
was little sea and the captain ordered the mates
to lower the boats. Just then a monstrous
sea broke over the poop, washing overheard
every passenger on the deck. Then came an
awful crash, and the ship went down like
flash.
Three surviving passengers of the Daniel
Steinmann have arrived i'll this city. They
say the vessel struck but lightly, twice. The
captain then summoned all on deck and dr.
rected them 10 prepare TO enter the boats, IL
such would be necessary. One boat was
launched and all made a rush for IL, though
good discipline was maintained among the
ships crew The boat was well filled and at
tached to the steamer by rope. When some
of those on board were about cutting the line
the steamer suddenly sunk, dragging the
boat and its occupants down with IL. The
boat turned over and over, and every person
in IL was thrown out and drowned. When the
stern of the vessel sank the cries and screams
of women and children were heartrending
for few minutes. Capt. Schoonhoven
made his way up the forerigging.
Two men caught the rigging of tho
mainmast and endeavored 10 climb
along the stay between the heads OF the two
masts. In this perilous passage one lost his
grip and was washed away. The other, John
Heidermann, succeeded in reaching the fore
rigging by desperate effort, in the course
OF which his legs were seized by some one
drowning. Above him on the mast, one of
the wire uplifts on the foretopgallant yard
was broken, and this gave play TO the yard,
which worked back aud forth with the action
of the waves and threatened to tear out the
mast, which quivered and crashed alarmingly.
The captain fearing he would be obliged to
abandon his dangerous position and swim,
pulled Off his boots. The two unfortunates
from time to time, cried out together for
help, but the roar Of the wind and water
drowned their feeble voices, so that, even If
assistance had been at hand, il is doubtful IL
they could have been heard. They were
doomed 10 painfully watch the passing
minutes and hours throughout the night
till dayhreak. In this dismal watch they
could feel the vessel drifting nearer and
nearer TO Sambro Island. To add to the hOr-
ror OF their situation, they saw blue lights
burning on shore. and signals to guide the
boats TO safety, while conscious they were
beyond assistance or relief. Soon after day.
light boat put out from the cove, manned
by live men, who approached them. The
captain was by this time so benumbed that
his companion, Neiderman, had to use force
TO disengage him from the spar and assist
him into the boat. He then followed, and
both were landed and taken into the light
house.
Among the curious incidents connected with
the escape of the seven persons landed in
boat during the night, one of the most tn rim
ing was that of an Italian, he having grasped
the boat just after she left tn steamer. Her
occupants refused 10 take him in because a
number o. other drowning persons had seized
bis legs and body, and IL was certain the boat
could not take them all without swapping, as
she was already half full OF water. The ltal-
nan ut once dived and thus shook OF those
holding to him. He soon reappearcd at the
surface aud again caught the boat He was
then taken in, but was 80 exhausted that for
a time he was helpless. The boat was in
danger of laundering, owing to the water
that was constantly coming in, and those
In her took of their boots TO bail her out.
The Italian at first refused 10 assist in this
work, but on being threatened with being
thrown overheard again unless he assisted to
keep the boat free, he made an effort to do
so.
Another singular escape was that of Nick
ola, a lad aged 10 years. Just as the boat
left the sinking steamer he jumped from the
bridge, falling into the boat on his head. He
sustained no injury except having one leg
bruised.
The youngest person on board, so far as
known was an infant months old. Anon
those drowned was a young couple married
Just before the Steinmann sailed, and who
had experienced only eighteen days Of welded
life. Several large families persisted alto
gether. Ono was Swiss family-father,
mother, and eight children. Another was a
family from Holland OF about the same size.
Reports from the wreck up TO this evening
say the vessel remains in the same position.
The water was comparatively smooth TO day,
and large number of boats were graphing
for the bodies. Three only were secured to-
day. making eleven In all so far found. The
first body recovered was that of a little girl
8 years old, one OF whose eyes had been Al
most torn out. All the bodies were SO terri
bly, mutilated they could not be recognized.
Abe faces me smashed I'm, the eyes torn out,
pnd the remains otherwise dishgured. Three
schoo ners with diving crew GO to work to-
morrow II the weathe is favorable.
CHIPS.