The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-07
STATEMENTS OF EYE-wITNEssEs.
The Captains Story of the Disaster and the
Causes Leading to 1t.

The Captains Story of the Disaster and the
Causes Leading to 1t.
HALIFAX April 5.-Following is the state
ment of Captain Schoonhoven:
"On the Sd of April, after voyage of thirteen
and half days from Antwerp, at P. NJ, bear
ing off Chebucto by dead reckoning and sound
ings. west half south, by compass distance twenty
five miles; fog and heavy rain. Steamed dead
slow, steering west quarter south, sounding
every hour. About 9:15 saw through the mist a
aintlight about twopoints on the starboard bow
disappearing at times for four or five minutes
Taking it for Chebucto, steered for it., sound
ing thirty fathoms, and ten twenty minutes
later | saw that it was the fixed light of Sambro
appearing clear, and at the same time seeing a
faint show of what took to be the Chebucto
light about four points on the starboard bow, |
sounded twenty-six fathoms. | then put the
helm hard aport but it was too late, and Just be-
fore the ship struck on the rocks. l at no time
heard the fog-whistle off Sambro The first
shock was light, the second heavy carrying
away the steering gear. After this we could
not get the engines to work, but drifted over the
rocks and anchored the ship lying-to pretty
quiet, with little sea- ordered the chief and
second mates to lower the boats and get the
children and female passengers in first While
| saw this going on, having already one boat in
the water lthe crew were working with willy, 1
saw the ship coming nearer to the breakers
again, when | ran forward to see if the chain
cable was not broken. Before getting there a
monstrous sea broke over the poop washing
overheard every nSer-cnlldren and women
who stood on deck. This was Immediately
followed by an awful crash, and the ship went
down as quick as lightning, stern first, carrying
every one down who was on deck
and those who were below. l ran up
the foreriggng but washed out
before getting halfway, but afterward succeeded
in catching the topsai yards, which stood just
above the water. A moment after passenger
was able to join me- The night was foggy and
rainy, and we saw nothing more. The next
morning we were galantly rescued by three men
upon Sambro island, about A. NJ, in one of our
own boats, there being no life-boat or rocket APP
paratus on the island. Some of the crew had
also succeeded in reaching the land throu gh the
surf The number of passengers drowned was
90; crew, 49, Saved-passengers, g. crew, G.
We had a fine voyage till reached the bank,
which we crossed in 40 33, and where we
saw some patches of field ice. Thence
we had almost continued rain till we
reached the Nova Scotia coast. Our last
observations were taken on the morning
of the I'd. We had full general cargo of about
l. 400 tons, the steamer drawing twenty feet six
inches aft and nineteen feet forward. The ship
is now evidently broken, with rocks through her
when we struck, with dense fog and rain 1t
was impossible to save any passengers whatever
| stayed in the foretOpsail yards. but having to
go further up to clear the break of the sea, |
maintained a position in the ratlines for eight
hours, in company with solitary surviving pas
senger. We were afraid to lash ourselves for
fear the mast would break away; so we just held
on. all ready to Jump, from 10 ?. NJ. to $50 a. NJ,