News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-05-01
LOSS OF'THE DANIEL sTEINMANN.
StatementB1Iade by the Cnptain-A sea-
mans Statement.
THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT

THE CAPTAINS STATEMENT.
Capt. Schoonhoven presented the fol-
lowing statement respecting the eaiam-
ity:
"on April 3, after a voyage of 49,
days from Antwerp, at 6 p. M, bearing
off Chebucto by dead reckoning and the
soundings, l found l was west
one-half south by the compass a dis
lance of 25 miles. There was dense
fog and heavy rain. The steamer
slowed, steering west, one-quarter south,
and sounding every hour. About 9:l5
saw through the mist faint light about
two points off the starboard bow, dlsap-
pearing at times for four or five minutes.
Taking it for Chebucto, steered for it;
soundings 80 fathoms. Ten or twenty
minutes later saw that it was the
fixed light of Sambro, appearing clear,
faint show of what 1 took for Chebucto
light, about four points on the starboard
bow. Sounded 26 fathoms. Put the
helm hard a-port, but it was too late:
Just before the ship struck We had
heard the Jog whistle of Sambro.
''The first shock was light, the second
heavy, carrying away the steering gear,
and we could no longer get the engines
to work. Next we drifted over the rocks
and anchored the ship, laying to; pretty
quiet and little sea. ordered the
chief and second mates to lower the
boats and get the children and female
passengers in first. While l saw this
going on, having already one boat in the
water, and the crew working with
will, I saw the ship coming
nearer the breakers again. l ran for
ward to see if the chain cable was not
broken. Before getting there mon
strous sea broke over the poop, washing
every passenger, children and women,
who stood on deck overheard. This
was followed Immediately by an awful
crash, and the ship went down as quick
as lightning, stern first, carrying every
one down who was on the deck and
bridges. 1 ran up the fore rigging,
but was washed out before getting hall
way, but 1 succeeded afterward in catch.
ing the topsail yard, which stood just
above water. A moment afterward a
passenger was able to join me. The
night was foggy and rainy. We saw
nothing more. The next morning about
5 o'clock we were gallantly rescued by
the men upon Sambro Island in one OF
our own boats, there being no life boat
or rocket apparatus on the island.
Some of the crew had already succeeded
in reaching the land through the surf.
The number of passengers drowned was
ninety, and the number of the crew
drowned was thirty three. The number
of passengers saved was three, and the
number of the crew six"
A sEAMAN's STATEMENT.
Florentine Deserne, of Antwerp, one
Of the surviving seamen, who was In
strumental in launching the life boat
that carried seven men safely to SambrC
Island, saws: On the order being given
by the commander to launch the boats
| made for one life boat hanging in
The davits, aud, calling another
seaman to get in, told him to cut
the ropes when 1 gave the word. As
the vessel plugged beneath the water
cried ont "Cut!" and, each severing
rope, we freed ourselves from the
davits and foated on the surface clear Of
the wreck. All around us people who
had been swept off were plunging in the
water and crying for help, and it was
only with the greatest difficulty we pre-.
vented the boat being seized on al
sides and swamped.
The appeals of drowning women and
children were heartrending, but oul
lives were at stake, and we could render
but few others assistance. The boat.
SWANS mate was first hauled on board
and shortly after we took in two firemer
and two passengers. One of the latter
an italian, was surrounded by a crowC
of persisting unfortunates. As the boa
passed, and as he made an effort to clutcf
the side and haul himself in, half score
of others chung to his limbs and body,
and it was thought our little craft would
be upset. The italian, however, per
ceiving the danger in which he wa
throwing us, rs well as perhaps riskine
losing his own life. released his hold o
| the boats side, took dive down int,
I the water and, rising moment later
with all the others shaken off, he clam
| bered on board. Seven of us now were
in the boat and were knocked about il
the rough sea for about an hour anc
half. Finally we got close to SambrC
Island, and observing the guiding light
of those on shore we followed thei
directions and effected safe, though
difficult, landing.
Florentine Deserne ascribes the disas
ter to the very thick and tempestuou
weather experienced. He is also o
opinion there was deviation of the com
pass. Deserne has been the victim o
shipwrecks on half a dozen previou
occasions, but states that his latest es
cape was the narrowest by far in all hi
ayneriaOoa