National Republican., 1884-11-01
TIE punNEn srrAMfR.

Arrival Of the Passengers and Crew
In New York-stntements Of the
Disaster by the Captain and surgeon
OF the Lost Vessel.
New York, Oct. 31.-Tho Rhoin ar
rived ut her dock soon after 8 o'clock
with all the passengers and crow of the
Maasdam on board. Hundreds of tho
relatives and friends of the wrecked
awaited them. Capt. II. G. vanderzee, of
the ill-fated vessel, said to reporter
1--WE had eight cabin and 1873 steerage
passengers and crew of forty.fve men.
For several days prior to Oct. "a com
plants had been made TO me that the oil
tank situated under the bridge on the
upper deck was leaking. On the morning
Of that day one my of seamon went with u
light into the oil room to make an
examination. A moment afterward we
heard an explosion and the sailor with
burned face and beard, rushed back to
the dock crying, Fire We put in use
all our appliances for the extinction tho
flames but they gaiued headway. Then
we took the boat. We could save nothing
Of the cargo or private property. Only
the very clothes we stood in could we took
away with us. There was n heavy sea
running ut tho time. The passengers
created little or no confusion. think
they were too much frightened to do
anything but obey orders. The Rhein
picked us Up soon after o'clock"
DR.. Il. T. Smith, surgeon of tho Mas.
dam, graduated from the Ann Arbor
(Mich.) university In 1882. His first
voyage was on the steamship Reliance,
Ia htph lE..1 Eau 0 4,
He and all others on board agree with the
captains story. DIR. Smith said that three
of tho engineers had been burned by tho
fire. but would come around all right.
"Thore were thirty-nvo persons in each
boat said Dr. Smith. 1--WE Remained
near the burning ship, hoping that some
vessel would see the light and come
to our rescue. The flames appeared aft
first. The masts fell at 8 o'clock.
Tho confagration was grand
sight, but couldn't save even my instru-
ments. There was something ludicrous
even in our dilemma. We had pair Of
lovers in our boat, aud the man could not
be induced TO take bis arm from his
swcethcart's waist 10 stand his turn Mt the
oar. Tho couple were SO unconcerned
about everything except themselves that
their selishuess was really aughablo."
''iht ph7'NllBti' lhb
officers and crew did all they could to
save the vessel and us. The steam pumps
could not be gotten ut on account of the
heat. When the Rheh nickod us up our
boats were being tossed about ut q lively
rate, and were half filled with water"
Bruins Petcrtnln, first officer of the
Rhein, was the man 10 spy the fire. lie
told how he saw the light in the distance
on the evening of the cath, and climbed
to the topmast head to make it out It
seemed to he q steamship on fire about
twelve miles to the southwest. 1t was
headed for, and the Rhein took about
an hour to get to it. The flames lit
Up the scene for five miles around. Tho
signal lights on the boats were visible
aud the occupants were picked up.
Ropes were let down and the survivors
were hauled on board. The women and
children had to be pulled up in baskets.
THE sea was very rough" said Mr..
Peterman. "aud a severe storm came up
at midnight Had we been two hours
later in getting to the wrecked ones not
a soul of them would have been saved.'