Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-07
A STEAMSHIP WRECKED.
23O PASSENGERS ABOARD. BUT
ONLY THREE LOST.

Dense FOgs and Rough Waves Land
the Amsterdam on Sand Bar of
Sable Island-The Ship en- route from
Amsterdam to New York.
HALIFAX, \. s., Aug. 6.-The steamer
Amsterdam, Capt. Lucas, from Amster-
dam for New York, was lost on Sable
Island Wednesday night last, July 80.
Three men, two OF them passengers and
one woman, were drowned. The intel
llgence + the disaster was received here
tonight by the arrival Of the government
steamer Newfield.
The government steamer Newfield ar
rived here tonight from Sable Island with
23O passengers and members of the crew
OF the steamer Amsterdam, which was
wrecked last Wednesday on a sand bar
fifteen miles distant from that island.
While on her passage from Amsterdam for
New York. The only officer who came up
from the wreck by the Newfield was the
third mate, Capt. Lucas and the remain
der of the officers staying at the scene of
the wreck.
THE STORY OF THE DISASTER.
From the third mate and passengers
Of the Amsterdam, the following story of
| the disaster is elected: The steamer
sailed from Amsterdam July 19 with PIP
steerage and II cabin passengers and a
crew Of "a men. The weather was un-
usually.fOggy for the season during the
run across, there being only two clear
days, and the sea also was rough. On the
day before the occurrence Of the disaster
the sky was clear and the Captain OBJ
tanned good observations. The next
morning, however, broke thick,
and the weather continued fog
gy throughout tfe day, with
the exception Of one short period.
About 12:45 O'Clock the ship suddenly
grounded on an unseen bar. No land nor
! lighthouse was visible in any direction
and, as was afterwards discovered. the
island was 10 miles distant. The steamer.
when she struck. was some 35 miles out
Of her course. The shock of striking was
very slight, but caused great excitement
on the crowded vessel. the pas
sengers becaming greatly alarmed, and it
| required all the eXertiOnS of Capt. Lucas
and his men to dispel their fears. The
command was given to open the matches
and Jettison the cargo, which was COM
menced at once. This continued till
noon of the following day, but, although
no water had yet shown below, without
| success. At that hour the commander of
the ship, finding his efforts unavailing,
| ordered the boats to be got in readiness
for launching.
TAKING TO THE ROATS.
About this time the weather became
clear enough for those on board to make
out land, which was observed to the south
west. No water entered the hold till
about O'Clock, when, the night being IA
vorable so far as the weather was con-
cerned, though the sea was very rough.
the Captain decided to lower the boats.
All on board were crowded into six small
crafts, which were headed for the shore.
/ The first boat reached the beach without
accident at 3 O'Clock in the morning. The
second one, however. was not so fortu-
nate, being swamped just as she was
| about grounding safely. Three of the
men aboard OF her, two steerage passen-
gers, one of them named Dix, and a fire
man belonging to the steamer, were
| drowned, but the rest were picked up by
| the other boats or dragged ashore.
NO COMFORT ASHORE.
The accommodations provided for the
shipwrecked people by those on the island
is described as very poor and inadequate.
After landing, without haYing eaten any
thing for two days, they were compelled
to wait some hours before provisions
could be obtained from the main station,
ID miles away. The weather continued
moderate on the succeeding day. and
Capt. Lucas and his officers were
able TO visit the Amsterdam on
several occasions to obtain effects from
on board, but they found the water rising
and filling in her hold, and satisfied them
selves that there would be no hope Of
saving her. The only name that can be
ascertained of the three men lost is that of
the man named Dix. The Amsterdam was
owned by the Observation-Disclosures Steam
Navigation Company, and was built five
years ago at Dumbarton. Her registered
tonnage was zoos and her gross tonnage
5000. She was 32l feet long, IS feet in
breadth, and her depth of hold was 311I
feet