Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-04-07
THE WRECKED STEAMER.


HALIFAX, April Capt. Schoonhoven,
Of the Inflated steamer Daniel SteinmanD,
gives the following particulars of the wreck
'.On the third of April, at 6 o'clock p. H.,
we were off Chebucto. Owing to fog and
heavy rain steamed slowly, sounding every
hour. About 915 saw through the mist
faint light about two points on the star
board bow, disappearing at times for four
or FIVE minutes. Taking it for Chebucto,
steered for it. saw that it was the fixed
light of sambro, appearing clear, and at the
same time seeing faint show of what took
to be Chebucto light about four points on
the starboard bow. | then put the helm
hard aport, but it was too late, and just af-
terward the ship struck on the rocks at
no time heard the log 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 pretty quiet as there was little
sea. | ordered the boats to be lowered and
the children aud female passengers put in
first While this was going on and one boat
was in the water, | Saw that the ship was
coming nearer to the breakers again. ran
forward to see if the chain cable was not
broken. Before getting there u INDUSTRIOUS
sea broke over the poop, washing overheard
every passenger who stood on the deck.
This was followed by an awful crash and the
| ship went down as quick as ligh,ning stern
| first, carrying every one down who was on
deck and those who were below | ran up
! the fore rigging, but was washed out before
getting half way. IcaughL the topsal yards,
which stood just above The water. mo-
ment after II passenger was able to join me.
The night was foggy and rainy and we saw
! nothing more. Next morning we were res
cued We had fine voyage until we reach
ed the Banks, which we crossed in latitude
fl, longitude 80, and where We encountered
some patches of field ice. Thence we had
almost continual fog, with rain, until we
reached the Nova Scotia coast. We had
| full general cargo of about 1,400 tons, the
steamer drawing 20 feet inches aft aud IS
feet forward. The ship is now evidently
broken, with the rocks through her bottom.
The storm was from the eastward when we
struck, with dense fog and rains. twas i'm.
possible TO save any passenger whatever.
The complete list shows uinety-oue pas.
seugers, thirty-two sailors, and five officers,
total of l29 persons.
Among incidents connected with the es-
cape Of the seven persons landed in the boat
during the night, one of the most thrilling
was the experience of the Italian, he having
grasped the boat just after she left the
steamer. Her occupants refused to take
him because a number of drowning persons
had seized his legs aud body, and it was
certain the boat could not take them all
without swapping, as she was already half
full of water. The Italian at once dived
and thus euded those those holding him.
He soon reappeared at the surface and
again caught the boat. He was then taken
in, but was so exhausted that for time he
was helpless. The boat was in danger Of
laundering, owing to the water constantly
coming in, and those in her took Off their
boots TO bail her out. The Italian at first
refused to assist in this work, but on being
threatened with being thrown overheard un-
less be assisted to keep the boat free he
made an effort to do So Another singular
escape was that of Nickola, q lad of - years
Just az the boat left the steamer he jumped
from the bridge, falling into the boat on
his head. He sustained no injury beyond
having one leg bruised. The young
est person on board, SO far as known, was
an infant 3 months old. Among those
drowned were d yonng couple who had been
married before the steamer sailed, expert
encng only eighteen days OF married life.
Several large families persisted all together.
The latest reports from the wreck state that
the ship remains in the same position. The
water is comparatively smooth to-day and q
large number of boats are graphing. They
| only secured three bodies to-day, making eleven
| altogether recovered from tue water. None Of
| the cargo has drfted ashore or hoated. Captain
| Schoonhoven arrived in town this evening. The
first body recovered this murning was little girl
6 years Old Her body was conveyed to tho shore,
aud placed beside others previously laid out in
the temporary dead house. The features were
| dsfgurcd, one OF her eyes being almost torn out
| by contact with something.
! Another girl, apparently Il few years older,
makes the only females recovered None of tho
women has yet been brought to the surface In
| the dead house are the bodies OF a boy about 10
aud the remains of William Lamper, chief mate,
whose body was recovered Saturday, aud the
| corpse of small man, bald headed, apparently
| between 40 and 40 years old. On him were found
| the only va!uabes on any of tho bodies. In his
| pockets silver watch, 27 francs in gold,
| and package OF papers among the latter ticket
| for passage in the steamer to New York, bear
| ing the name August Richter, Dusseldorf" The
last body so far recovered, making eleven in all,
is the Steinmanns lamplighter, whose name is
not known. All of the bodies so far are terribly
mutiated the features i'll some cases SO com.
plctcy destroyed that they could not Dc recog-
nized by their nearest relatives Their faces
were smashed in, eyes torn out, and they are
otherwise disfgured. About fifty boats were en-
gagged to-day graphing, but no more bodies havo
been recovered. Three schooncrs with diving
crew, will go to work tomorrow il the weather
is favorable. An official investigation into the
loss Of the vessel will open on Tuesday.