Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-04-11
TTle 9rce press,
SHIP WRECKED.
Loss of the Danicl steinmann on Hall
lax Only Nine out of ono Hundred
and Thirty Escape.

eugers were poor cmigrans bound for The
Western States.
Samhro Island is small rocky ledge in
the Atlantic Ocean almost covered by the
waves in stormy weather. On 1t isa light
house, white oCagonal tower, showing a
fixed light / 10 feet above the sea at high
water, and visible twcnty-onc miles in clear
weather. 1t is about mile and half from
the shore at Cape Sambro and bears from
ChedlbuctoO Head, the western point of
entrance TO Halifax lIarbor, southwest four
and one third miles. In foLgv weather ves-
sells are warned by heavy guns on the island
Of their approach to the dangerous ledges
around il. OF these lodges the Sisters are the
most dangerous. Several Of them arc bare
at low water. Halifax uarbor, where
the Daniel Senmann was bound, is one of
the finest in the world, but the dangers of its
entrance require the greatest cafe.
The Steinmann was built at Antwerp in
1S47; she was III feet IN length, "a feet
beam and 20 feet depth of hold. Her gross
tonnage was 1875 tons. Her name was
formerly the Khcdivc. She had been run
ming on the White Cross line since 1873 AT
one time she was considered a very SUCCESS
full vessel, bnt during the last two or three
years she has met with various mshaps.
Hairbreadih Escape of the Captain
HALIFAX, April 5.-Jas. A. Chirman,
agent of the line to which the lost steamer
Daniel Steinmann belongs, secured pilot this
morning and went as near the island as pos
sibe launched dory a2d got ashore. Capt.
Schoonhoven. said that the steamer had fine
weather on the passage with the exception
of the last two days "hcn heavy fog prevail
cd. 1t was impossible to take observations.
which he first took for the Chibuco light,
the fog makingit appcarahout five miles Off,
but he thinks it could not hav1 been more
than one. Nearing it he discoYercd it to be
SambrO and before the ships pecd could be
slackencd she was among the lcdgcs north
east Of the island
The steamer struck twice and began filing
fast. He then tried to run her ashore but
she sank in few minutes. When the shin
FIRST struck the caTtain ordered the passengers
on deck but in a short time the heavy seas
which swept over the deck carried nearly all
Of them overheard Two passengers
and five of the crew got INTO a boat
and reached the shore The ship went
down stern first aud the capatin who was
on the bridge at the time threw off his boots
and coat and took to the fore rigging but the
vessel sank so fast he was obliged to let him
self float He succeeded after time in get
ting hold of the top gallant yard and cluug
there with one of the passengers until five in
the morning, when n boat from the island
rescued them. The captain will remain on
the iSland to ljOk after the wreck. No
bodies have yet washed ashore.
Chaplain Schoonhovcn further said that
aft ,lo Of 81
evening he was bearing off Chcbucto by dead
reckoning and s)undings aud was west by
south 10y the compass q distance OF 25 miles
from there. The Ii hit he saw on the star
board disappeared at times for four or five
minutes when he saw it was a fixed light at
Lambcr. He tried to change his course
but it was too late. At no time
did he hear the fog whistle. The shock was
light and the second heavy, carrying away
the steering gear. After this he could moi
get the engines TO work; but drifted over the
rocks aud anchored, the ship lying to in
pretty quiet sea. The Captain went on to
say:
Il ordered the chief and second mates tC
lower the boats and get the children and fe
male passengers on first and while l saw thi;
going on, having already one boat in thu
water, the crew were working with a will,
saw the ship coming nearer to the breaker
again. [ ran forward to see if the chair
cable was not broken, and before getting
there a mOnsrOus a broke over the poop
washing overheard every passenger, children
and women, who stood on the deck. Thi
was Immediately followed by au awful crasl
and the ship went down quick as lightning
carrying everyone down who was on deck
Whom | got in the rigging with the passcn
ger who was saved, the night was fogg.
until morning when we were taken off
the crew 49, Saved, passengers three AM
crew SIX. We had a fine voyage, Till W
reached Nova Scotia coast"
''We had full general cargo Of about 140
tons, The ship is now evidently broker
with rocks through her bottom. The storm
WAS from the eastward when we struck
with dense fog and rains 1t was impossbl
to save any passengers whate yer. | stage
in tn toretop sail yards for time but Ia,
to go further w to clear the break of tn
sea maintained my position in the rat
lines for eight hours in company vita tn
solitary Surviving passenger. We wer
afraid to lash ourselves for fear the mas
would break away, SO we held on all read
to jump from 10 p m. To 5:30 a. m, when
heavy line was thrown to us and we iumpe
into the water and were pulle
through the surf into the boat
Statement of the Surviving Passenger,
HALIFAX, n. S., April 6.-The suryiyIn
Ghree passengers of the Daniel Steinman
are now in this city. They state that tn
vessel struck but lightly twice. The captai
summoned all on deck and directed them
prepare to enter the b ,ats if nccc sary. On
mo- wa T. al N H.. e.,
though good discipline was m,n'aiue
among the ships crew. A boat well file
was attached 10 the steamer by rope an
when some on board were about cuttin
the line the steamer suddenly sanl
dragging the boat and its 0ccupan
with it. fhe boat turned ov,
and over and every person in it ",
thrown out and drowned. When the stel
of the vessel sank the cries and screams
the women and children lasted for only
few minutes. Two men followed Caplat
SChoonhoven into the iigging and climb
along the stay between the heads of tv
masts. In his perilous passage one lost b
grasp and was washed away The Othe
John Ncidermann, reached the fore iggir
finally although his legs were seize
by some drowning person and hel
for awhile. Above Neidermann a wire NJ
lift was broken and gave play to III! val
which worked back and forth with the a.
ton of the waves. 1t threatened to tear o,
the mast at each occurrence of the motion
making the mast culver aud crash alarming
ly. From time to time the two, SchoOl
hOven and Ncidcrmann, CRED out for rel
but the roar Of the wind aud waters browne
their sfeeble voices. In their dism
watching through the night for the coming
morning they could see the vessel WI
drifting nearer nearer Sambro Island. I
add to the horror of their situation the
could see blue lights burning in the sho
signals to guide boats to safety viii
they were beyond assistance or relic
When the boat cane out in the morning f
them the Captain was 50 benumbed tn
NeilnrnAn he'd 10 msn fnrrn IN disnn1rnl