St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-12
Sinking Of the Belgian Steamer Helvetia,
of the 1ll-Fated White
Gross Line.
The Fourth Vessel Belonging to the Same
Company Lost Within as
Many Years.
Arrest of the Man who Committed
the Recent Express Train
Robbery.
Another Link in the Pittsburg Trunk
Tragedy--A Murderer Attempts
Escape.
Gone to the Bottom.

HALIFAX, May 1.-THE White Cross
line, Belgian, steamer Helvetia, L, 116 tons,
with general cargo, which started from
Antwerp April 90 for Montreal, was sunk
off Scatteri, Cape Breton, Saturday. This
is the fourth steamer of that line which has
been lost within as many years. The
steamer August G. Andre sailed from New
York for Antwerp and was never heard
from, The Herman Ludwig sailed from
Montreal in 1881 and that was the last
heard of her. Thirteen months ago the
Daniel Heinemann crashed on the rocks at
Sambro island and 1874 lives were lost. The
HelVetia makes the fourth vessel that has
met disaster A rather remarkable coinci-
dence is that Capt Schoonhaven, who
commanded the Daniel Heinemann,
was in command of the Helvetia and this
was his first passage across the Atlantic
since the wreck of the Heinemann. The
Helvetia arrived in port two weeks ago
badly damaged by ice On Friday Schoon-
haven left Cape Pay, bore for Sidney. hav-
ing all he could do to keep the ship aflOat.
On Saturday heavy sea sprang up and he
hailed the steamer Acadian, which was
passing. The Acadian took the vessel in
tow and headed for Lewisburg, but had not
gone far before Capt. Schoonhaven sig
nailed the Acadian that he was sinking.
Boats were lowered and the passengers and
crew got into them as soon as possible. The
last boat had hardly got clear before the
Helvetia sank. The Acadian then put back
to Strait Canso and landed the survivors at
Port Hawkesbury. ..-...
Capt. Farquahar, of the sailing steamer
George Shattuck, this morning reports that
he never knew Of such enormous quantities
OF ice off the coast. The Helvetia carried
cargo valued at $40O, 900 and sank in deep
water.
LATER DETAILS.
MONTREAL, May 11.-Mr. Munderloy
has received further particulars concerning
the loss of the steamer Helvetia of the
White Cross line. She was badly bulged
by an encounter with ice, and ON Thursday
last telegraphed her condition. She was
lost sight OF until yesterday, when it was
learned she had gone down, bow first, off
Scatterie island, on Friday, in deep water
She at first tried to make Sydney, G. B.,
and found that harbor packed with ice
She then tried to follow the German steam
ship Keherwider, but lost the latter
in fog. To make matters worse
the sails that Capt. Schoonhaven had
stretched over the vessels bows
were'torn away in a second encounter with
ice. Still he fought against the fog and
wind and had good luck until he met
the steamer Acadian, by which time he had
stretched more canvas over the extensive
hole The Acadian took the Helvetia in
tow and tried to make the port of Hawkes.
burg. The Helvetia had then sixteen feet
ofwater in her hold The cargo was thrown
overheard and the men worked hard to keep
ths Eessel afoat. AT last, with nineteen
feet of water in the vessel, the captain
abandoned her. The cargo was valued at
SdO( nm