Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-03
JERSEY CRY, N. j., Dec. 2.

JERSEY CITY, N. j., Dec. 2.
frightful disaster involving the death OF
six plen and the infiieton of serious iujur-
les 10 thirteen others, was reported this af
ternoon upon the arrival of the steams hip
Western Land at her dock. The catastrophe
was unavoidable. On Saturday afternoon
Nov. 27, when the Western l. md was seven
days out from Antwerp a hugh cross-sea wa:
suddenly encountered and il fell with crush
ing force upon the forward deck of the
steamship. The deck was crushed IN and il
buried the unfortunates beneath mass of
wood and iron debris. The next instant the
water swep, along the gsngsways of the main
deck, carrying several persons along with II.
The injured were carried as soon as possible
to the immediate cabin which was transformed
iuto hospital. Here they were attended by
DIR. j. Aurloch, the ships surgeon, and DIR.
Felix Cohn of New York city, who was
among the passengers. Four sea men were
found to have been killed outright The in
jured seamen are the secoud boatsmsn, Neil
Oleson, Javlnnus DePaugh, Henry Verstrae-
ten, Francis Frank, Charles Bedo and Ferdi
nand Helmon. The passengers injured were
as follows: Joseph Levaderi. MAX kage.
Jalius Wiel, Francis Fossoni, VIM Harconb
Of New York, Eugene Sohler and Gu ,tave
BreOrn. All the Injured had arms. legs or
ribs broken and were otherwise bruised or
internally injured.
Four dead seamen were buried at sea- Sat
urdav night and two dead passengers. Frank
and Levaderi. Sunday night many atfectIn .
scenes we're witnessed at the improvsed hos
pital, when passengers inquired about their
their relatives. When tue catastrophe oc-
CARED, the steamer was abou l50 miles east
of the Banks of New Foundland. When the
Western-Lsnd reached port, the injured pas
sengers were transferred to Wards Island
Hospital.
An inspection of the vessel offered some
idea of the terrible blow she had received
The crushed deck was known as the forward
whale back 1t was constructed of tour inch
pine lanks resting upon massive iron beams.
The in turn we're upheld bv three inch rod
iron Nanchions The vast volume of water
struck the whale back about 10 feet from the
stern and crushed 10 section 20 feet long
and extending the full width of the steamer.
Nine beams and sixteen stanchons were
crushed III upon the forecastle deck where
the victims were gathered. 1t will cost
about $50 900 to repair the vessel.
Second Officer Cheoff, who was on the
watch when the accident occurred, makes the
following statement: At 230 Saturday af-
ternoOn we were in latitude Al SO, longitude
43 81. l was on the main bridge when
noticed an enormous wave on the starbOard
bow the next instant another towering wave
Joined it from the port side. They seemed
to leap into the air they mingled, and they
must have been nearly forty feet high, as
saw their united mass above the lower yard
of the foremast. Then came crash of water
upon the deck, it sounded louder than dozen
cannon fired at once The water swept from
one end to the other of the main deck and
carried everything before it.
The steamship company will deiray the
expenses of the injured immigrants and those
who are necessarily detained here.