Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-12-06
A DIFFERENT ACCOUNT.
THE MlSHAP TO THE WESTERkLAfJD
LAID TO THE CAPTAIN.

Story of One of the Passengers-TheV Yes
sci Going at Fall Speed Through Fear
full Storm Endeayering to Make Up Lost
Time-Terribie Result of the Accident
The Captains Neglect of Duty.
NEW YORK. Dec 6.-ln conversation
with a reporter Francis P Thurman, busi-
ness man of SO Durand street, Newark, told
a story which differs in several material
points from that told by the officers of the
steamer Westernland He said: II was ae-
companiedby my SON ~ years of age, andfrom
the first it seemed that we were doomed to
have a rough voyage We were for twenty
one hours on sand-bank at the mouth OF
the River Sheldt. For two days before the
accident occurred we were pitched and
tossed by the winds and waves. on
Saturday the weather became some
thing fearful l was under the poop
deck with lot of the other steerage
passengers, and the vessel pitched
and tossed so alarmingly that we clung tc
anything to prevent being thrown about
The speed of the vessel never once slackened
and it seemed to pitch right into the waves
like a locomotive into a snowbank. 1ht
steamer never once rode the waves, bu
plunged through them, and it was common
talk among the passengers that the captain
was trying to make up for the twenty -on'
hours we were delayed at the start. 1t wa
shortly after noon when Emile de Koch, tn
sailor. came down to where was and SAT-
he was thankful to be let off. He was worl
out and sat on the anchor chain TO take
short rest. He was just telling m,
boy and myself that he was tired
when we heard the crash overhead
De Koch was thrown against the chain b.
the blow, his breast being nearly torn out
Max Frank, butcher boy, who said he wa
going to see his sister in Philadelphia, wa
struck by beam, which entered at the sid
and pushed his intestines out through hi
clothing in front. There was a French boy
| who was accompanied by his mother and
younger brother, and he was killed by beln
| thrown against the side of the vessel. Ii
was is years of age. should have said tina
Just before the big wave came which smashe
| in the deck there were two distinct waves
when the vessels screw whirled around 6
such a rate as to convey the impression gtha
| l.OOO boiler-makers were at work on the We
sells bottom.
"I took my son in my arms Just before I'll
final crash, kissed him good-by, and sal
that he must prepare to die. He almo
made mo give way when he said: Then
will never see mamma again The next IN
ment he was torn from my arms. | sha
never forget the scene. found my only Sc
living on the deck picked him up. He WI
little bruised but not otherwise hurt. "
went on deck and saw the captain orderir
the wreckage to be cleared away. 1t was tt
first time had seen him since we left Il
Sheldt river, and it was his first appearan'
on deck during all the heavy storm"
might he not have<.been on deck whl
you were away"
"No, because it was common talk amol
! the passenges, who were unable to slee
that the captain never put in all appearan
! but left everything to his officers. Five de-
bodies were laid in row on a table in
! forecastle. One man was smashed flat.
was a horrible sight 1t was on
p after the accident that the vesse
G spted was reduced and for the first time
WesternlaRi rode the waves and ceas
pitching as she had been doing"
/ Mr. Thurman while telling his story fl
oueptly wept bitterly and seemed thorough
broken down by his rough experience,
NO man could prevent disaster Ii
e that" said one of the officers, nor eau
tell, no matter what his experience may
why two such waves as those which smash
us will some times come together in chop
sea. The accident was deplorable one a
is regretted by none more than the ofiic
of the vessel, the only one of whom on dl
at the time was the second officer"