Morning journal and courier., 1886-12-03
Strikes an Ocean Steamer and Kills Six
 Persons.

A TOWERING COLUMN OF wATEE
 Strikes an ocean Steamer and Kills Si1 | Persons.
 NEW YORK, Dec. 2-The steamship West ernland, which arrived this morning, expert | Antwerp with sixty-nine passengers in he
 cabin and five hundred and seventy-feur ir
 the steerage. On November 27 the vesse | encountered a violent hurricane from the | northwest. On the afternoon of that day { huge sea broke over the bows of the vessel staving in the ''turt1eback" and killing two steerage passengers and four seamen. The names of the passengers killed were Max Frank and Gabriel Laviader. Twenty other seamen and passengers were injured more or less severely. Captain Randel, the com mander of the Westernland, was seen at the general office of the Red Star line this after noon. He was deeply affected by the acci- dent He said: sOur trip has been made one of the saddest in the history of the com pany by this affair. The accident can be attributed only to the unexplainable. It occurred about 3:30 o'clock in the afternoon. There was good sea running, but did not regard it as anything dangerous. The ship was making good headway and there was fresh breeze. Under the turtle back there were assembled at the time groups of seamen and passengers. Suddenly one of the waves came rushing toward the ship, assuming as it approached the form of towering column of water. It was one of those sights one rarely sees on the sea, but when once seen is never forgotten. Whether Q cross sea or not there seems to be no satisfactory explana- tion. The great mass of water swept toward the ship with imposing grandeur, and as it struck the ship the vessel shook as though broke over the deck. There were terrifying screams of distress and the vessel was for a moment submerged beneath cataract of water When the flood had passed panic prevailed on the decks. The thick iron beams and plates of the turtleback were found to be broken. Underneath the wreckage was most distressing sight. The shock of the wave killed four Belgian sail ors. They were crushed in shocking man. ner. Near them lay two passengers fatally injured, and scattered about the decks were at least twenty more persons who were more or. less hurt, some very seriously. No more waves came on board. The wreckage was cleared away as speedily as possible and that night the bodies of the four dead sailors were given sailors burials. The killing outright of four sailors is an unusual event even at sea and the ships company appeared deeply impress ed with the funeral. The next day the two passengers died and they too were buried at sea-"
 It is believed that the other injured per sons will recover, although it is yet too early to tell. Everything possible has been done for their comfort
 Receptions at the White House.
 WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-The White House attaches were engaged to- day in fitting new iron frame to be used in supporting the canvas covering under which guests on re- ception evenings walk from their carriages to the White House doors. One of the door, keepers explained that reception will not be held until the crape is removed from the house, but it was deemed necessary to pre- pare for those to be given after the thirty days of mourning by fixing the awning and it's iron frame so they can be used when nec-