The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-03
SIX LIVES LOST AT SEA.
The "Westernland" Deluged by Huge Wave
Six Men Killed and Thirteen Injured.

JERSEY City, Dec. "A frightful disaster, in
volving the death of SIX men and the in1iction of
serious injuries to thirteen others, was reported
this afternoon, upon the arrival of the steamship
Westernland. On Saturday afternoon, Nov. q,
huge cross sea was suddenly encountered, and
it fell with terrific force upon the forward deck
of the steamship. The Westernland was then
seven days out from Antwerp. The deck was
crushed in. and buried the unfortuuates beneath
mass of wood and iron debris. The next min
ute the water swept along the gangways of the
main deck, carrying several persons with it.
The crash was terrific, but before the appalling
nature of the accident was realized by the pas
sengers. the officers Of the ship had all the men
available engaged in the work Of rescue. The
injured were carried to the intermediate cabin,
which was transformed into hospital.
-Four seamen were found to have been killed
outright. They were Rasmus Sandagen, aged
fifty y-seven, of Antwerp; his skull was crushed
to atoms Gustav Dudart, aged forty-three, of
Antwerp, crushed to death beneath heavy iron
beam; leaves a widow and three children.
Emile de Cock, twenty-six years old, of Ant
werp, unmarried; he was found pinned to the
main deck by the jagged end Of an iron stanch
ion, which had pierced his abdomen. Henri
Jahrens aged twenty seven, unmarried; his legs
were broken and his throat was cut. The two
others killed were steerage passengers-Max
Frank, eighteen years old, Of Germany, and
Gabriel Livaderi, aged seventeen, of Constan-
| tinople. Franks abdomen WAS cut open, and
his skull fractured. He died at 11:30 O'Clock
Sunday morning Livaderi sustained internal
injuries which caused death five hours after
Frank expired.
The injured seamen are: Second boatswain
Neal Hansen, left leg and arm broken; Nils
Olsen, both legs brokeD Javinus de Jough, leg
broken and ruptured; Henry Verstraeten, both
legs broken and chest brused Frarcis Heilman
escaped with slight bruises
The passengers injured were as follows: John
Leva, both arms broken-he is brother of the
young passenger who died of his injuries; Max
kag leg broken; Julius Weld. severe contu-
sons on back and abdomen: FrancisTassani. three
ribs broken and lungs punctured VIM. Harcomb.
of New York. leg broken and arm dislocated;
Eugene Sohmer, severe scalp wound; Gustav
Brenn, severe Commissions on back and thighs
and face badly cut: Joseph Christman, arm
broken; Martin .Nieser ankle sprained and back
bruised. The dead were buried at sea.
Many affecting scenes were witnessed at the
improvised hospital when passengers inquired
about their injured friends. Everything posi-.
BILE was done for the relief of the injured. The
cabin passengers showed their sympathy with
the unfortunates by many kindly acts, and
raised purse of 20. 900 francs to be distributed
among the families of the dead and injured
When the Westernland reached port the injured
passengers were transferred to hospitals
An inspection of the vessel afforded some IDEA
of the terrible blow she had received. The
crushed deck was known as the forward whale
back. 1t constructed of four-inch pine
planks resting upon massive iron beams. These
in turn. were upheld by three inch iron-rod
stanchions. The vast volume of water struck
the whale back about fifteen feet from the seam.
and crushed in a section twenty nine feet in
length and extending the full width of the steam
ship.
Second Officer Ehoff made the following state
ment: We left Antwerp on Saturday, Nov. 90
with sixty nine cabin and 574 steerage passen-
gers, and full cargo. At 2:30 o'clock on Satur
day afternoon Nov. 27 we were in latitude 47o
49, longitude 43o 81. l was on the main
bridge when noticed an enormous wave On the
starbOard bow. The next instant another tow
erlng wave joined it from the port side. They
seemed to leap into the air as they mingled.
They must have been nearly forty feet high as
saw their united mass above the lower yard of
the foremast Then came the crash of water
upon the deck 1t sounded louder than a dozen
cannons fired at once. The water swept from
one end to the other of the main deck, CARRYING
everything before it,"
The disaster was not met with IN a storm
Merely good, strong breeze was blowing from
the southwest. with a chopplng sea. The vessel
was steaming at half speed. seven knots an
hour The day was clear, and most of the cabin
passengers were below. A group Of sailors were
the upper deck under what is technically
known the forward turtle back" Moving
around among them were several steerage pas
sengers who were idly watching the sailors weav-
ing seunit, material for mating used for sails
The first officer was below. 1t was the star
board watch. and the captain and second officer
were on deck, the latter being on the bridge.