The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-17
CRUSHED AND DROWNED.
Description Of the Horror by Eye
Miinesses.

SEw YoRx. Aug. l6.-Capt. Albers,
of the Wieland, upon reaching quar-
antine telegFAphed the first intimat on
of the disaster TO Capt f. Borden
huser. general superintendent OF the
Hamburg line. Arrangements were
at once made for the reception OF the
passengers in New York. Surveyor
OF the Port Bullin and his assistant,
John Whelar. together with the agents
of the Thingyalla line, met the Well
and as she reached her dock at Hobo
ken.
Twenty-four of the passengers and
crew of the Geyser under charge OF
Second Officer Jorgensen, arrived at
the Hotel Denmark They were
hrawny fellows, curiously atlired. and
bat few had either coats or stockings.
Second Officer Jorgensen gave
graphic description of the collision.
He said: Il was asleep in my bunk
when felt shock and immediate
ly went on deck. Taking in the sit
uatiCn at glance ordered all hands
on deck. Then SWING myself off on
the bow Of the Thiugyalla and scram-
bied to her deck. The doomed craft
sank gracefully, stern first, with her
boom in the air. Almost everybody
was sound asleep. and when she began
to fill | could hear groans and heart
rending screams coming from below.
Those who reached the deck made
frantic efforts TO cut down the boat.
but they were too excited to be sue
cessful. They finally grabbed up diff
ferent pieces Of wood and jumped over
the side OF the vessel" "
Annas Wiele, a civil engineer OF
Minneapolis. Mimi, one of the pas
sengers of the Geyser, said; About !
O'Clock Thursday morning ! was
awakened by a slight shock. and think
ing we had struck q wreck. went on
deck Just as some one shouted. she
is sinking | found the boat had
been struck on the starboaFd side,
about amidShips There were at that
time four or FIVE men working at the
boats. | had cork jacket and felt
comfortably safe, so | caliei to the
people downstairs and and then
watched the boat sink as she went
down. and ( Eek q her and was car
led down some distance.
Soon ] felt mvs,lf shooting through
the water. impelled by my cork jacket.
! was on top oI the water Tor perhaps
half an hour, | climbed on the keel
OF a small boat floating up-iie down,
and was finally picked Hp." AThing-
yaila passenger related the following
narrative "ihe voyage was uneyent-
full until early Tuesday morning. |
had lett my berth, and looking ont
saw there was dense fog prevailing.
| could hear our steam whistle, blow
ing, but heard no other signals. II
was exactly 3 80 o clock when was
hurled to the floor OF my stateToOm-
There was terrific crash, and ! knew
instantly . collision had occurred. |
ran to the deck and iound We had run
anto the steamer Geyser.
s. As ] reae he'd the deck che Thing
valla drew out OF the crack she had
made Ia the Geyser's side. The
Thiugvaila' : crew did all they could 10
rescue the anfortunates, and obeyed
orders promptly.
The Thingyaiia's upper deck was
not injured. bui her bows were broken
in from point ten feet below the deck.
The dent was about q feet in length,
and ran back above and below the
water line 10 the collision bulkhead.
Had u not been 10. that bulkhead the
Thingvglla would have gone down
ike a shot. Capt Lamb. First Ofhcer
Peterson and TuIrd officer Jorgensen
were on the Ihingvalias bridge at the
time. I afterward learned that Capt
M0llcr OF the Geyser had gone 10 bed
and lett Pirst 0ncer Brown in COM
nlsnd OF the yessel Brown was lost.
The lie boats we're Promptly
launched from the 1hingvaila and the
work Of rescue began. some OF the
Geyscr's passengers and creg had
reached her bows, bat most of them
we're IickeI up irom inpro ~ ei rats,
cbicken-eoop>. camp stools. and any
thing else taat would doat. The sur
viv0gs had 70 hurry, a. the Geyser
went down stern flrat about i've
minutes after the crash.
The mo-t WuaCer al escape was that
OF Assistant Engineer Berthel On
AFTER tie tev-er had zone down
and Il was kuORa that there acre 10
passengers On auv ot the last steamer ;
o1ata, the captain had The hoS oi bis
0wn vessel protected ~ far - posi- he,
wigh str.W "a sTr4l - aua Other iuate-
tIai to prevent the aief from enter
inc. Llstress signals we're sounded
ana the ship ili - for daylight.
a i5-yesr osd boy Whosc name l
did not learn had us lsgs cfa he'd
He Wa- one 0. the Thlugs..la 5 pa Sef-
eers. Tae q ls,-b,ssIiss4 p.AsseaEers ana
elex used ship-EaGdeFs- A. We reached
the " leland tac Ia ot the tssyser 5
.eans.auza lliebozss feaied oaI oi
slsht. There SAs uo sauli TO be fond
asgh the manner rs which sc Eere
treated aboard the Wlelana. Nothing
Sas t1s soo1 Tor ~. Eyea the passeEs-
-. Glvaless their clothing wish the
s.ziorGs4uztes froGa tlse afeyS@r.
Steamer Arrivals
NV TozE. Aug Is w leland. from
Eg,s..,s.s.--s tFsl-ssaras frpFa AgtNerp