Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-08-23
APPALLING CALAMITY.
Collision on the High Sea Between
Ocean Steamships.
The Geiser Rum Down In . Fog and Sunk
by the Thing valIa-One Hundred
and Nineteen Lives Lost-Tho
Lost and the Saved.

and Nineteen Lives LOst-Iho
Lost and tho Saved.
NEW YoRK, Aug. 1.-The steamship
Geiser, Of the Thingvalla Line. which LET
New York Saturday, August II, for Stet.
tin, was run into off Cape Race Tuesd az
by the steamship Thlngvalla, of the same
line. Her side was Glove in, and she sank
rapidly. The panic-stricken people were
got into boats as rapidly as possible, tht
Thingvalla's boats being also used in the
work Of rescue. The Geiser sank SO fast
however, that before the boats returned
from the Thingvalla after their first triI
the disabled steamer had gone down
leaving scores of people struggling in the
water. Many of these were picked up
but when the roll was called on board the
Thingvalla, it wasfound that seventy-twe
passengers and thirty-three of the crew
of the Gelser were missing.
The Hamburg line steamship Wieland
which was in the vicinity, came up il
time to assist in the work Of rescue, and
she divided the rescued party with the
Thingvalla, the latter proceeding in 9
damaged condition tor Halifax. while the
Wieland proceeded to New York, arriving
at Quarantine late yesterday afternoon
It is reported that fourteen passengers
and seventeen Of the crow were saved,
Including Captain Moller.
Further Particulars.
NEW York, Aug. 1.-THE collision be-
tween the Thingvalla and Geiser occur.
red off Sable Island. The Geiser sank II
five minutes. The Thingvalla's passen'
gers, 455 in number, were transferred tc
the Wieland, and brought here with the
fourteen passengers and seventeen of the
crew of the Geiser. All the others on the
Geiser, seventy-two passengers and
thirty three Of the crew, were drowned.
The Thingvalla is trying to reach Halifax.
The exact exxent of her injuries is un.
known. The Thingvalla left Stettin July
%, and Copenhagen, August 4, for New
York. She is commanded by CaptainLaub
She is 1,S41 tons register. The Geiscr wak
Of 1871 tons.
Danger of q Collision.
NEW York, Aug. 1.-THE collision oc-
Cured about four O'Clock Tuesday morn.
ing. First Mate Henry Brown had been
in charge, the Captain having retired al
IL p. m, the night being perfectly clear
and no danger apprehended.
About four o'clock Captain Moller was
awakened by call from the chief officer
on the bridge, who said there was danger
of collision. A moment later there was
shrill blowing Of whistles, which
awakened the passengers, but before
they could get on deck, or seize Hfe-pre-
servers, there was a terrible shock anC
the vessels side was crushed in. Some
broken into and the ship began at once
to sink Those on board were thrown
into confusion and panic. A rush was
made for the boats.
The Captains Statement.
NEW YORK, Aug. 17.-Captain Moller
had rushed to the bridge clothed only IN
his night dress. He says he heard two
whistles, meaning that his steamer
would keep on her course. He recog
nized the Thingvalla approaching amid :
ships on the starboard side. The Geiser's
engines were reversed, and she was back
ing water. The same was being done by
the Thingvalla, but both steamers were
under too heavy Roadway to avert the
Captain Moller continues:
1.-THE passengers had now been awakened
and were scrambling over each other in
a wild effort to reach the upper deck.
They forgot the first rule in the case OF
accidents. to seize life preservers. I
called to them to do so, bat they
to man the boats, and the
small boat astern was lowered, but the
settling of the steamer aft at this moment
sank the boat In less than two minutes
from the time I reached the bridge we
were struck, and within the same length
Of time thereafter the vessel was partly
under water. had hardly given orders
to man the life and small boats when I
was swept from the bridge. The panic
stricken passengers made jump for the
few boats that were launched and they
were Immediately capsized. AS soon as
I came to the surface began to swim.
I saw nothing in the darkness but the
masts Of the ship, but heard the awful
cries of those who were struggling in the
water or sinking to death. suppose
had been in the water five minutes when
I came near row boat from the Thing
valla. The officers and crew Of the
did every thing that human
beings could do to save the lives of those
who went down with the Geiser."
Other accounts corroborate the Cap
tain's statement as to the panic of the
and the swamping of the
boats. The passengers were mostly
farmers from tho Northwest, who had,
BY years Of industry and economy, ac-
q Compel ence and were going
On visit to their native land. Many
we're especially attracted thither at this
time by the great exposition at Copen-
hagen. Those saved lost all their effects,
and even all their clothing except their
Anders Wise, OF Minneapolis, one
If those saved, says that being used
70 early rising. he was awake when
He heard the cries Of the officers and
ieck He rushed up and tried to cut
Dose one Of the ife-boats, but could not
10 SO. The steamer sank with terrible
He was taken down in the
whirlpool. When he came up he was
lnder an overturned life boat. He swan
lround until he was picked up.
Oler Jansen, Of St Paul, Mimi, says
hat when he heard the ships crash to-
,ether, he seized life-preserver and
'ushed on deck. He cut one of the Geiser's
,oats loose, but it stuck to the steamer
Until she sunk. The lfe-boat was then
reed, but turned over before it reached
he water. He got on the upturned boat
ind was saved by the boatswain's crew
rom the Thingvalla-
The most miraculous escape Of all was
hat Of the second mate. Mr. Jorgensen.
lie was in his bunk when the collision oc4
urred. The black nose OF the Thingvalla
craped by his bunk, and pushing against
he door of his cabin, held il closed. The
lnchor chain of the Thingvalla was hang
ng almost within his reach. He sprang
or it, and grasping it, went up hand over
and on to the Thingvalla-
The following is the official list OF the
aved and lost:
Officers sayed-Captein Carl Moller,
'econd Mate Jorgensen, Third Mate John
'etopoj, and DR.. Peter Dierkes.
Officers lost-First Mate Harry Brown,
frst Engineer, Alex Foss, Second