The Portland daily press., 1888-08-17

Among the saved passengers there Is only
one woman, Mrs. Hilda Lind, OF Cincinnati.
her Two little children were going TO Sweden
with her and were lost Mr.. Lind was mot with
his family. One Of the most wonderful es-
9apes from the Geiser was that Of Assistant
Engineer Boerthelsen. His arm was broken
wv .Mo week weeks ago, and he was In his berth when
sne Lnlngvalla crashed into his room. His
punk sana was cut away within six inches OF his
mS ammScs, Dut ne managed to climb aboard the
Inlnsyaila as she drew back, and was not so
much as touched by the water. The Thing
valla's crew did all they could TO rescue the
srl snrnlIoTrrsunIates, ~ and obeyed orders promptly.
The Thingyalla's upper deck was not iniur-
ed. but her bows were broken in from a point
ten feet below the deck. The rent was
about 20 feet In length, and ran hack above
and below the water line 10 the Collision
bulkhead. Had It not been for the bulk
like shot Capt. Lamb, after the
Geiser had gone down and It was known
there were no passengers In any OF the lost
steamers boats, had the bows Of his own
vessel protected as far as possible with straw
mattresses and other materials to prevent the
water entering. A 10 year old boy ON the
Thingyalla, whose name did not learn, had
his legs crushed. The sea had become some
what rougher by the time the Wieland ap-
peared end there were many lively scenes as
the children and other passengers were low
cred in slings to the boats for transfer. The
able bodied passengers and crew used the
ships ladders. As we reached the Wieland
the last Of the Gelser's abandoned life boats
fioated out Of sight. There was no fault to
be found with the manner In which we were
treated on board the Wieland Nothing was
too good for US. Even the passengers divided
their clothes with the unfortunates from the
Geiser. -
One Of the Survivors.
Second 0ficer Jorgensen of the Geiser,
gives this account of the collision; IL was
asleep in my bunk when heard the shock
and | Immediately went on.deck. Taking In
the situation at glance ordered all hands
on deck and then swung myself off on the
bow OF the Thingvalla and scrambled to her
deck. The doomed craft sank gracefully,
stern sI1b bhIst, with her bow In the air Almost
began to hll could hear groans and heart
rendlng screams coming from below. Those
who reached the deck made frantic efforts to
cut down the boats but were too much ex-
cited to be successful They finally grabbed
up different pieces Of wood and jumped over
the side Of the vessel.
The Lost Steamer.
The Geiser was was one of four steamers
owned by the Thingvalla Line, and was con-
sidered their crack ship. Most of her pas
sengers were western people who were book
ed by A. Martensen & Co., general agents Of
the line in Chicago. The Geiser was an iron
screw steamship of 1918 tons burden.
Panic on the ThIngvalla.
The panic aboard the Thingvalla when the
shock occurred was almost as great as that
on the Geiser. but it was soon apparent there
was no danger Of the vessels sinking imme-
diately and the officers succeeded in calming
the excited people. Capt. Lambs crew were
under excellent discipline. A few moments
later, however, when 1t was learned that the
water was pouring in at the forward bulk
head, the passengers again became excited,
rowding around the boats. The cries Of the
struggling people from the Geiser. added to
the excitement. The officers retained their
composure and forced the people back from
the vessels side. Capt. Lamb ordered the
cargo removed from the f0rehold. This
caused the forward part OF the ship to rise
so that the hole in her bow was out Of wat
er. The vessel was then safe for the time
being and the passengers calmed. The work
OF rescuing the Geiser's people had already
been begun and was pressed with vigor. Ev-
cry man OF the crew that could be spared was
engaged in the working with the small
boats.
Lost, iIe; Saved, 35.
NEW lOhhs aug. lO.-lno OulCldl hob VI
saved and lost from the steamer Geiser is as
follows:
Lost-Passengers, 80; crew, SS; officers, 6;
total, 119.
Sayed-Passengers IA; crew, II; officers.
4; total, 35.
Search was kept up until there was no pos
sibility that any one remained ahoat unaid-
ed. The boats cruised around until daylight.
The Thingvalla, after taking on board the
50 rescued passengers, had over 500 passen-
gers, beside the crew of over sixty, and was
badly disabled. When, after five hours slow
and careful sailing the Wieland was sighted,
arrangements were quickly made by which
every one, except the officers and crew, were
transferred TO the latter steamship. Captain
Lamb and crew refused TO abandon the
Thingvalla, though she could only make two
knots an hour, and was $50 miles from Hall
fax when the Wieland left her. Should a
storm arise before she reaches port, the men
will have 10 take 10 the life boats. At her
rate Of travelling, she cannot reach New
York before Friday. and with rough weather
would be detained until Monday or
Tuesday.
The Wieland had an uneventful voyage
after leaving the Thingvalla, and safey
landed her large load of passengers at the
dock in Hoboken tonight.