, 1889-10-10
AN OCEAN DISASTER.
As Near as Ascertalned Fifteen Lives
Were Lost,

NEW YORK, Oct "A special cable to
the World from st, Pierre, Miquelon,
says; The Trans-A tlantic Geographic
of the Rossicrc line, Captain Fausson
South Hampton with cattle, sheep and
u cargo of general merchandise,
day, collidcd with the Nova Scotia
vessel Minnie Swift, forty miles
OF St. Pierre yesterday morning. The
,linnie Swift sank within two minutes,
browning as nearly ms can bo ascer.
tanned, two women, three children and
ten men. Others with part OF the crow
of the Norwegian vessel, who had pre-
viously been picked M, got on board tho
steamer, which despite all efforts, also
sunk ut III O'Clock a. Nj. Two boats
containing about thirty-iivc persons,
which put off from the steamer early in
the morning, ARE still missing. The
third boat with tho captain and fifteen
Sister Bell and brought to st. Pierre.
The Anchor Line steamer City of st.
Louis, Captain James O'Neil, was near,
and with the crew and boats saved many
lives. The surviving passengers and
crew we're taken on board by Captain
O'Neil and kindly cared for. Following
Is the list of the lost and saved as far a.,
known: OF the crew that are lost is j.
W. Blanks, captain }. v. Joddun, first
clerk; Charles Fills. second clerk; Swintt
Hanna, third clerk Fred Dinkie, bar
keeper; Fred Vernon, barkceper;
Pat Ryan, steward Dick Curtis, lire.
man; Tom Shook, engineer; Henry
Davis, deck hand; Tom Cook, sail man
Billy Young, second mate; Sam Steel,
texas boy, both captains of the deck
watch and eight roustcrs. The passcn-
gers lost are Dr. Atwell, corn doctor,
80, t,.t,, lt,t,. .
Smithland, La. Mr.. Davis, Il stockman
of Texas Mr.. Koench Mrs. Hun of
Opelousas; Mrs. Kaufman nurse and
oldest child.
Mrs. Robertson, II lady passenger SAYS
when the Corona arrived opposite the
river landing, about sixteen miles below
bayou Sara, one Of her boilers exploded,
tearing the boat To- pieces, when she
sank in deep water in II few seconds
Mrs. Robertson says she was wcdgrd iu
the ladies' cabin, with some of the
debris lying across her lower limbs, but
was suddenly released and found herself
floating in the river. She sank twice
but luckily was picked up and escaped
with only Il few painful bruises on tho
lower limbs.
l.. G. Rollins, the pilot, says he was
asleep at the time OF the explosion, and
docs not know how II occurred.
Hon J.. Il. MarSton, secretary of state.
who was apassengeron the Corona, stated
that lie escaped with his life prcscrvers,
and assisted in saving Mrs. Robertson
and another lady. There was very little
time for preparation for escape, as the
boat went down ike lead few seconds
after the explosion occurred.
No one seems to be able to give any
explanation of the cause of the sudden
disaster.
Captain T. c. Sweeney, one of the
owners of the line, who assumed com
mund after the death of Captain Blanks,
says the explosion was not due tn too
high pressure of steam. lie had lust
had occasion to examine the gtIagc and
is positive the pressure was not more
than l35 pounds. The boat had mod.
crate cargo. She was in the middle of
the stream, Just below the. landing,
and had Just whi~tled to pass the CITY OF
St Louis, fortunately coming down at
the time. phe explosion had down
ward tendency and blew out the bottom
of the bow, causing her to sink immedi-
utely. She was torn in two, the rear
portion floating down the stream and
bearing a NY Der Of the saved.
Captain ; tcncy says the boat would
undoubtedl pave burned had she not
gone. down Imcdiately. None of the
books, pape OR other yaluables were
saved.
The City Of st, Louis, which was
about 800 yards above ut once put out
her bob and she did noble work in saw
ing lives.
The Anchor line steamer stayed there
several hours, rendering all the assist
auCe possible and taking ON board res
cucd passengers and crew. When moth
ing more could be done she came on
down to Daton Rouge where physicians
were summoned and all possible was
done for the injured. The only dead
body recovered was that OF Fred Over.
min, the second Darkeeper.