The Portland daily press., 1890-11-26
THE PLAYTHING OF TREMENDOUS SEAS.
9ulWarks Carried Away, Cabins
Flooded and Boats Smashed.
How the Steamer SarnIa Fought Her
Way Through the Storm.
Five American Sailors Seen Clinging
to Their Sunken Vessel.
rSpecial to the Press. !

Especial TO lne fRESS.l
HALIFAX, N. S., November 25.-The
steamer Sarnia, of the Dominion line, arrived
from Liverpool today. She had terrible
passage, worse that the Vancouver's, al
though no life was lost The damage to the
Sarnia is extensive, The steamer left Liver
pool on the 18th. On the following day, bad
weather set in and on the 14th, the waves
lashed against the sides of the ship with
tremendous fury. causing her to rock like
cradle. On the evening of the 10Th, the
storm increased in violence and the follow
ing morning a terrible gale set in. The wind
blew 60 miles an hour The water rushed
with terrific force over the saloon deck and
carried away everything movable. A boat
was struck by a huge wave and split In
many pieces. The waves tore off the hatch
OF the stewards department, ana put OUT tne
fires and smashed part IT the cooking range.
The water also rushed along the passage
way and destroyed a portion of the ice
house. The ship labored heavily and was
tossed about like chip. The storm con-
tinued to grow worse. and on the 18th
bowling tempest was encountered. 1t looked
as though the vessel would founder. but she
weathered the terrible blow admirably. On
this day the greater part of the damage was
done. The steamers hull at times was un-
der water. Huge waves washed over the
rigging and threatened to engulf the ship.
Two more boats were smashed by the force
of the waves and o large iron stanchion OF
the cattle shed broken. The bulwarks on
the after part of the steamer, to the extent
of thirty feet on both sides, were smashed
and carried away. One of the stewards was
lifted by the waves and dashed against the
side of the ship. He, however, held ON to
stanchion until rescued. He was badly cut
about the head. In addition TO the above
damage, all the ventlators on the main deck
were carried away and steam pipes ripped
from their fastenings and whirled through
the air as though they were feathers The
skylght of the after wheel house was broken
and the after matches were lifted by the
waves and washed into the sea. The water
rushed down into the hold and flooded the
intermediate quarters. Trunks were thrown
around in all directions and hunks deluged.
Mrs. VIM. Matchinson, an intermediate pas
seDgrr and her husband, were knocked down
by the force of the water. Mrs. MatchinsOn
and another woman were picked up for dead,
but revived after treatment by the ships
doctor. Some intermediate passengers were
obliged to secure changes of clothing from
the ships company. 1t was the worst pass
age ever experienced by any person on the
ship. There was very little let uD in the
storm, terrible weather being encountered
all the run over The passengers are loud
In praise of the way they were treated and
say too much credit cannot be given the
captain and his subordinates forthe way they
managed the ship in such terrible weather
A despatch received this evening from
Kingston, Ont, says: "The Polly Rogers,
an American schooner. went ashore in the
gale this morning at Pidgeon Island, twenty
miles southwest of Kingston and is rapidly
going to pieces. The tug Walker, on her
way to Oswego, discovered her 10 this posi-
tion. The Walkers boats being unfit to
launch in the sea then running, the tug re-
turned to Kingston for help. She reports
the Rogers crew of five clinging in the rig
ging. A party with life boat was at once
formed here, but have little hopes of saving
the men as it is supposed the Rogers will be
broken up before they can reach her."
The Portland schooner Berthe May, put in
this evening for shelter and reported at the
custom house that Captain Hitler was sick.
The Gloucester schooner W. A. Morrison,
Captain Martin, arrived this evening leak
ing. She reported terrible weather on the
Banks.
Captain Roberts of the Hattie L. Newman,
was presented tonight with 500 by the Nor
wegian consul, for rescuing the crew OF the
bark Sinken. The consul has recommended
Captain Roberts to the Norwegian govern
ment, which it is understood will handsome
ly reward tine captain and crew of the New
man.
All incoming vessels report terrific
weather,