St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-12
WASHED into The SEA
An Immense Wave Breaks
Over a Steamer in Mid
Ocean.
Ten Of the Passengers and
Crew Carried Over the
Side.
The Captain and a Passenger
Die From Injuries Re-
ceived.
Tons Of Water Hurled on the
Deck Without Warn
ing.

1NSs
LONDON, Feb. 1.-THE Allen line
steamship Pommeranian. from Glas-
gov, Jan. 81, via Neville for New York,
has returned to Greenock in distress,
after having met with one of the most
fatal accidents that has occurred to
transatlantic steamer for many years,
an accident that resulted in the loss of
twelve lives. The following is the list
of the dead: W. Dalziel, master of the
vessel, both legs broken and
internal injuries. resulting in death;
John Cook, second officer, swept over
board; John Hamilton, fourth officer,
swept overboard; John Stewart, of
Glasgow. first cabin passenger, both
legs broken and internal injuries result
ing in death in few hours; James
Gibson, OF Dalkieth. first cabin passen-
ger, swept overheard; Lillian Gibson,
OF Dalkieth, first cabin passenger,
swept overboard; Jane Caffrey, Of Lon
derderry. cabin passenger, swept over
board; David Forbes, of Dundee, Sec
ond cabin passenger, washed over
board; James Pritchard, steward, swept
overheard; Fred Westbury. steward.
swept overheard; P. Mclean, seaman,
swept overheard; William Urquart, sea-
man, swept overheard.
Encountered Woister0us Weather.
The Pommeranian is at present lying
outside the harDOr at GreenOck. A
strong northwest gale is blowing, and
this renders it dangerous for small
boats to approach her. 1t has been
learned, however, that the disaster Oc
Cured when the steamer was about
l, $50 miles out. The POmmeranian ell
countered boisterous weather imme-
diately after leaving port. 1t was
thought that the wind would soon
blow itself out. and with everything
shipshape no fears for the safety of the
steamer were entertained. Instead of
abating, however. the gale increased in
severity until the day of the disaster.
The 4th of February dawned with
"a frightful gale raging, and a
tremendously high sea running.
The matches were battened down
and covered with Iarpaulins, ventilatOrS
were turned to leeward, and every pre-
caution dictated by good seamanship
had been taken to prevent water getting
below. This appeared to the officers of
the ship to be the greatest danger, as
they had no doubt as to the steamers
ability to ride out the storm. Several
seas had been shipped, but they did no
damage. Suddenly
A Tremendous Sea
reared its crest short distance ahead
of the steamer as she plunged down
wave. Before she could rise, the sea
came over the starboard bow and tons
of green water rushed aft. Almost at
the same time falling wave aStern
popped the steamer.
The result defieS description. The
deck saloon, chart house, the bridge
and the boats were smashed to pieces
and partly washed overheard. The deck
was covered with all almost lneXtricable
mass of wreckage, and the utmost con-
fusion reigned. AT first the full extent
OF the disaster was not known. The
steamer began TO pay before the
wind and sea, and it was at once
seen that the quartermaster had
been carried away. Two sailors Sprang
to the wheel and soon put the steamer
on her course. Then 1t was found that
Capt. DaIZeil, the master of the steamer,
was missing. He had been last seen
standing on the lee side of the steamer
aft the saloon. in conversation with a
saloon passenger named John ste Wart,
resident of Glasgow. They had both
been caught by the sea that came over
the stern and dashed against the deck
house. They were then carried
with Terrific Force
and TANNED beneath the after steam
Winches. Capt DalZeiiS legs were
broken and he had sustained internal
injuries. He was carefully removed to
his room and everything possible was
morning. Mr.. Stewards legs we're also
broken and he sustained other injuries
from the effects of which he died in a
few hours. At the time OF the accident |
the second officer, John Cook, had the |
watch. He was on the bridge with John |
Hamilton, the fourth officer, and both |
of them were carried overheard and |
drowned.
In the saloon deck house, when the |
sea broke over the steamer, were James |
Gibson and Lillian Gibson, of Dalkieth, |
and Jane Caffrey, of Londonderry. all |
first cabin passengers. They were car
seen. David Forbes: of Dundee, a |
second cabin passenger, and James
PritchaId and Fred Westbury, |
stewards, were also lost in the same
manner. 1t is supposed that Pritchard |
and Westbury were engaged in attend
ing to the wants OF the passengers in the
saloon deck house when the structure
was washed away. This made the num-
Der of those carried overheard ten, with |
two
Others Fatally Injured.
When the sea boarded the steamer
every man about the deck who saw it
coming grabbed hold of stanchions or
anything else convenient, and it was
due to this fact that the loss of life was
not much larger.
For time the utmost CONSERVATION
prevailed, but this gave way to a feel
ing of sadness when it was found that
so many lives La be- n lost. The dis
aster occurred So Suddt My and the sea
did it's fatal work with such rapidity
that the survivors did not at first realize
the full extent OF the misfortune.
Kissing and roaring Of the sea, the cries
of those who were carried overheard
could not have been heard, even had
they time to utter them. Without
word of warning they were swept to
their doom, and not person on the
steamer knew what had happened to
them until some little time after the ac-
cident With Capt. Dalziel fatally in
jured and unconscious in his cabin, the
command Of the steamer devoved npon
this first officer. ihe steamer was about
in mldocean AMI the question arose in
his mind
what Course to Pursue,
whether to hold the steamer on her
course, or to put about and make for
Greenock. When the chart room WAS |