Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-02-12
SWEPT In THE SEA
Disaster Met the Steamer Pom
sranlan In Mid Ocean.
TWELVE LIVES SACRIFICED
Ten Psssoss Were Washed Ovssbossd
and Two Died Of Their IniuneA
Dssks Swept Clean

Loxpox. Feb. 1.-THE Allan hne
steamship Pomeranisn from Glasgow
January 81 VIA MovilIs for New York.
has returned 70 Greenock in distress.
after having met with one OF the most
fatal accidents that has occurred 20 .
transatlantic steamer for years The
Pomersnian 70 81 present lying outside
Of the hsrbor NJ Greenock. A strons
northwesssrly gale 10 blowing and this
renders il dangerous for small boats TO
approach her.
The Pomeranian was about 1850
miles west Of Glssgow when on tie
morning OF February she encoun.
tered weather OF unusual severity. A
tremendous &c. reared its crest . short
distance ahead OF the steamer as she
plunged down . wave.
Before che could rise the sea came
over the starboard bow aud tous OF
green water rushed aft. Almost at the
same time . falling wave astern
popped the steamer. The rise almosl
de Ties description. Tho deck saloon,
chart house, the bridge and
the boats were smashed to
pieces and partly washed overheard.
The deck MAS covered with An al
most inextr!cable mass of wreckage
and the utm. st confusion reigned. Al
tirst the full extent Of the disaster wal
not known until the steamer began to
play oil before the wind and sea. and il
Was st once seen that the quartermas-
ter had been carried away. Two sail
ors sprang To the wheel and soon pu,
the steamer on her course. Then II
sss found that Captain Dslseii, the
master OF the eteamer. WAS missing
He mad been last seen standing on the
lee side OF the steamer aft the saloon
IN conversation with q saloon passen-
ger named John Stewart of Glasgow.
They had both been caught by the ees
that came over the stern and dashed
against the deck house. They were
carried with terrific force and jammec
beneath the aft steamer winches.
Psrso.s Overheard.
Captain Dalseii's legs were broken
and ne sustained internal injuries. lie
WAS carefully removed 10 hls room and
everything possible done for him, but
he died the next morning. Mr.. Stew
arts legs were also broken. and he sus-
tanned other inJurles. from the effects
of when he died in . few hours.
At the time of the accident Second
Officer John Cook held the watch. lie
WAS on the bridge with John Hamilton,
the fourth officer, and both were car.
RED overheard aud drowned. In the
saloon deck mouse when the sea broke
over the deck were James Gibson and
Lillian Gibson Of Dslkiet and Jane CAT
frey Of Londonderry, all first cabin
passengers. They were carried over
the side and not afterward seen. Da'
vid Ferbes OF Dundee, . second cabin
passenger, and James Pritchard and
Fred westburry, stewards, were slss
lost IN the same manner. II is sup.
posed that Prltchard and Westburs
we're engaged IN attending to the pas
sengers in the saloon deck house wher
the structure was washed away. ThY
made the number OF those carried
overheard ten, with two others fatal,
injured.
Fo- time the utmost CONSERVATION
prevailed. but this gave way TO a feel
| ing OF sadness when il was found tha
80 many lives had been lost. The dis
sster occurred 90 suddenly and the eel
/ did its fatal work with sucn rapidit.
| that the survivors did not realize tn.
extent of the misfortune.
With Captain Dalseil fatally injured
the duties OF commander devolves
upon the first officer. The steame
was about IN mid-ocean. When tn
chart room was carried away tn
charts, setans and quadrants, in fac
everything absolutely essential to tn
Navigation OF the ship. went with II
The first officer called the remainin
officers to . consultation. and 1t VA
decided TO put about and return {
/ GreenocK. This was done, aud, with
out any instruments with which 4
take observations, the voyage had to b
made entirely by dead reckoning, an
was therefore necessarily slow. Tn
names OF the uuartermasters lost wer
| petsr Mel eau and William I-youha ,,