The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-05
The Sad Fate Of a Former Helena
Man and His Prospective
Bride.
Th0y Are Swept Overheard by q
Huge Wave in Mid
Ocean.
a Part of tho Sad Story of tho ponher.
anian MjsItap Told for tho
First Time.

land, on Feb. II, announced that the
steamer P~omeranion. from Glasgow for
New York, had returned TO Greenock after
a terrible experience. When about 700
miles out, during a heavy storm, everything
above decks was swept away hy \ huge
wave which boarded the vessel and carried
AWAY two of the officers. the two stewards,
two seamen and five passengers, and dashed
the captain against the hulwark, injurtng
him so severely that he died next day. In
the list of the passengers lost were James
Gibson and Lillian Gibson. the former for
some time a resident Of Helena, the latter
Of palketit, Scotland. And thereby hangs
a romance.
James Gibson was a native OF Scotland.
but many years ago came to TINS country,
and settled near DEVILS lake. North pa-
kota, where for quite a time he tarmed
successfully. He married and WAS very
happy for some years. About eighteen
month"; ago he lost his wife, and soon after
disposed OF his property and came TO
Helena. This was just about n year ago.
While here be worked as n salesman for
Lindsay 81 Co. Meantime during his resi-
dence in this county. his brother had died.
Gibson had ALWAYS thought highly OF his
brothers. wife. Lillian. A correspondence
up between them and last fall Gibson went
to Scotland. There he met his sister-ln-
Law, they fell in love with each other. and
the result was that Gibson was engaged to
marry his brother's widow. The laws OF
Scotland forbid marriage within that de-
gree of relationship. IL was at first
arranged that they should go to the south
of F ancs and DO married. but later it was
sereed to come to the United TED
It's own laws on the subject,
md where there were many places that do
not forbid such a union. They left Green
ock on the Pomersnian. Mrs. Gibson being
accompanied by her maid, Jane Catfesy
of Londonderry. The Pomeranisn en-
after leaving port. Feb. 4 dawnsd with a
frightful gale raging and a tremendously
high sea running. The matches were bat
tened down and covered with tarpaullns,
the ventilators were turned coward and
every precaution dictated by good seaman
getting below. Several seas were shipped,
but they did no damage. Suddenly a ire
mendous sea reared its crest a short dis
lance ahead of the steamer as she plunged
down a wave. Before she could rise the
sea came over the starboard bow end tons
of green water aft. Almost at the same
time the falling wave astern came aboard.
The result almost defies description. The
deck saloon. chart house, bridge and boats
were smashed to pieces and partly washed
overheard. The deck WAS covered with an
almost inextrioable mass of wreckage, and
the utmost confusion rei1ned.
At first the full extent of the disaster
was not known. The steamer began to
pay off before the wind and sea, and it was
at once seen that the quarter mast had
been carried overheard. Two sailors
sprang to the wheel and soon put the
steamer on her course. Then it was found
that Capt. Dalziel was missing. He was
last seen standing on the lee side of the
steamer aft the saloon in conversation with
a saloon passenger named John Stewart.
They were both dashed against the deck
house, then carried with terrific force and
jammed beneath the steam winches. Capt.
Dalziers legs were broken and he sus-
tanned internal injuries. He was carefully
removed to his room. but died the next
morning. Stewards legs were also broken,
and he sustained other injuries from the
effects of which he died in q few hours.
At the time of the accident the second
officer, John Cook, was on the bridge with
John Hamilton, fourth officer, and both of
them were carried overheard and drowned.
In the saloon deck house, when the sea
broke over the steamer, were JAS. Gibson
and Lillian Gibson. of Dalketit, and Jane
Gallery. of Londonderry, all cabin passen-
gers. They were carried outside and not
afterward seen. David Forbes, of Dundee,
second cabin passenger, and Jamss Pritch-
ard and Fed Westbury, stewards, and two
seamen were also lost in the same nannet.
When the sea boarded the steamer every
man about the deck who saw it coming
grabbed hold of starchions or anything else
convenient, and 1t is due to this that the
loss of life was not much larger. For a time
the utmost CONSERVATION prevailed. but this
gave way to a feeling of sadness when ii was
found that 90 many lives were lost.
With Capt. Dalziei fatally injured aud
unconscious in the cabin. the command of
tho steamer devolved uron the first officer.
When the chart loom was carried away the
charts. sextants and quadrauts, in faot
everything absolutely necessary TO the
navigation OF the ship, went with it. The
blnnacle box and compass on the bridge
had also gone overheard, and had itnou
been that the after compass remained it is
doubtful if the steamer would have reached
port for many days more. The situation Of
affairs was terrible. lhe frat officer called
the remaining officers Of the steamer to
consultation and it wRs decided to put
ahout and return to GreeuoOk.
New dress rood. Of the latest styles and pat
terms are arriving daily at Ae Zoe Rive.