Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1893-02-15
DISASTER AT SEA.

Steamship Pomeranian Swept by a Mighty
Biliow-Wrecked I'm Mid Atlantic.
LONDON, Feb. 11.-Swept in mid-ocean
by mighty wave her deck-saloon, chart
house, bridge and boats swept away,
and the captain, first and second off,
GERS, two stewards, two OF the crew and
five passengers lost-this Was the story
of the Allan Line steamer Pomeranian
which returned to Greenock to-day.
She was in command of the third officer,
the senior surviving officer, and bore
unmistakable evidences of the desperate
struggle she had had with the elements.
The Pomeranian sailed from Glasgow
on January 36 via Neville for New
York. The steamer was about l, loo
miles westward from Glasgow when she
encountered weather of unusual severi-
ty. The gales had increased with great
suddenness until heavy sea unex-
pectedly swept over the deck, carrying
everything before it like al avalanche.
The dock-saloon the chart house,
the bridge and the boats were smashed
and swept away by the tremendous
force of the waves, and when the sea
had passed over the decks were scene
of ruin, and the shrieks of perishing
in the waves that surged about the dis
mantled steamer. Those who persisted
were:
CAPT. DALZIEL, commander Of the
steamer; died of his injuries.
FIRST OFFICER JOHN Cook, swept off
the steamer and drowned.
SECOND OFFICER JOHN HAMILTON,
swept overheard and drowned.
JAMES GIBSON, of Dalkeith; first cabin.
LILLIAN GIBSON, OF Dalkeith: first
cabin.
JOHN STUART, of GLASGOW; first cabin.
JANE CAFFERY, of Londonderry; first
cabin.
PETER FORBES, of Dundee; second cab
III.
STEWARD JAMES PRITCHARD.
STEWARD FRED WESTBURY.
PETER MCLEAN, seaman, who was at
the wheel.
WILLIAM URQUHART, seaman, also at
the wheel.
Capt. Dalziel was on the bridge when
the avalanche struck the vessel. He
was swept from his post and dashed
against the bulwarks, where he Law
stunned and helpless. The mates.
Cook and Hamilton, who were on the
bridge with the captain, were swept out
to sea and drowned. James and
Lillian Gibson, of Dalkeith; Jane CAT
ferry, Of Londonderry, and John Stuart,
of Glasgow, were in the deck saloon at
the time of the disaster and were hurled
overheard with the ruins of the saloon.
They were never seen again, but sur
vlvOrs say a despairing cry pierced
the air even amid the thunderous
roar of the waters. Peter Forbes, of
Dundee, the second cabin passenger,
and the stewards, Pritchard and Vest
bury, were also swept out to, see. The
stewards were engaged at the time in
their usual duties when borne off their
feet and swept into the sea. The quar-
termasters, Mclean and Urquhart,
were on duty at the time and also per-
ished.
For moment after the catastrophe
the survivors were too stunned to act.
With the captain disabled and the first
and second mates drowned, there was
no one for the moment to give orders.
Everyone looked about to see
who was in command. Then the
third officer quickly brought the crew
to their senses and took prompt
action to save the steamer and its
human freight from further calamity.
All the instruments for navigation had
been swept away except the after-com-
pass, by which the steamer had to be
navigated. Capt. Dalziel was borne
below. His injuries were fatal, and he
died Cd the following morning.
The crew cleared away the wreckage,
and the vessel started on its return vow
age, making its way back slowly and
carefully to Greenock. The survivors
of the passengers and crew are in
very exhausted condition after their |
terrible experience.