The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-01
IN TEE JAWS OF A Sea.
Steamer P0meranian Crunched
Between Two Huge Waves.
Ten Persons Swept Overheard
and Two Fatally Injured.

The Allan Line steamship Pomeranian,
from Glasgow, via Moville, for New York,
has returned to Glasgow. Scotland. In dis
tres. after having met with one o: che most
distressing accidents that has occurred to a
Transatlantic steamer in many years-an &C.
cident that resulted in tho loss OF twelve
lives. -. ,..
40 about slsyen hundred and fifty miles
out. :L
weather Immediately altar leaving port. IL
was thought that the wind would soon blow
itself out and with everything shlp-snape no
fear for the safety Of the steamer was enter
tsined. Instead of abatiug, however, the
rale increased in severity until the day OF
fsa CALAMITY which dawned with frightful
Gale racing and q Tremendously high sea
running The matches were battened down
and cay.rsd with tarpaulins vsntilators
wero t,rnsd to lesward and every precautlon
d;ctetad by good seamanship Had pssn
taken to prevent water getting below.
Suddenly tremendous wave reared lts
crest short distance ahead OF cue sGSamer
as she plunged down another wave. oetors
she could rise the sea cano over tne sIar
board bow and tons Of green water rushed
aft Almost at the same time falling wave
aet.rn nooped the steamer. The result
almost dedes description.
The deck saloon, chart house, the bridge
and tha boats ware smashed to pieces anu
nartly washed overheard. The decR was
Covered with an almost fne1tricaois mass
of wreckaze and tho utmost coniusion
reigned. 49,. d;,.,+o- ..
not known. The steamer began to pay or
hsfora the wind and sea, and it was at once
se.n that tho ouartsrmasters, Peter Nc
T.aon and William Urquhart, had been
csrriad avay. Two sailors sprang to the
wheel and soon put the steamer on ner
Thsn IL was found that Captain Dalzisl,
the master Of the steamer, was missing. 40
had last been seen standing on the Ice slde
of the steamer. aft the saloon, IN converse
ton with saloon passenger nameo 'onn
Stewart, a resident Of Glasgow,
Thsy had both been caught by the sea that
..ms oysr the stern and dashed against the
dack bouse. They were then carried with
ts-rific force and jammed beneath the AFTER
steam winches.
Cant.in Dalzieps legs were broken and he
sustained internal injuries. Dc was care
SnlIy removed to his room and everything
possible was done for him, but ne olso que
mOrQlQU.
arol,en and he sustained other injuries,
from the effects OF which he died IN a lew
hours. ,,. 49,. ,o,d
of3car John Cook, had the watch. he was
an the bridge with John Hamilton, tne
fourth officer. Both were carried overheard
and drowned.
broke over the steamer were james 1loson
and Lillian Gibson. Of Dalkeith, and Jane Cal-
ferry, Of Londonderry, all first caoin passen.
gers They were carried over sno s.Se ndaa anu nov
afterwards seen. drForbes OF Dunass,
= second cabin passenger, and James Prit-
chard and Fred Westbury, stewards, were
also lost in the same manner.
f, Amid the bowling Of the wind and the
Kissing and the roaring OF the sea, tne cries
os those who vere carried overheard could
NOT; have been heard, even had they mad
time to utter them. Without q word OF
warning they were swept to their doom ana
NOT a person on the steamer knew whae nao
happened to them until some little tlms al1er
the accident.
with CAPTAIN Dalziel fatally injured and
unconscious In his cabin the command OF the
steamer dsyolved upon tho first ofdcer. Inc
Steamer was about In mid-ocsan and tho
Question arose in his mind what course 70
n,,rsne-whether to hold tho steamer on her
course or to put about and make for Green
ock. ...
When tho chart.room was carried away,
the charts, se1tants and quadrants, In TACT
everything absolutely essential to the navl-
cation of the ship. went with. It. Tho hin,
nacIe-box and its compass on the bridge hao
also gone overheard, and bad it not bean
that the after-compass remained 1t Is doubt.
full il the stsamer would have reached port
for many days. The first officer called the
remaining officers Of tho steamer to con.
sultarion, and it WAS decided to put about
and return to Grsenock.
The crew cleared away the debris and bat
tened down the hatches. The wares swept
over the deck from stem to stern and Hooded
the passengers quarters. There was no
panic and the crew had everything snug
before dark. o.,
Captain Dalziers body was committed to
the waves. The crew and passengers stood
by. silently weeping, during the simple and
mournful ceremony. The waves were rum
ming mountain high, and all fet that they,
too might soon be with their departed cap
tain.
Veteran sailors who were aboard declare
that during an experience Of thirty years
the storm was the worst they ever encoun:
tered. II the ship had not been stanch and
the discipline good they would have toun-
dered.