New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-23
EIGHTY LIVES WERE LOSl.
A Y1TAN WARSHIP SUNK.
STARTLING STORY BROUGHT IN Bi The
PRINS WILLEM l.
ONLY ONE MAN WAS SAVED or ALL on BOARD
The ALEXANDRA PErION. \ NEW VESSEL
OF HAYTIs NAVY-NO EXPLANA.
TION or THE DISASTER


The Dutch steamer Prins Willcm |, Captain
Sorgdraecr. which arrived here yesterday alter
neon. brings the news Of Il mysterious shlpwf'rN
hv which eighty persons lost thcir lives. MI the
r,s.cn .c,s and all the crew with one exception
Of Iiaytian warship went with Their vcssel 10
the bottom of the ocean. and the only survivor
suffered 80 much from terror and exposure that
he has been unable to give any reasonable account
of the loss of the ship.
EX-MINISTEE DURHAM TELLS THE STORY
The story is told by j. $. Durham, ext nt"d
states Minister 10 IIayti, who was "A passenger
on the Prins Willem |. tn" warshp was IN"
.,lcxan.lr, Potion, an iron screw steamship,
which left roit an Prince on September D. bonnh
for San Domingo She had on board nambr
of lIaytian diplomats Of high rank who wee
on their way to negotiate special treaty VITA
the republic of san Domingo. Among them wrr"
General Molini. special envoy to San Do
minao: Mr.. Cohcn formerly minister iroa' IIayti
to Mcvco: Monsieur de Jean, cN-ConSnl-Grn"ral
from Ilayti to France, and 4 number Of other
.lmost equally wcll-known iaytians.
SHE WENT DOWN LIKE STONE.
For two days all went smoothly on board and no
one d.ralacd # danger Then suddenly, on S"ptrm-
her c. when of Cape TIburon, the vessel sank lik"
an ureducatcd man. who is said to have boon oil
| the lookout station at the time was thrown out
side of the suction of the sinSing ship. and by the
aid Of a piece of plank managed 10 keep
himself afoat Two oars, which had been
living in one of the ships boats also
Goatcd. and these the sailor secured. and used In
m effort 70 paddle toward the shore After he
had hoatcd for day and a half, exposed 10 the
burning sun and without food or drink. he was
picked up by passing vessel and carried 20 Fort
an Prince His mind, probably never very strong
had been so weakened by his terrible experience
that he could give no explanation OF the disaster
There was no storm. no shock of collision. that
he knows of, no explosion or fire.
The Alexandra Pction simply plunged bows first
beneath the water. carrying with her all on
board except this sailor His very nam" i not
',nown, but his uniform showed To what ship he
elongod. He has been transferred to another OF
the llaytan warshpS.
No SIGN of the ,unken vessel can b" found.
She was new boat. recently brought ont from
France. where she was built. Her cost was
$50, 900.
rELfEF THAT SHE STRUCK WRECK.
Theories about her are plentiful. hut none Of
them have any foundation. Judging from th"
sailors story she must either have been scnttlrd
or have capsized But litrlc reliance Is placed on
ship struck y floating wreck or -ubm'rged rock.
stovo in her bows. and sank liIo. a stone.
No news Of the loss Of the Potion had previously
reached Ncw-York There is no cable from liaytl'
and no steamer leaving there since Septeinber H.
the day on which the new, reached PT' 81 rrlh"'
has rc,chcd New York before the rrins Willcm
The Havtan consul. Johannes HauSt"d' OF No. -
Ljvingstor-it Brooklyn. has rcccivod no ahvie'~
on the subject.
1LOoN OVER THE LOSS or THE ALV''
Mr. Durham further says that the loss of inc
Atlas Line steamship Alvo has caused great gloom
in Port All Prince nearly all on hoard h"f w'r'
we'll known there. One Of IN" passengers E"-
mund Gatt. was on his way TO Hayfi to marry a
,t c,,nrir tho DAUGHTER Of an eX- French Minister
20 Paraguay. The young woman l. utterly pros
trated with grief ,,..,, .o
Other passengers on the Pms when W'tr
-. I ang;ors Villars the French Minister g.
IIayti. and the Marquis Quiihoim d" l'oihnau' AT
tache of the legation. who are returnin, home.