The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-02

ing at the Scene of the Accidental
Crew and Officers of the Elbe-How
the Steamer Sank.
London, February /. 1T is understood
that the officers and crew of the Crathie
were examined today by the British con-
sui in Rotterdam. They will leave the
ship and return forthwith to Aberdeen.
Vevera, Hoffman, and Schleigal denied
emphatically this evening that the Cra-
THE remained sigma ling for two hours
near the scene of the collision. They
said that had she done SO she could have
saved many lives. Hoffman, who was
among the first to reach the Elbe's
deck after the collision did not see the
Crathie answer any of the Elhe's signals.
| He noticed small steamer apparently
the one that had struck the Elbe, steam
ing away. As regards the behavior of
the Elbe's crew, Hoffman said: II
seized life belt as soon as got on
deck, but sailor demanded it, saying
that it belonged to the crew. | gave
it up with the remark, We'll, L hope
| yOu Wlll saw JOuISClID OGo AO NiA AiOps
| The crew did their best to keep the pas
sengers out of the boats. Hoffman is
greatly embittered by the loss of his
wife and child. He talks continually
about it, and in each interview makes
! new charges against the crew. was
born among the Indians out west" he
said this afternoon, land [ have gone
| through hard times with my family
there. Now it is all over with them, and
| they have been sacrificed by the care
| Iessness of these men. | do not value
nv own life now; can think only Of
my loss."
Il offman's description of the final
SETTLING OF THE SHIP
was vivid. st could see her sinking rap
idly as we pulled away in the small
boat. Her bow went up steadily into
the air, and could see those aboard of
her climb bing and crawling toward the
bow, undil suddenly all were engulfed."
Vevera told reporter tonight: "There
was lol of green hands in charge of the
life boats, and they were SO excited that
they did not know what they were
about. They filed one boat and then
dumped all of its occupants into the
water. The crew in our boat were very
| T6iuCEHnJ 10 ttuullU LAlHS 1oQOChOIs- anu
"a offman and dragged her in without
any aid from the seanlen." Veyera and
II offman attack Third Officer Stollber
and First Engineer Neussell. They
say both acted selfishly after the rescue,
and that Stollberg made no effort to
command the boat, but gave the whole
responsibility to the steerage passenger
French steamer. They spoke highly of
Boethen's GOODNESS and skill, and give
him the whole credit for managing the
boat. The company have booked Vevera
and Schliegel to sail on the steamship
Umbria, and both will start tomorrow
morning for Liverpool. Each received
SIS from the company, as they lost their
rig with the ship.
Many more smacks arrived at Lowest
oft this afternoon and evening. They
brought no news. The skipper on one
Of the smacks which has returned to-
night reported that he saw what he
thought was mail bag, and tried to
catch it with boat hook. He missed
it, and knowing nothing of the. collision
did not try for it again. Hand-bllls dis
trihuted in Lowestoft say that Consul
Bradbe will pay 50 pounds for the body
of Walter Scheff, one of the Elbe' S first
cabin passengers.
The shipwrecked mariners society
have sent a barometer to Skipper
Wright of the Wild Flower, and ten
pounds TO mis- men, and the Mayor of
Low estoft has opened fund for their
benefit.
WE'RE JONAHS.
despatch from Vienna says that
among the EIbe's passengers were the
Guttman Brothers, directors OF steam
mill company near Kaschan, Hungary.
The Guttmans fed to escape arrest for
forgeries by which they defrauded the
company and the PEASANT shareholders
of 800, 600 floirns.
Holding an Inquiry.
London, February 1.-The German consul
here has been engaged throughout the day
in taking the dispositions of the survivors
of the Elbe. He says he will forward the
documents when they are completed. to the
foreign Office in this city. whence they will
be forwarded to the Marine court. which
will conduct the inquiry into the disaster.
Ths German and British governments. the
consul says, will shortly decide where this
court shall sit.
Captain Gordon's Statement.
Rotterdam, February 1.-Captain Gordon
of the steamer CrathIe, made report to
Lloyds representative here in which he says
he was knocked down by the shock Of the
collision Of his ship with what he describes
as an unknown vessel. When he was able
to get up and reach the deck the ships were
some distance apart. and in consequence
he was unable to give much information in
regard to the circumstances or result of the
disaster. The vessel which the Crathle
struck, ne says. was big steamer with two
tunnels and four masts. In reply to a
question as to whether he had taken any
steps to save the passengers and crew OF the
other ship, Captain Gordon said his own
ship was damaged to such an extent that he
expected every minute she would sink. lie
followed the other ship short time and
found that she went much faster than the
Crathie. and therefore he thought she was
safe.