The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1895-02-07
THE WRECKED STEAMER
The Captain of the Crathle Severely
Criticized by Survivors.

Tho Number OF Missing Now Placed at
Three Hundred and Fourteen-No
Pilot Was on the Bridge When
the Vessel Was Struck.
LowEsToFT, Feb. 1.-As far as can
be ascertained 3l4 of the passengers
and crew Of the Elbc are missing A
strong northeast gale blew throughout
the night, accompanied by a severe
frost, but this did not deter the coast
guards and customs officers from keep
ing up an active watch all night long
for any signs of other survivors Of the
Elbe. These coast-guardsmen and Gus
tom-housc officers have been on duty
continuously now for forty-eight
hours, the whole force of both branches
Of the service having been on duty; but
nothing has been seen of the missing
boat and not vcstigc OF wreckage
from the Elbc has yet been washed
ashore.
LownaroFT, Feb. L. Tugs arc
searching for the missing boat of the
| Elbe, but late Thursday afternoon
there has been no news of her. The
agent Of the North German Lloyd
Steamship CO. announces that the fol-
lowing persons, whose names were on
the list of the Elbc's passengers, de-
| cided at the last moment to go from
Bremen to Southampton direct and
were not on board the Elbc when she
sank: Louise l;orncfcld, Domingo Fur
rer. Theodore Gciscnheimcr, Rudolph
Neumann Lcic Missclewitz. two adults
and two children, Schicfcr Dorman
Anton Fischer.
A handful of survivors, who were
clustering around a hotel fire Thurs
day morning, INDUCING in the most
bitter criticisms of the still unknown
ship which rammcd and sunk the Elbe.
They all claim that she should have
stood by the Elbc, and that if she had
done SO great many lives would have
been saved. This, of course, is mat
ter which can not be decided until all
the facts in the case arc brought to
light by the court of inquiry which
will inquire into the matter.
1t seems, however, that neither OF
the two pilots was on the bridge of the
Elbe at the time Of the collision. The
Wescr, or German pilot, ceased his du-
ty when the Elbe cleared from the
Wcser, and the turn Of duty of the
Trinity, or English pilot, did not COM
mence until the steamship entered the
waters Of the Isle of Wight, and the
surviving officers of the Elbe refused to
say who was in charge of that steamer
when the collision occurred; but it is
supposed to have been Third Officer
Stollberg, who was one of the survlv-
ors. Stollbcrg is understood to have
asserted that the steamer which sunk
the Elbc was out of her course, and
he is said to have admitted that he
saw a green light on the port bow OF
the Elbe shortly before the collision
occurred. He describes the third life
boat lowered, and which it is still
thought may have escaped, to be about
twenty feet long. She declared the
Elbe alright, and number of people
inside of her. Stollberg, however, does
not believe it possible for her to have
lived for any length of time in the
heavy sea which was running at the
time of the accident.
ROTTERDAM, Feb. !. Interviews
which were had here Thursday after
noon with Capt. Gordon, of the steamer
Crathic, and with the second officer OF
that vessel now leave no room Tor doubt
that she was the steamship which ran
into and sank the Elbe.
Capt. Gordon said that the Crathie at
$50 a. m Wednesday was about thirty
five miles from Waterway. The wind
was north by west, a half west. 1t was
| very dark and the sea and wind were
strong.
Continuing ne said: II stood at the bottom
OF tho cabin staircase and was going on deck
when there was Il heavy shock. crack and the
water began 10 pour into the deck. ran on
deck and saw large. strange ship cross the
bows Of the Crnthic. After the collision we
returned 10 tho spot where 1t occurred or as
near us we could make out, but VIC were unable
10 sec any signs OF the steamer, wnlcn VIC
thought had proceeded on her voyage. We
| followed after her for some time but lost al
| sight OF her We waited for two hours and
|
there Wednesday and came here Thursday for
repairs which will take five weeks ~
The second officer OF the Craithic said that
| about half-past o'clock Wednesday morning
the steamer was about thirty miles from Niue
| Wntcrweig adding: I'VE collided with large
! steamer There was no fog, but it was dark.
II was my watch on deck and suddenly saw
ahead OF us three lights and l made cut "
steamer, painted Il light color, with two smoke
| stacks coming toward US 1t was Impossible
| to cscape 4 collision. although ten or a dozen
wards moro would probably have cleared US.
| After we struck It, il WAS impossible for some
time to disengaSe the ships, and our gear
had to be cut. We heard no cries and
| there was no commotion on the steamer SO far
| as VIC knew Immediately after the collision
! the other vessel showed blue and red lights.
| We returned tho same signals, understanding
| that neither OF US needed assistance. Our
| caD,ain was below at the time l first sighted
| the steamer A stokcr who was asleep had his
| right car torn OF by an iron plate which was
| driven through the side of the Crathic. He is
now in the hospital. ! don't believe that the
! shin we collided with was the Elbe; but l
| didn't see her name. The Crath,e'S bow was
completely stove in, and We returned because
| the Crathlc was not fit to proceed in high sea-
OHicia, Figures CT the Lost
New YORK, Feb. 1.-The officials OF
the North German Lloyd have given
for publication the following figures
as the total number of persons on board
The Elhe. Fifteen first cabin, 81 Sec