The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-31
STORIES OF THE RESCUED
GREAT CONFUSION REIGNED WHEN
THE STEAMSHIPS COLLIDED,
And the Doomed Vessel Filled So
gers Were Drowned In Their Bunks.


Lloyd steamer Elbe, Captain Won Gossel.
from Bremen, yesterday, for New York,
via Southampton, has been sunk in collision
with the British steamer Crathie, bound
from Rotterdam for Aberdeen. At the time
of sending this dispatch the exact loss of
life is unknown, but report has it that it
was enormous.
The disaster occurred before daylight this
morning at point some thirty miles from
the Hook of Holland. The first intlmation
of the disest came from Lowestoft Suf-
folk one of the chief English fishing ports.
Late this afternoon dispatch was re-
ceived from that place saying that it
reported there that a transatlantic line
steamer had been sunk in the North sea,
and that the loss of life was very great.
The first dispatches stated that there had
been $50 persons the Elbe, and that only
nineteen had been saved, the rescued hav-
ing been landed at Lowestoft by fishing
snacks. Later dispatches to the Exchange
Telegraph Company and to LdcydS con-
firrned the reports of the loss of the steam
err and still later it was learned that the
Crathie, the steamer that sunk the Elbe,
had put into Maaslouis, Holland, in dam
aged condition She reported that she had
been in az collision with an unknown ocean
steamer.
Towards evening, over two hours and a
half after the news had reached the Lon
don offices of the Associated Press, and had
been cabled to America, the agents in this
city of the North German Lloyd Steamship
Company received the following cable mes
sage:
Most deplorable news from Lowestoft.
1t states Eibe' sunk through collision at 6
o'clock this morning. Boat No. B. with
third officer Stallburgh, purser Weser. en-
QinRer NeuSSGll nlnGfepn DorS0nS land
ed at Lowestoft. No further news SO far
CAUSED EXCITEMENT.
When the news of the disaster became
generally known through the medium OF
the tickers of the Exchange Telegraph
Company in the clubs and places of pub
lie resort the excitement was intense. Cable
dispatches were at once forwarded to all
the principal European cities, and soon
flood of return dispatches were received
asking for further information. which at
that time it was impossible to obtain. The
agents here of the company did everything
possible to learn all the facts, and as soon
as any new information was received it
was at once cabled to the various European
capitals.
The dispatches from Germany show that
the news caused the greatest excitement and
sorrow, most all the officers and crew
of the lost steamer and majority of the
passengers being Germans. 1t at first
hoped that the reports of the disaster had
been exaggerated and that most. if not all
of the passengers and crew had escaped,
either by means of the ships boats or by
being picked up by passing vessels But,
as time ON, it apparent that the
first reports of the sinking of the steamer
had nlinimized the horrors of the disaster.
Many dispatches were forwarded to Maasl
1f tbe Tsraf
him if he had rescued any of the Elbes
passengers. Up to late hour, however, no
answers were received to these dispatches
and the belief grew that the Crathie, after
the accident had rather sought her own
safety than to rescue the people on the
doomed Elbe
From the details now at hand it is learned
that the Elbe was proceeding along at her
usual rate of speed and keeping the
ordinary lookouts. The night was
dark, but there was no gale. Sud-
denly the forward lookout the
Elbe reported to the officer deck that the
lights of a steamer were close aboard over
the port bow. Before the course of the Elbe
could be changed so as to sheer her off from
the approaching steamer. the latter struck
her just about the engine room, going
through her plates as though they were
completely through the hull of the Elbe. For
time the Crathie held the Elbe on her
nose, but then her engines We're reversed and
she backed out Of the ar erature she had made
As she did so, the water rushed into the
Elbe in torrent and she began Immediately
tos settle.
ONLY THREE BOATS LOWERED.
The officer in charge of the ship at once
saw that she was doomed and gave hurried
orders TO clear away the life boats for
launching. Three of the boats were cleared
and lowered, but one of them shortly after
it got clear of the steamer eapsized and it
is thought that all the occupants were
drowned. The first boat contained the third
officer. chief engineer, purser and about
twenty others. These arc the persons who
were picked up by the fishing smack and
takn to Lowestoft.
From the survivors it is learned that as
scon the Crathie backed away from the
Elbe. the in-rushing water flooded the aft
of the engine room so quickly that nobody
below decks in that part of the ship had an
opportunity TO escape The shock of the
collision was comparatively slight in view
OF the damage done. but this is explained