The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-08-16
ND! ND OCEAN,
The British ship Prince oscar, Coal
Laden, Colliaes with ~ Unknown
Sailing vessal and DeAth ships
Sink IN Few lllnutes.

Philadelphia, Aug. 1O.-The British
ship Prince Oscar, from Liverpool,
Capt. Henderson, collided I'm mid
ocean, on July 13. with an unknown
sailing vessel. Roth ships sank in
less than ten minutes. Six members
Of the crew Of the Prince Oscar and
all ON board the unknown vessel were
lost. The survivirs, IL In number,
were rescued by the ship Dhwar, aft
er being confined in an open boat, with
neither food nor water for three days.
They were transferred to the British
steamship Capac, from Plsaqua. and
brought to this port. The names Of
the lost are:
William Knight, cook, Of South
Shields; Oscar Nelson, seaman, Of
Christiana; e. Petersen. seaman, Of
Denmark; August Carton, deck boy,
Of Ostendend; Rclap of Douglas, Isle
Of Man; j. Anderson, steward, Of Liv.
erpoOl, and the entire crew Of the un-,
known vessel.
The disaster occurred shortly after
midnight in latitude O:3O south, lOngl-
tude 2O:2O west. The Prince Oscar,
which was bound from Shields. which
port she left May q, for lquique,
laden with coal, was going at a clip
ping gait, on the port tack before
brisk wind, and with all canvas set.
1t is estimated by the crew that she
was making about O 1-2 knots an hour,
when suddenly there loOmed up direct
ly under her bows a four-mastcd
vessel.
The mate asserts that the stranger
had no lights burning, and after she
was sighted 1t was impossible to alter
the course Of the Prince Oscar. The
Iron hull Of the Inter struck the un.
known full amidships, knocking her
almost on her beams end. and crash
Ing through the woodwork until her
PROV was more than half buried. The
stranger went over almost OH her
beams end, as the Prince Oscar
backed away from the rebound. As
the crew of the Prince Oscar stood
peering through the darkness they
saw the stranger partly right herself.
and then she rapidly began to sink.
They listened In vain for some signs
word Of command came from the utl-
known vessel. In less than four min-
utes from the time she was struck the
stranger keeled over and plunged
stern first into the depths below.
Capt. Henderson, Of the Prince Oscar.
who was below In his berth. rushed
OH deck, just In time to discover that
His Ship Was Also Sinking.
The pumps were manned, but In
less time than 1t takes to tell 1t, II
was. discovered that there was no hope
from that source. IifebOnts were or
dered cut adrfft, and the men were
told to jump and swim for their lives
They all went overbonrd. and. with
the exception Of two unfortunates,
reached the small boats.
Capt. Henderson, who was the last
man to leave the ship, went over III
his night garments, and swan fully
TWO miles before he was picked up.
Both l,Oats lowered about the scene of
the wreck until daylight came. in an
effort to rescue the two missing men,
bers Of the Prince Oscars crew and
any member Of the crew Of the un-
known vessel who might have been
fortunate enough to have kept afloat.
They found no one, however, and
nothing to indicate the name, home or
destination Of their companion in mis-
fortune. Finally they left the scene
and headed, they knew not exactly
where. Twenty-f0ur hours later u
heavy sea struck the boat commanded
by Mate Lynch and capsized 1t. The
occupants, eight in number, We're
thrown into the sen, and the already
ovcrcrOwded craft which Capt. Hen
derson commanded put quickly to the
rescue. They were successful In get
| fp,sv ~ n1,
We're drowned. There were now II
men in the small lifeboat, with moth
ing to cat, nothing to drink and bare
ly room to stretch their weary limbs.
The sun was brOiling hot, and their
hunger and thirst was almost unlaar-
able. Toward evening of the second
day one Of the crew discovered
small cask Of fish oil slowed away In
the boat. This was dealt out to the
survivors In small doses. and they
used 1t to lnOisten their par.lled lips
and tongues. Most Of the men were
partially naked, having had no time to
| secure any clothes before leaving the
vessel.
For three days and nights they font
ed on the bosom Of the South Atlan-
tic, and just as they were about to
abandon all hope they sighted the ship
Dhwar, from London. bound to Mel
bourne. They succeeded in attracting
the attention Of those on hoard, and
were soon OH her decks. Four days
later they. In latitude 1898 south.
longitude 37:31 west, were put aboard
the Capac. bound for this port.
All of the survivors still bear eyi-
dences Of the sufferings endured whilo