The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1896-06-20
WENT TO THE BOTTOM
ENGLISH STEAMER WITH "a PAS
sENGERs.
sseans"sp ssnk 50 Suddenly There
wss M Time tn Launch Even
One Boat.

Brest. France, June r-Detals are
slowly being obtained CT the loss OF The
Castle liner, the Drummond Castle
bound from capetown to London win
~ passengers and 100 officers and men
The steamer was gong full speed shortly
before Midnight Tuesday. June 10. head
Ing around Finnisterre from the Bay OF
Biscay. and making for the chops of
the British channel on Finnisterre ~
the island of Ushant. about 81 miles
northwest Of here. in a group Of % is
lands. The Drummond Castle to steer
safe course should have been away
outside Of Eshant, upon which islald
il a lighthouse and signal station. but
for some reason not satisfactorily ex-
planned the steamship headed inside II
Cshant Between that point and she
mainland of France Is a line of islands.
including Molene and lie ConQuet coz
nected by ridges Of rock with each 9TH
er. At different places there are riff -.
between which vessels can pass with
safety. but between Ushant and Moienc.
the latter island being about half way
TO the mainland. is q sunken reef Of
rock with deep water on both sides OF
1t and covered in parts even at the lowest
tides. 1t was on this ridge the Drum
mond Castle struck while going at full
speed
The steamer must have struck SO
10 tear a big rent in the bottom from
stem TO stern. thus filling the water tight
compartment almost Immediately AMI
sending her to the bottom on the oth-r
side OF the reef in about three minut IS.
Only two boats were lowered after the
Drummond Castle first struck. One cap
sized and only three men were savet
out of 7i7 people on board The British
second-class cruiser Sybeiie, which was
eff Cshant at the time Of the disaster.
heard the signals of distress and sent
boats to the rescue. but without avail.
OF the saved TWO men were picked up
floating on wreckage by fishermen from
the mainland. A man named Marquar Il
reached Molene island
About 10 bodies have already been re-
covered off Ushant At the time the
Drummond Castle struck the reef a high
southwest wind was blowing and 1t was
raining and foggy. about the worst con-
dition possible for appros ching that part
of the coast Marquarit says Captain
| Pierre had just gone 10 the cabin for a
| brief rest when a terrible shock caused
| the Drummond Castle to CULVER q
shaken by a dynamite explosion. This
/ was followed by a horrible grating.
rasping sound. the noise of inrushiag
| water and the cries of the passengers
The commanding officers ordered all
/ hands 10 clear away the boats for lower
/ ing. but the rents in the steamer wen
/ SO wide and deep that few passengers
| had time to scramble upon deck befor.
| she gave two or three heavy rolls. ther
! an awful lurch. accompanied by SONS
! interior explosions. and sank.
MarQuardt, contrary 10 the reports Of
I the other two seamen rescued. said tn.
| steamship went down so suddenly Their
was no time even to launch one boat
| much less two. and even Il the boat hat
been launched the seas were running 5.
/ high and in such rapid succession, a pc
culiarity of the seas on that part of th'
| French coast. that she would have beeI
promptly swamped.
Some of the passengers, however sue
ceeded in fastening life belts aroun,
themselves. the bodies washed ashor'
/ being so provided.