The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1898-10-20
OVER ONE HUNDRED PERISH.
Bodies Of Many Victims Of the Aiohe-
gan Disaster Are Being
E Washed Ashore.

the sea When the steamer Mohegan
went down Friday night. Although
the number Of victims is not so large
as at first reported, the best accounts
cbtainable show two-thirds of those
aboard persisted. All day long bodies
were washed ashore along the coast,
and wreckage is scattered along the
beach for miles. The survivors are
receiving the best of attention and
care. Of the 161 persons on board the
Mohegan when she struck the rocks
only As escaped, and these were near
~ all picked Up by boat from the life
saving station.
Up to midnight 81 bodies had been
recovered. Some' were found, miles
away, in coves, and it is expected that
more will be washed ashore to-day.
Many persons und oubtedly were killed
by being dashed on the rough rocks
who would have escaped if cast ashore
On an ordinary coast. Some of the
bodie: are horribly mangled. A good
deal of jewelry and money has been
found. AS all the navigating officers
wer" lost, it is doubtful whether light
will ever be thrown on the causes of
the disaster.
From the best evidence obtainable
at st. Keverlne it appears that the Mo-
hogan foundered five minutes after she
struck the rocks. She was going at
full speed; she struck twice, stopped
and rapidly settled in the water. AS
the captain and the executive officers
CT the steamer went down with her, it
has been impossible thus far to ascer-
tai how she got out of her course. as
Falmouth light and the coast were
visible.
The survivors without exception
speak in the highest terms of the de-
votion, herosm and GOODNESS dis
played by tie officers and crew of the
Inflated steamer and declare all were
instantly at their posts when it was
known that the vessel had been struck.
The perilous position of the ship was
noticed on shore and warning
rocket was sent up, but it was too late
then to avoid the catastrophe, which
occurred so suddenly that there was
not sufficient time to get all the life
saving apparatus out of the ship.
Members of the crew are known to
hav stood by and watched the boats
launched and put off when it was ap-
parent that these were the only means
by which tkeir own lives could be
saved.
The terror of the scene was indie
scribe BILE. Men jumped overheard in
an agony of despair and the women
passengers huddled together and re-
fused to leave the deck. The officers
remained OH the bridge to the last, and
m"ny instances of sacrifice are re-
corded.
Efeboa1 with load of 40 persons
on it's way 70 the shore passed MANY
who were battling for their lives in
the water whom it was impossible to
save. The villagers, headed by the
vicar and coast guard, stood on the
shore and cacered the boat. When the
lifeboat entered the little cove the
fishermen waded into the sea to help
drag the boat up on the beach and
tenderly carried the exhausted sur
vi~-ors to houses which had already
been prepared for their reception. The
vica- attended the injured. The life
boat was again launched and put out
for the wreck. on its outward journey
picking up three survivors, The trip
to the wreck was fruitless so far as
taking anyone from the vessel was
concerned, but on its way back to the
shore 16 other survivors were taken
fror. the wafer. This was Just before
daybreak.
A connected account of what &C.
Cured afte: the ship struck is not vet
obtainable. 1t seems, however. that
one OF the ships boats containing sew
eral women got away safely, but was
capsized. A number of it's occupants
were rescued by lifeboats. Another
boat with IL hands was picked up by
lifeboat aud got. ashore, and two or
three other persons reached land.
The night was perfectly clear, the
stars were studded in the sky and the
lights along the channel were visible
everywhere. All the afternoon the
passengers had been enjoying the
scenery of the English coast. and in
the early evening were eating their
frs dinner at sea. There was no
thought of danger. The talk of the
table was in full sway in the lower
cabin, where few horsemen and cat
tlemen had gathered. Dinner plates
had been cleared away, pipes lighted
and musical instruments BROUGHT ont
for the entertainment of the guests
bound so pleasantly for home. Sud-
denly there was a shock that caused
the great vessel to tremble from stem
to stern. The passengers looked into
eac. others faces with questioning
fear. Then came. confusing darkness.
through which men CROPPED and stag
gered to the decks. In a short time
the sea had closed over many of them
and all was over.
Remarkable stories of rescue con-
tinue. Robert Barrow, seaman, per-
formed the feat of swimming unaided
through the toughest water to Cove
rack point distancesof 2h miles. He
climbed up the rugged cliff where
searching party found him early the
next morning completely exhausted.
Sealing Catch Is Good.
Victoria, B. c.. Oct. 1.-THE top line
of the sealing fleet, the Victoria, ar
rived here with 1,76S SKINS. Capt.
Hams says seals were plentiful and
especially northwest of the islands.
Three other schooners with catches
aggregating 2,7oo\are expected. The
catch will he better for the number of
boats engaged than last year.