The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-16
GR|FF|THS DID ALL
A BRAVE MAN COULD
Sudden Crash Was the First Notification That the
Mohegan Was on the Rocks Only
Forty-Five Escaped.

Il
among them those Of four women and
one 12-year-old girl The bodies ara
laid out reverently. The faces of the
victims present a sad sight, showing
how rudely the waves and rocks played
with their features. The whole village
and neighborhood are alive with excite
| ment. and knots Of men linger about.
talking with the rescued members of
| the crew.
1t is exceedingly difficult to trace the
| events Of the disaster, but so far as
can be ascertained 1t seems that the
weather was not thick, but that a
strong southeast wind was blowing and
there was a heavy ground swell on and
strong current running. Dinner was
ready and Captain Grifhths was about
to proceed to the saloon when a sudden
crash made 1t apparent that the steam
er had gone ashore. The captain i'm
mediately went on deck and the sur
vivors say they saw him on the bridge.
doing all that lay in the power of a
brave man to lessen the disaster.
Authentic particulars of the events
occurring after the ship struck are not
yet obtainable. 1t seems, however, that
one OF the ships boats, containing sew
eral women. got away safely. but was
capsized. A number of its occupants
were rescued by lifeboats. Another
boat with is hands. was picked up by
a lifeboat and safely got ashore, and
two or three other persons managed to
reach land. Out of the 161 persons on
board As escaped. Up to a late hour
tonight 30 bodies have been washed
ashore at different points. A southerly
wind Is now blowing and it is expected
the bodies of many more victims will
be recovered by tomorrow. An in
quest will be held on Monday.
The rescued persons are receiving the
greatest attention from the inhabitants.
and the utmost kindness is being shown
to the women passengers.
A. g. l.. Smith, who was among the
saved. says his home is in Oregon. In
conversation with the representative
of the associated press, Mr.. Smith said
this evening that he saw the captain
On the bridge--siying Iorders.- which
were carried out as far as possible. As
the ship sank the captain ran along the
side and sprang overheard. The vessel
lurched and the passengers all seemed
to be thrown into the water at the same
moment. Mr.. Smith. who is a strong
swimmer, managed to get through the
mass of people in the water and sue
ceeded in evading several who tried to
clutch him as he passed by. He says
he swan for three hours and a half
before he reached shore.
The Mohegan left London for New
York Thursday, having on board, so far
as ascertained at present. SO passengers
and crew of 115. When the steamer
was seen in distress the lifeboats went
out from shore and every effort was
made to save the passengers.
The coast at this point is extremely
dangerous and has been the scene of
numerous wrecks. The general opinion
il the machinery OF the Mohegan be-
came disabled during the heavy east
erly gale which was blowing. and she
ran ashore and foundered. A number
Of tugs. which put out from this port
to the assistance of the Mohegan, were
compelled to return without being able
to approach the vessel, owing to the
severity of the weather.
life boat landed 81 of the passengers
and crew. One of the former, a woman
died after being brought ashore. There
are rumors unconfirmed as this dis
patch is sent that another life boat sue
ceeded in saving six more persons. One
OF the survivors, George c. Maule of
New York, was interviewed and said:
"All went well until o'clock yester-
day evening, when most of the passen-
gers were at dinner. The steamer was
going at full speed and suddenly we
heard a loud crash, which seemed to
denote we had collfded with some other
vessel but when We rushed on deck we
found the Mohegan was on the rocks.
Orders were given Immediately TO
lower the boats. and the crew of the
steamer behaved like heroes. The cap
tain stood on the bridge and the great
est order prevailed among the officers
and crew. The steamer. however. i'm
mediately began to settle by the head.
vsxnTra no.. L.. rr
were sent away in the first boat, but
whether those boats reached land or
not 1 do not know.
Il managed to secure a life belt and
jumped overheard in company with the
chief officer of the Mohegan. Soon we
were parted from each other. When I
was leaving the vessel a little girl
begged piteously that try to save her.
was powerless to help her. Eventual
ly caught hold OF plank which was
floating on the water and / clung to IL
for seven and a half hours. At the ex-
piration OF that time / was picked up
by tug. / cannot explain how the
accident occurred"
From other sources IL was learned
the Mohegan sank about 20 minutes af- /
ter she ran on the rocks. Local seamen
who have been questioned upon the
subject appear to be unable to explain
how the Mohegan got into such a posi- |
tion.
Later In the morning IL became |
known another life boat had landed Is I
more OF the survivors of the Mohegan,
and as life boats put out from a num- 1
ber OF places. hopes are expressed the !
number Of survivors may be increased. |
One OF the is persons just known to |
have been saved Is a lady. All the |
survivors are in a pitiable condition |
and some have been badly injured by |
waves and rocks and are suffering from |
bruises and torn and fractured limbs.
As the day wore on further reports |
received show IS survivors of the Mo- |
hegan wreck were landed at Port Hous- |
took. Cornwall. where the bodies OF five /
dead persons have been received. Then /
came the announcement that IL Of the |
crew had been found alive on the rocks
near the scene of the disaster. WILL l