New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
STRUCK A SUNKEN WRECK.
HOLLAND-AMERICAN LINE STEAMER
VEENDAM ABANDONED At SEA
SHE CRASHED INTO THE OBSTRUCTION NEAR
THE ENGLISH CHANNEG.-THRGLIING MOON
LIGHT RESCUE or THE CREW AND
PASSENGERS BY THE STEAMER
ST. LOUIS WHICH BRINGS
THEM TO PORT.


The American Line steamer St. Louis. which
arrived at this port yesterday noon, brought
with her the passengers and crew of the Ilol-
laId-America Line steamship Neendam, when
struck a submerged wreck last Sunday after
noon when about hundred and fifty miles
southwest of the entrance to the English Chan
mel, and was rapidly sinking when she was
sighted by the St Louis The rescued persons
numbered 2l2 men, women and children, al or
whom were taken of without any acci-
dent by the officers and crew Of the St Louis
The story OF the is one Of the most thrill
ink tales of the that have been brought 10
/ this port in years. None Of the rescued saved
any personal property. and it is thought tnat
the Veendam must have foundered within
short time after the St. Louis sailed away WIN
her crew and passengers Had the -. LOUIS
been much later the passengers and crew OF
the laundering vessel would have been forced
10 take TO the sea in open boats. md it IS likely
that there would have been n large loss OF NE
for there was a heavy swell running at TIE
/ time OF the 212 human beings aboard the
Veendam. nine were cabin passengers and one
hundred and eighteen We're I'm the steerage.
Nest Of the stee~age passengers were foreigners
unable to speak English All the passengers 4
the sunken vessel we're made comfortable
aboard the s. Louis. according to the class in
which they were travelling on the Veendam.
STORY or THE CAPTAIN.
The Veendam left Rotterdam February 3 and
had heavy weather UP 10 Sunday night Her
ca1talr. g. Stenger, Yesterday described the
wreck in the following words
February G. at about 81 p. m, ships time,
being in latitude 1875 north. longitude 2o:Ol
west we struck a submerged wreck or wreckage
which probably tore a hole in the ships bottom
and broke our propeller shaft. We found that
our ship was making considerable water. We
| Immediately set all pumps to work, but notWlth-
standing this the water gained on us. In the
mean time all our boats were made ready IN
order. If necessary to leave the ship 4 a mo-
ments notice, because she was now sinking
rapidly by the stern. notwithstanding all efforts
made by crew and passengers at the pumps we
! found the water 10 be steadily gaining on us.
Al I 80 we observed the masthead lights Of
! large steamship bearing about east by south
from us We made signals Of distress on which
the vessel bore down on us. We then decided FOR
! the safety Of the passengers and crew TO aban-
! don the ship The strange vessel proved to he
the St Louis bound from SOUTHAMPTON for
| New-York We hailed her and reported that
ou- ship was sinking and wished 10 be taken on.
| AT 1.t3 a. m We began to transfer our pas
sereers and crew. using three boats of the st.
! Louis and one Of our own ship. our men kept
at the pumps At 49, on Monday morning
/ everybody was transferred to the St. Louis.
When the last boat left the ship the Neendam
was laborins very heavily and sinking rapidly
by the stern The transfer Of the passengers
and crew tool. three hours and ten minutes and
was without the slightest accident. As the
wreck was dangerous obstruction 10 naviga-
ton we decided 10 set her fire, which was
done The position Of the wreck was then lati-
tude 4919 north. longitude 1917 west. on
hoard the St Louis we were warmly received.
and the captain and his office-s did everything
possible for our comfort. We take this oppor-
tunity to express our utmost gratitude, also. in
the name Of the passengers Of the Neendam.'
RESULTS OF THE DEADLY BLOW.
This brief. businesslike statement gives little
idea Of the awful suddenness Of the deadly
blow that the derelict struck her sister the
Veendam: Of the confusion and terror that fol-
lowed: Of the hours Of frantic labor at the
pumps. with the water gaining steadily through
the breaches in the watertight compartments. Of
the hundred rockets that flashed into the sky
in vain before the lights Of the St Louis rose
above the eastern horizon. Of the arrival Of the
- Touis's boats with their brave officers and
r,en. the SLOW rescue Of imperilled people. first
the children. then the women, then the men
u
s,encer himself. who dropped into the last boat
after setting the torch to his steamer, lest she
TOO ebould bv any chance become derect
7, u.os AZ 5.17 o'clock last Sunday afternoon
that tho veendam. when running ct full speed
.~,,cl, soroa heavy obstruction beneath the
a,or Tho blow was struck at the stern Of
tho vessel It carried away her propeller, and
great holes were torn m hey bottom, although
{, ;s not known whether these We're made by
striking the derelict or by the broken propeller
shaft as II whrled about before the engines
could be reversed Three Of the eight water
.,ehf bulkheads were flooded and as soon as
tho sbin's headway could be checked Captain
e.orger made an investigation to ascertain the
extent Of the damage. He found a state Of
things that was anything but encouraging.
A,readv there were several feet OF water
=. .ho hold and more was rushing in
through the great holes in tine vessels bot
tom The pumps We're at once SET TO work and
&C the water continued to gain, many Of the
steerage passengers were set TO Work with the
,ord ,rr,ps CAPTAIN Stenger at once ordered
siqnaIs ~ distress IT, be set and as soon as 1t
grow darl, he oegan the firing Of rockets This
,.,s continued az short intervals Fortunately
{, y,as beautiful moonlight night, and the
taavv sea had gone down considerably But
for all that the situation Of the Neendam grew
,,ore and more desperate. Almost all the dam
ace was done aft and tine stern of the vessel
,,r,dual, sank lower and lower. while the bow
began To rise from the water.
THE BEST or DISCIPLINE
CAPTAIN stenger was able TO maintain the
hos, Of discipline both among the crew and the
rassengers. and al no time was there anything
esarohllnc a panic aboard the fast-sinking
chin Among the stcerage passengers there was
Great excitement. however. As one OF them said
Yesterday afternoon at the Barge Office: Every
bodv rrays to his God. because everybody Is