Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1898-10-21
WRECK OF THE MOHEGAN
PLUcKY SAILORS AND WOMEN.
Terrible Loss OF Life in the Disaster
In the English Channel-The Men
Died at Their Posts, the Women
Were Brave.

Falmouth, Oct. l6.-Ihe British
steamer Mohegan, Captain Griffiths, be-
longing to the Atlantic Transport Com
pany, has been wrecked in the vicinity
OF The Lizard, between the Manacles and
the lowlands 1t is believed about lab
persons were drowned.
The Michigan left London for New
York Thursday, having on board, so far
as ascertained at present, SO passengers
and a crew of lis. When the steamer
was seen in distress, ifeboats went out
from the 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 is that the machinery of
the Michigan became disabled during the
heavy easterly 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 Mohe-
gan were compelled to return without
being able to approach the vessel, owing
to the severity of the weather. The life
boats landed 81 of the passengers and
crew. One of the former, woman, died
after being brought ashore. There are ru-
mors unconirmed as this dispatch is sent
that another lifeboat succeeded in saving
six more persons.
The survivors of the Mohegan without
the devotion, heroism and GOODNESS dis
played by the officers and crew of the ILL
fated steamer, and declare that all were
instantly at their posts when it was
known that she had struck. Inc perilous
position of the ship was noticed on shore
and a warning rocket was sent up, but it
was too late then to avoid the catas-
trophe, which occurred so suddenly that
there was not sufficient time to get all
the life saving apparatus out of the ship.
The terror of the scene was indescribable
men jumped overheard in an agony OF
despair, and the women passengers hud-
died together and refused to leave the
deck. The officers remained on the bridge
to the last and many instances of sacri-
ice are recorded.
Members of the crew are known to
have stood by and watched the boats
launched and put off when it was appar-
emit that these were the only means by
which their own lives could be saved A
lifeboat with load of 40 passengers on
its way to the shore, passed many who
were battling for their lives in the water,
whom IL was impossible to save.
The villagers, headed by the vicar and
COAST guard, stood on the shore and
cheered the boat. When the lifeboat en-
tered the little cove the fishermen waded
into the sea to help drag the exhausted
survivors to their homes, which had al
ready been prepared for their reception
and the vicar attended the injured.
Then the lifeboat 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 any one from the vessel was con-
cerned, but on its way back to the shore
TO other survivors were taken from the
shore. This was just before daybreak.
The latest list of the rescued shows that
only IL passengers were saved, including
the Pembertons and maid named Regau
or Ryan.
The name r. Kelly appears twice but
both entries evidently refer to the same
person.
Told by a Iife-Saver.
Falmouth, Oct, IA dispatch from
st. Keverne, small town a little to the
eastward of the Manacles. said that Is
bodies from the Mohegan have beer
washed ashore there.
A member of the Port Houstock boat
crew named James gave graphic &C
count of the wreck. He said that as sooT
as the disaster was announced his crew
was summoned to the boat and proceeded
to the Manacles. The night was pitch
dark and no rocks were discernible, but
they heard shouting and pulled toward
the spot from which the voices came. NJ
steamer was in sight, but the lifeboai
came across an overturned lifeboat tt
which four or five men were clinging
They were taken on board the lifeboat
Later the crew heard shouting near the
overturned lifeboat, and with grapnel'
managed to right it. Inside the boat they
found a woman and two or three mel
alive. The woman was so tightly jamme'
in the wreckage that the lifeboat mel
had to cut away the thwarts of the SINAI
boat before they could extricate her
James said the lifeboat passed severa
bodies of men and women and picked vi
a couple of men who were floating OF
wreckage. The ifeboat then met ship
boat having on board % passengers ant
crew all of whom would have beer
speedily lost if not rescued at that time
as the boat was waterlogged and rapid.
drifting towards the rocks. The occu
pants of this boat were taken into TIN
lifeboat.
Pluclky Women.
While the latter was beating homewar'
she picked up Miss Noble of Baltimors
''She is the pluckiest lady l ever saw il
my life," said James. "She shouted, 'Dou'
shove me an oar, give me rope Th
sea then swept her towards us and w
caught her hands and got her safely OF
board in as good state as could be ex
pected. We had 48 persons then in tn
boat, including the crew, and could hea
shouting from the steamer We approach
- 1 - ~ 40 an Staxya ~ fHra y, oIsy.o;nf, 4.