Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-20
No Explanation as to How
the Mohegan Got SO far
Out of Her Course.
STORY OF THE WRECK.
Reports Diner Widely ns to Rescucs, Re-
coveries and Losses Rescued Passen-
gers Are Being Sheltered at Cot
tages Along tho Shore-3S
Bodies Identified.

icngerS and crew of the steamer None
gan, which was wrecked last Friday even
Ing off the Lizard between the ManuclCs
and the Lowlands:
"Of the passengers II have been saved
10 bodies have been recovered and 80 are
"Of tho crew and cattle men 80 have
been saved, IA bodies have been recovered
and 81 are missing"
Since this statement was issued nine
other bodies have been picked up, includ-
ing two that have been identified as the
bodies of passengers
The reports OF the various correspond
ents differ widely as to the rescucs, re-
coveries and losses though none has been
able to obtain the exact numbers of those
saved or of the bodies recovered
The bodies of the following passengers
have been recovered:
T. w. King, Edna King. Master king,
James Blackey Miss II. NJ. Cowon. Or.
Fallows. Il. Franklin Fuller, Mrs. l.. NJ.
Luke, George Seymour, Miss L. II. War
rener.
The latest advices from Falmouth this
evening say that IS bodies have been iden-
titled, including those of two elderly la
dies. one appears to be u German. She
wore ii watch and u wedding ring, both
engraved "lSU." The other wore a silver
brooch, with the letter ID" in pearls.
This is probably the body of Mrs Charles
Duncan.
Nine of the bodies have been brought
to Falmouth, the others to the village
church at st. Keverine. The rescued pas
senSer5 are being sheltered at cottages
along the shore and the crew at the Sail
ors Home at Falmouth.
Tugs have been cruising in the vicinity
all day despite the very rough weather, in
the hope of picking Up other bodies
The cause of the disaster remains the
profoundest mystery Nobody attempts to
explain how the Mohegdn got so far north
of her true Course-from six to seven
miles.
There was no fog at the time; while
the wind on her port quarter was not suf-
ticlcnt to prevent her answering the helm.
1t has been suggested that her compass
was faulty, but daylight lasted long af'
ter Eddystonc light was passed.
The sailors say the fact that the Lizard
| light was not visible should have served
to give the alarm.
| The masts of the Mohegan which are
above water show that her stern is land
ward, causing a theory that the navigat-
ing officer on discovering that he was IN
4 the bay suddenly turned steward Two
engineers, who are saved declare, how
ever. that they never slackoned speed
Remarkable stories of rescues continue
Robert Barrow, seaman, performed the
feat of swimming tnlidcd through the
lance of two and one half miles. lie climb
up the ragged cliff, where searching
party found him early the next morning
completely exhausted. Mr.. A. G. l.. Smith
of ore on, pass engcr, surrendered to a
woman in the water wreckagc that was
supporting him and swan ashore unaided
The woman was saved. Her name Is re
ported as Miss Webb hut no such nam,
appears in the company'S list.
Messrs Smith and w. j. Bloomingdal,
say there was the greatest difficulty II
launching the boats, The ropes were new
and stiff and the blocks would not work
Four or five times as many sailors n!
should have been necessary struggled u
lower each boat. The lockers were har,
to open.
The crew. in n chiValrous effort to saw,
the women, made the mistake of under
manning the boats. There were only fou
sailors in one boat, which capsized a.
soon as 1t was launched. Messrs. Smitl
and Roomingdale say that Capt. Grit
tiths had appeared i'll all day.
The death of Mr.. T. w. King, who wa
a newspaper proprietor at Nantucket
Mass. and of his family. including Mrs
King, her mother. Mrs. Weller, and hi
sons. Rufus, aged II. and Anthony, age
7. has caused deep sorrow at Penzance
where the family had a summer cottag
and were very popular
Jos. O'Rourke. MIR. Kings valet, VIII
was saved, says he was on deck when tn
crash came. The lights went out immedl
lately. flushing to the saloon, he hear
Mr. King eShorting his family to kee
cool. ORourke, with seven others, clun
to the rigging until o'clock yesterda
morning. when a life boat took them off
He identified the bodies of the Kings AM
Mrs. Weller and will have them embalm
ed and taken to the United States III ac
cordance with cabled instructions fror
the relatives Of the family at Nantucket
From the best evidence obtainable a
st. Keverinc, 1t appears that the Mohcga
foundered tvc minutes after she Strut
the rocks. She was going ut full speed
struck twice, stopped and rapidly settle
into the water.
As the captain and the executive officer
of the steamer went down with her. II ha
. been impossible, thus far, 20 ascertG
how she got out Of her course. as Ful
mouth light and the cCast were Vsnl,
The general opinion at present Is, now
ever, that the machinery OF the ship lie
came disabled during the heavy casterl
gale which was blowing. and that she bo
, came unmanageablc
A number of tugs which put out fror
this port to the assistance of the Moht
gan were compelled to return without ht
ing able to approach the vessel, owing {
: the severity of tho weather prevailing.
One of the party in the first boat tina
, landed, Mr.. George Maule of New Yorl
, was interviewed. He said Il am a shiI
: per of horses employed by the America
, Transport company. We left London o
Thursday and all went well until o'cloc
Friday evening, when most Of the Dasser
gers We're ut dinner. The steamer Wa
going at full speed and, suddenly, "
heard loud crash. which seemed to dc
note that we had collided with some othe
vessel But when we rushed on deck "
!, found that the steamer was on the rock
. between the Manacles and the Lowlard
. In the vicinity of the Lizard,
Orders were Immediately given to low
er the boats. and the crew of the steamt
, behaved like heroes. Her captain stco
q on the bridge and the greatest order pre-
v vailed among the officers and crew
= THE steamer. however. Immediately b'
q gan to settle by the head Two boat
n were launched. The women were ser
away in the first boat, hut whether the
reached land j do not know,
= Il managed to secure n life belt an
, jumped ovrboard In company with III
, chief officer of the Mohegan, Mr.. Coucl
a He made me take off my coat and snoe
: Soon after that we We're parted.
when ] was leaving the vessel HIT
girl begged piteously that / try 10 say
. her, as she did not want to die vet. BIZ
? ] was powerless to help her.
;. Eventually / caught hold of plan
y which was floating on the water. and
chung to It for ~ hours. At the expire
, tipn OF that time ! was picked up by
!, tug. ] could not have lasted much loni
er,
~ cannot explain how the accident @,
CURED, The whole matter Is not Ver
clear to me-"
. All the Survivors are In a pitable col
a,xA 49, hax, hx on ul