The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-17

to Falmouth, the others to the village
church at St. Keverine. The rescued
passengers are being sheltered at cot
tages along the shore, and the crew at
the Sailors home, at Falmouth
Tugs have been cruising in the vicin-
ity despite very rough weather, IN hope
of picking up other bodies.
The cause of the disaster remains the
profOundest mystery. Nobody attempts
to explain how the Mohegan 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 quar-
ter was not sufficient to prevent her an
swering the helm. It has been suggest
ed that her compass was fauIty; out
daylight lasted long after Eddystone
light was passed.
The sailors say the fact that the Liz
ard light was not visible should nave
served to give the alarm
The masts of the Michigan, which are
above water. show that her stern IS
landward, causing theory that the
he was in the bay, suddenly turned sea-
ward Two engineers who were saved
declare however, that they never
slackened speed.
Robert Barrow, a seaman, performed
the feat of swimming unaided through
the toughest water to Cove Rock point
a distance of two and one-half miles,
He climbed up the rugged cliff, where
a searching party found him early the
next morning, completely exhausted. A
c. L. Smith of Oregon, a passenger, sur
was supporting him, and swan ashore
unaided. The woman was saved. Her
name is reported as Miss webb, but no
such name appears in the company
Messrs. Smith and W. J. Blooming
dale say there was the greatest difficult
ty in launching the boats. The ropes
We're new and stiff, and the blocks
would not work. Four or five times as
many sailors as should have been neces-
sary struggled to lower each boat. The
gr.r.I ora Ear n
The crew, in a chiValrOus effort to
save the women, made the mistake of
understanding the boats. There were
only four sailors in one boat, which cap
sized as soon as it was launched. Messrs.
Smith and BlOOmingdale say that Cap
tain Griffiths had appeared i'll all day
The death of Mr.. T. w. King, who
was a newspaper proprietor at Nam
tucket, Mass, and of his family, in
Guiding Mrs. King, her mother, Mrs.
Weller, and his sons, Rufus, aged II
years. and Anthony, aged z years, has
caused deep sorrow at PenZance, where
the family had a summer cottage and
We're very popular.
Joseph O'Rorke, Kingsva1e, who was
saved, says he was on deck when the
crash came The lights went out i'm
mediately- Rushing to the saloon, he
heard Mr.. King eXhOrting his family to
keep cool. O'ROrke. with seven others,
chung to the rigging until o'clock Sat
urday morning, when HfebOat took
him off He identified the bodies of the
Kings and Mrs Weller, and will have
them embalrned and taken to the United
States. in accordance with cabled in
structiOnS from the relatives of the fam
lily at Nantucket.
Falmouth, Oct. 17.-John H Hyslop,
the New York yachtsman who was saw
ed in the course of an interview, con-
demned the double railing around the
ships bows, which, he said. impeded the
launching. The masthead light in his
opinion, should have been an oil instead
of an electric lamp, as in that event it
would not have been extinguiShed, but
would have furnished a beacon to guide
the lifeboats.
Mr.. Williams, the company's manager,
says the disaster is utterly inexplicable.
The vessel was new and, he asserts, well
found while the captain and crew were
most reliable He says the crews of
the company's vessel have constant
boat practice; and he is indignant at
the tnsinuations regarding the condition
of Captain Griffiths.
Up to midnight ffty-one bodies had
been recovered. Some were found miles
away, in ccves; and it is expected that
more viii be washed ashore.
Many persons undoubtedly were kill
ed by being dashed on the rocks who
would have escaped if cast ashore on
are horribly mangled. A great deal of
AS all the navigating officers were
lost, it is doubtful whether light will
ever be thrown on the cause of the dis
aster.
All the flags ashore and on the boats
a holt