The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-13
THRILLING RESCUE AT SEA.
The Yesndam'S IuIal FT(iS t Of 2i2
Persons Successfully Iak3n Oh.
HEROIC WORKOP Isl. Leu s. OFFICERS
First oGicer Thomas T.. segravc. the Hero
ofthe Occasion, Gives Graphic story
tho work OF Rescue--Ihe Neen-
dam wrecked on Derciect'

which arrived to-day from southampton,
reports the loss at sea OF the Holland
American Line Steamer Veendam, Cap
tain stenger, from Rotterdam for New
York.
The passengers and crew Of the Veen-
dam we're saved by the ST. Louis.
At Quarantine. Captain stengeYof the
Veendam. reported as follows:
The Veendam LEFT Rotterdam February
Sd with a general cargo. nine cabin, lis
stoerage passengers and eighty-tye
crew, Dound Tor Ncw y ork Had strong
northwest gales and high west and north
wind and seas February 9th. at about
5a7 T.. NJ. ships time, being in latitude
1885 north, longitude 20.vl west. the
steamer struck a submerged wreck or
wrcckagc which probably tore a hole IN
the ships bottom and broke her propeller
shaft. We found that our ship was max
ing considerable water We Immediately
set all pumps to work. but nothwith-
standing this the water gained on us.
In the meantime all our boats were made
ready I'm order. If necessary % leave the
ship at a moments notice. because she
was now sinking rapidly at the stern.
ST. LOUIS SIGHTED.
At l:5O A. NJ. We observed the mast
head lights of q large steamer bearing
about cast by south from us. We then
decided FOR the safety OF the passengers
and crew. To abandon the ship. Tho ves-
sci proved TO be the ST. Louis. OF the
American Line. hound from southampton
for New York We hailed her and re-
ported that our ship was sinking and
that we Wfchpd 10 he IA ken off
AT 1.43 A. NJ we commenced TO trans
fer our passengers ard crew. using three
boats OF the ST. Louis and one Of our
ships. our men were kept az the pumps.
Al 4:53 A. NJ. Monday morning. every
body had been transferred 10 the st.
Louis. when the last boat left the Veen-
dam was labOring very heavily and sink
ing rapidly.
THE transfer Of the passengers and
crow took, Notwithstanding the great
difficulties and high sea running. three
hours and ten minutes and was accom-
plished without the slightest accident.
As the wreck was n dangerous obstruc-
ton TO navigation. we decided TO set her
on FIRE. which was DONE
"The position of the wreck was then
Lat 1918 n; Long. 1917 W.
"On board the ST. Louis We were warm
officers did everything possible for our
comfort. We take this opportunity to
express our utmost gratitude. also in
the name OF the passengers OF the Veen-
dam"
The passengers Of tho ST. Louis COM
mend the gallant spirit and splendid
seamanshlp displayed by the officers and
crew OF the St. Louis In the rescue Of the
Neendam's passengers and crew.
THE PASSENGERS
The frst-class passengers on the Veen-
dam were Mary Ealinger. United
States; y. T.. Kapties. Holland; Victor
Gallowitz, Hungary; Mrs. Victor Gallo
witt. Hungary.
The second-lass passengers were: &C.
raTd Kromsel, Holland: Bertha Won Fe-
kete. Hungary; Frank Lohman, United
States; Fannie Golub. United States; VIII
helm Ruins. Germany.
Captain Stenser who was in COM
mand Of the Veendam. has an excellent
record, and IS comparatively a young
man. in January, 1894, while IN COM
mand of the Amsterdam. Captain Stoa-
ger lost his first officer and six seamen,
who put OFF in a small boat during ter
rife weather TO attempt to rescue the
crew OF the American schooner. Mary
Wells, which was IN a sinking condition.
Captain Stenger made further efforts TO
rescue tho crew OF the Mary Wells. and
IS now in possession OF q handsome gold
watch. presented 10 him by President
Cleveland on behalf OF the American
people, for his gallant action on that oc-
CasiOn.
The 81. Louis was very slow in maxi
ing her dock owing 10 the dense FOG
which overhung tho river to-day. a
orpqt oroufl auroffa1 Irs. o4s.ftsoI
at noon the American liner was finally
moored. Thomas =. segrave. first officer
of the St. Louis, who commanded the /
first boat that was lowered. and who. ac- /
cording to all accounts is the real hero I
OF the rescue. told modest story Of the |
occurrence. He said:
OFFICER SECRAVE'S STORY.
1T was shortly after ] O'Clock Monday 1
morning last that the officers on board I
the 81. Louis first noticed the signals Of /
distress so familiar 10 and yet so dread /.
ID by seamen. The rockets were being I.
fred as near as / can judge about five I
miles 10 the starboard of u.s. orders ,
%cr3 at once given and the ST. Louis I
promptly changed her course.
"As soon as we got close enough 10 the 7.
ll-fated vessel. signals were run up in 4
forming MS that the vessel was in sore /
distress and that the passengers and /
crew desired TO be taken of as soon rs \
possible. With the aid of glasses we dis /
covered that the ship in distress had an |
immense hole in her side 90 the aft and 4
was slowly but steadily settling. high /
rolling sea was running at the time, /
4 storm had been raging previously. but 4
he sea was calming considerably our /
'aptain ordered the life boats manned and I
he work OF rescue began. l Was given /
command OF the first boat 10 be lowered. /
We were then lying or about q quarter
II a mile from tha Neendam. As our
ife-boats drew nearer We could plainly /
loar the cries of distress from the shiy-
oring and frightened passengers As
soon as We got close by Captain Stengcr 1
old me there was no hope Of saving the /
vessel and that all haste should be made
n transferring the passengers to the st.
louis.
BABIES FIRST.
''rhe first 10 be taken from the Veen-
lam was six months Old baby. Fol-
owing this about twenty more children,
angling in age from the swadding
ilothes period TO ten and twelve years i
we're lowered 20 our boat. AS soon as /
his was done we pushed or and made
,ack 20 the 81. Louis where the young
ters were taken on board. The Veen-
lam WAS laboring In n heavy sea and the
work Of rescue was difficult. The pas
longers were lowered from the ships
ides by means OF liie-slings. The cx-
.ltomont on board the Vesndam was in
ense. but Captain Stenger and his crew
20 keep the passengers in some
iind OF discipline
after all the children had been taken
rom the Veendam the women were
transferred 10 the life-boats. Next came
he men and last OF all the shiDs' crew.
Many OF the women were so over
come that they had 10 be picked up and
dropDed overheard into the arm - - 4