The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13
All the 2l2 Souls on Board
Were Saved.
RESCUED BY ST. LOUIS
WAS SINKING WHEN AMERICAN
LINER WAS SIGHTED.
IN THE GALES GRASP AT MIDNIGHT

Heroic Conduct of Capt. Stenger, Of tee Veen-
dam, and of the Three Rescuing Officers on
The ST. Louis.-The Veendam Encountered
High Seas and Strorg Gales Three Days
Out from Rotterdam, and Struck Sub.
merged Wreck Which Tore a Hole in Her
Bottom. Nine First. Class and il8 Steerage
Passengers -veendam Was the Baltic of the
White Star Line Captain Stengtr the Last
to Leave, and he Set the Ship Afre.
New York. Feb. 12-The American
Line steamer st. Louis, Captain Randle,
which arrived today from Southampton,
reports the loss at sea of the Holland
America line steamer Veemdam, Cap
tain Stenger. from Rotterdam for New
York. The passengers and crew of the
Veendam were saved by the st. Louis.
At quarantine. Captain Stenger, of the
Veendam. reported as follows:
1.-THE Veendam left Rotterdam Feb
ruary 3, with a general cargo, nine cabin,
11S steerage passengers and 80 of the
crew, bound for New York. Had strong
northwest gales and high w. Il w. \.
w. seas. On February q, at about 5:11
o'clock D. m., ships time. being in lati-
tnde 1895 N, longitude 20.1 n W., the
steamer struck a submerged wreck or
wreckagp which probably tore Il hole in
the ships bottom and broke her propel-
Ter shaft We found that our ship was
making considerable water. We imme
diateiy set all pumps to work, but not
withstanding this the water gained on
lIS. In the meantime all our boats Were
made ready in order, if necessary, to
leave tile ship at a moments notice, be-
cause she was now sinking rapidly at the
stern. At 80 o'clock n. m, we 0bserv-
ed the mast head lights Of a large
steamer bearing about east by south
from ls. We made signals of distress,
on which the vessel bore down on us.
We then decided, for the safety of the
passengers and crew, 10 abandon the
ship. The vessel proved 10 he the st.
Louis, of the American Line, bound
from Southampton for New York. We
hailed her and reported that our ship
was sinking, and that we wished 10 be
taken off At 1:43 O'clock a. m, we
commenced TO transfer our passengers
and crew. using three boats Of the ST.
Louis, and one of our ships. Our men
were kept at tEe pumps.
AT -, o'clock n. m, Monday morn
ing everybody had been transferred TO
81 n, IaSs y iaf
the Neendam was labofing very heavily
and sinking rapidly. The transfer of the
passengers and crew took, n0twithstand-
ing the great difficulties and high sea
running. three hours and ten minutes,
and was accomplished without the
slightest accident.
'.As the wreck was dangerous OBJ
strnction to navigation, we decided to
set her on fire. which was done.
''rhe position OF the wreck was then
latitude 1919 N, longitude 19.47 w.
''On board the St Louis we were
warmly received, and the cantain and
his officers did every thing possible for
our comfort. We take this opportunity
TO express our utmost gratitude, also
in the name of the passengers of the
Eeendam.'
The passengers of the st. Louis pass
cd resolutions commenting the gallant
service and splendid seamanShip dis
played by the officers and crew of the
ST Iouis in the rescue OF the Veendam's
passengers and crew.
The first-class passengers on the Neen-
dam were:
Mary Ealinger, United States.
r. 4. Kapteies, Holland.
Victor Gallowitz. Hungary.
Mrs. Victor Gallowitz, Hungary.
The Second-class passengers were:
Gerard Kromsel, Holland.
Bertha Won Fekete, Hungary.
Frank Lohman, United States.
Fannie Golub, United States.
Wilhelm Ruling, Germany.
Captain Stenger, who was in command
of the Veendam has an excellent record
and is comparatively a young man. In
January, 1894, while in command of the
Amsterdam, Captain SStenger lost his
fiIst officer and six seamen who put
off in a small boat during terrific wealth
or 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
the crew of the Mary Wells, and is now
in possession of a handsome gold watch
presented to him lly President Cleve-
land on behalf Of the American peopIe
for his gallant action on that occasion
The st. Louis was very slow in MAX
ing her dock, owing TO the dense fog
which Oyerhung the river to-day. A
great crowd awaited her arrival. When
at noon the American Liner was finally
m0Ored, ThOs. Il. Segraye, first officer
Of the st. Louis, who commanded the