The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-14
SAVED IN MID-OCEAN.
The Women and Children First-Gallant
Deed on Stormy Seas.

NEW Iofk, February Ia - LILO IaAhoAA-
can line steamer St. Louis, Captain
Randle, arrived today from Southamp-
ton, and reports the loss at sea OF the
Hollapd-American line steamer Veen-
dam, Captain Stenger, from Rotterdam
for New York. There was no loss OF life.
At Quarantine Captain Stenger OF the
Veendam reported as,follows
1.-The Veendam left Rotterdam Feb
ruary 3, with general cargo, nine cabin,
llo steerage passengers and IS crew,
bound for New York. We had strong
northwest gales and high west and west
northwest seas. On February g. at about
5.17 p. M, ships time, being latitude
1895 north, longitude 2001 west the
vessel struck a submerged wreck or wreck
age, which probably tore a hole in the
ships bottom and broke her propeller
shaft. We found that our ship was
making considerable water. We imme-
diately set all pumps to work, but not
withstanding this the water gained on
us. In the meantime all our boats were
made ready, in order, if necessary, to
leave the ship at a moments notice, be-
cause she was sinking rapidly by the
stern. Notwithstanding all efforts made
by crew and passengers at the pumps we
found the water to be steadily gaining on
us. At /. 80 a. m. we observed the mast
head lights Of a large steamer bearing
about east by south from us. We made
signals of distress, on the sighting of
| -. We
then decided for the safety of the passen-
gers and crew to abandon the ship. The
vessel proved to be the St. Louis of the
| American line, bound from Southampton
for New York. We hailed her. and re-
ported that our ship was sinking and
wished to be taken off.
| cat 1.43 a. IN. we commenced to trans
fer our passengers and crew, using three
boats of the st. Louis and one of our ship
Our men were kept at the pumps. At
455 a. m. Monday morning everybody
had been transferred to the ST. Louis.
When the last boat left, the Veendam
was laboring very heavily and sinking
rapidly by the stern. The transfer of the
passengers and crew took (notwithstand-
ing the great difficulties and high sea
running) three hours and ten minutes,
without the slightest accident. AS the
wreck was dangerous obstruction to
navigation, we decided to set her on fire,
which was done.
"The position of the wreck was then
| latitude 40. 10 north, longitude 19.47 west.
On board the St. Louis VIC were warmly
received, and the captain and his 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 Veendam.
The passengers of the st. Louis passed
resolutions commencing the gallant
service and splendid seamanship displayed
BIZ the officers and crew of the st. Louis
in the rescue of the Vesndam's passenger
and crew.
| The Veendam was formerly the White
Star steamer Baltic. She was built al
Belfast, Ireland. She registered 4O3t
gross and 1857 net tons.
The St. Louis was slow in making hel
dock owing to the dense fog which over
hung the river. A great crowd AWAITED
her arrival. When at noon the American
liner was finally moored, Thomas B
Seagrave, first officer of the St. Louis
who commanded the first boat that wa
lowered and who, according to all &C
counts, is the real hero of the rescue. told
a modest story of the occurrence. He said
A HERO'S MODEST STORY.
SIT was shortly after 1 o'clock Monday
morning last that the officers on board
the st. Louis first noticed signals of dis
tress. Rockets were being fired, as neal
as can Judge, about five miles to TIT
starboard of u.s. Orders were at ono
given and the ST. Louis promptly
! changed her course.
"As soon as we got close enough to tn
j Inflated vessel, signals were run up in
forming us that the crew and passenger
desired to be taken off. With the aid o
glasses we discovered that the ship was il
distress and had an immense hole in he
side to the aft and was slowly and stead
lily settling. Our captain at once ordered
the life boats manned and the work 0
| rescue began. WIS given COlfiLuauo v
the first boat to be lowered. Then WI
were laying off about one-quarter of ;
mile from the Veendam. AS our lif
boats drew nearer we could plainly hea
4 the cries of distress from the shiverins
and frightened passengers. AS soon al
we got close by Captain Stenger told nj
there was no hope of saving the vesse
and that all haste should be made il
transferring the passengers to the St
Louis.
''The first to be taken from the Veen
dam was six months old baby. Fol
lowing this about twenty more children
ranging in age up to 10 and IL years
were lowered to our boat. AS soon as thi
was done we pushed off and made back t.
the St. Louis, where the youngsters wer
taken on board.
"The Veendam was laboring in heav.
sea and the work of rescue was difficult
} The passengers were lowered from tn