The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-13
'PER|LS ON OCEAN WAVE
SIeaIleT YeeHdQn Lost by Striking
on d Submerged Wreck,
STOVE A GREAT Big HOLE IN Her BOTTOM
Two Hundred nnd Twelve Pcrsons
saved from II Watery Grave by the
Timely Assistance OF tho st. Louis
-Fir"s on'cer ssEr"ve tho Hero of
the Occasion.
STOVE A GREAT Big HOLE IN Her BOTTOM
New York, Feb. -, 1898.

New York, Feb. u, 1898.
The American Line steamer St
Louis, Captain Randle, which arrived
to-day from Southampton, reports the
loss at sea of the Holland-American
Line steamer Vecndam, Captain STEM
ger, from Rotterdam for New York.
The passengers and crew Of the Yeen-
dam were saved by the ST. Louis.
AT Quarantine Captain Stenger, of
the Veendam, reports as follows:
The Veendam left Rotterdam Feb
ruary 3d. with a general cargo, nine
cabin. one hundred and eighteen steer
age passengers and eighty-nve crew,
bound for New York. Had strong
northwest gales and high west and
northwest seas. February 9th at about
5:l7 p. m. ships time. being in lati-
tude 49.35 N, longitude 20.01 W., the
steamer struck n submerged wreck or
wreckage, which probably tore a hole
III The ships bottom and broke her
propeller shaft. We found that our
snip was making considerable water.
we Immediately set all pumps to work,
'put Notwithstanding the water gained
on us. In the meantime all our boats
were made ready in order if necessary.
TO leave the ship at moments no.
tice. because she was now sinking rap
idly at the stern. AT 1870 a m we
observed the mast head lights OF q
large steamer bearing about east by
south from us We made signals of
distress. on which the vessel bore
(. down on us. We then decided, for
the safety of passengers and crew, to
abandon the ship. The vessel proved
to be the st. Louis, of the American
Line, bound from Southampton to New
York. We hailed her and reported
that our ship was sinking and that
we wished to be taken off. at 1:43 n.
m. we commenced to transfer our pas
sengers and crew, using three boats Of
the st. Louis and one of ours. Our
men were kept at the pumps.
Al 4:53 n. III. Monday morning
everybody had been transferred to the
st. Louis. When the last boat left
the veendam she was lahorfng very
heavily and sinking rapidly The
transfer of the passengers and crceN
took notwithstandin the great diff
cuities and high sea running. three
hours and ten minutes, and was ac-
complished without the slightest acci-
dent.
"As the wreck was dangerous OBJ
struction to navigation, we decided to
set her on fire. which was done. The
position of the wreck was then lati-
tudc 49.15 N. longitude 1947 w.
on board the st. Louis we were
warmly received and the captain and
his officers did everything possible for
our comfort. We take this opportu-
nifty to express our utmost gratitude,
also In the name of the passengers OF
the Fcendam."
The passengers OF the Veendam
passed resolutions commencing the gal
liant service and splendid seamanship
diSplayed by the officers and crew of
the St. Louis in the rescue of the
Veendam's passengers and crew
captain StenEer, who was In COM
mand of the Vccndam, has an excel
lent record and Is comparatively a
young man. In January. 1894, while i'm
command Of the Amsterdam CAPTAIN
Stenger lost his first officer and six
!, seamen who put off in n small boat
during terrific weather to attempt to
rescue the crew of the American
sinking condition. Captain Stenger
made further efforts to rescue the crew
of the Mary Wells, and Is now I'm nos
session OF handsome watch present
cd to him by President Cleveland on
behalf of the American people for his
gallant action on that occasion.
The st. Louis was very slow in MAX
Ing her dock, owing to the dense fog
which overhung the river to-day. a
great crowd awaited her arrival,
When, at noon. the American Liner
was finally moorcd, Thomas b. Segrave,
first officer of the St. Louis, who COM
manded the first boat that was lowered
and who, according to all accounts, is
the real hero Of the rescue. told a
modest story of the occurrence. He
said:
1T was shortly after O'Clock Mon
day morning last that the officers on
board the st. Louis first noticed the
signals of distress so familiar to, and
yet SO dreaded, by seamen. The rock
cts were being fired, as near as I can
judge, about i've miles to tho starboard
of us. Orders We're at once given and
+ the st. Louis promptly changed her
course.
AS soon as we got close enough to
the Inflated vessel. signals were run up
informing us that the vessel was In
sore distress and that the passengers
and crew desired to be taken off us
soon as possible. With the aid of
glasses we discovered that the ship In
distress had an immense hole in her
side to the aft and was slowly but
steadily settling. A high rolling sea
was running at the time. A storm
had been raging few hours pre-
viously, but the seq had calmed con-
siderably. Our captain Mt once or
dered the life boats manned and the
work Of rescue began. I was given
command Of the first boat to be low
cred. We were then lying off about