New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-13
STRUCK A SUNKEN WRECK.
Continued from nrst page.


starboard and Captain Randle at once changed
the course Of the steamer. 1t was bright moon
light. but there a heavy swell running
LAS soon as we got close enough TO the I'll
fated vessel signals were run IN informing us
that she was in sore distress and that the pas
sengers and crew desired to he taken off as soor
as possible. With the aid Of glasses we discov-
cred that the ship in distress had an IN
rnense hole in her side 10 the rear and
vas slowly but surely settling high
rolling sea running al the time A storm
had been raging & few hours previous but
had Gained considerably Captain handle
AZ once ordered the lifeboats manned snd the
work OF rescue was begun. To me was given
the command Of the first boat to be lowered and
eight men volunteered 10 so with me. We were
then about cne-quarter Of mile from the Veen-
dam.
HEARD THE CRIES OF DISTRESS
AS our lifeboats drew nearer 10 the fas; set
ding vessel could plainly hear the cries OF
distress from the shivering and frightened pas
sengers At times the waves shut them from
view AS soon as could get close enough
Captain Stenger told me that his ship had an
immense hole IN her side and that her shaft had
been torn away. He said that there was no
hope Of saving the vessel and that all haste pos
shle should be made in transferring the pas
sensers on board the 81. Louis. II took us about
seven minutes 10 from the 81. Louis to the
veendam.
The hrst to be taken from aboard the veen-
IAN was a six-months' old baby. Captain Stem
ger lowered me the little one. who was crying
Justify Following this about twenty more chill
dren ranging in aCe from the swaddling clothes
period 70 ten and twelve years We're lowered 70
our boat and after them came five women AS
soon as this was done pushed of and made
hack 70 The s.. Louis
The Veendam was laboring heavily in the
heavy sea and the process Of transferring the
PASSENGERS 10 lfeboats difficult task.
Roth the crew on the Veendam and those in the
iYeboats were compelled TO use the greatest pre-
caution The passengers were lowered from the
sbio's SIDES by means Of life sings. The excite
roent on board the Veendam was intense, but
capta,n s,enger and his crew managed 10 keep
the passengers in good order so that success
~ rescue could be effected After all the chill
s,en had been taken from the Veendam the
women we're transferred to the hfeboats. Next
,ar,A the men and last Of all the ships crew.
v.-,. ~ The women were so overcome by the ex-
,rA,,sr, and nervous dread that they had 10
~ -ic,ed I'd and dropped over the ships sides
INTO the arms q the crew in the Nfeboats.
BEHAVED LIKE HERO
"cantain stenger behaved like a hero under
-. irving circumstances. Not only aid he direct
he efforts q his officers and crew. but per
sonarv he assisted in lowering the children and
mora tirid Of the women while the work OF
rescue was going on.
.rha second boat 70 be lowered from the St
louis was commanded by George Beckwith
senior second officer. No sooner had this boat
settled into the than an immense swell
smashed 4 against the ships side and crushed
II Ike an eggsheU. A third boat was hastily
lowered. and Officer Beckwith and his crew
were soon IN It and off for the Veendam. This
boat took eighteen passengers. all Of whom
were women. The steerase passengers were
sbreking for rescue so loudly that the captain
and the cabin passengers gladly allowed them
10 90 first
Henry Campbell, second officer Of the st.
Louis commanded the third lfeboat- This boat
also took eighteen passengers. BY the time the
third boat had pushed of from the Veendam
had again arrived with my boat. On this trip
took the last Of the women aboard
In the mean time. two Of the Veendam's life
boats had been lowered. and were manned by
the first and second officers and crews from
the Inflated vessel The second boat. however
foundered before any passengers had been
taken aboard The was quickly rescued
and assisted in the work Of rescue upon our
boats Most Of the Veendam's crew were trans
fe-rsd 20 the ST Louis in the Veendam's life
boat
IN ell, three hours and ten minutes was
consumed in transferring all the passengers to
the s. Louis The first boat pushed of from
he ST. Louis az 43 a. m. and at 53 the last
boat on which Captain Stenger was aboard
pulled up 70 the side Of the 81. Louis.
NINETY PASSENGERS IN FOUR TRIPS.
THE boat which 7 commanded made four
trips and transferred ninety passengers Officer
Beckwiths boat made two trips and carried
,hirty-six passengers. Officer Campbells boat
made two trips and also carried thirty-six pas
sengers. The Veendam's boats made three trips
and carried a total Of fifty passengers. The last
man 20 leave the Veendam was Captain Stem
ger and was forced 10 call him several times
before he swung himself over the side Of the
vessel and gave her up after setting fire to her
IN the main saloon.
BY this time the stern Of the Veendam had
settled perceptibly and the bow was almost en-
trs,y OUT Of the water.
ASIDE from the women and children. most Of
the passengers from the Veendam behaved he
rolcauy under the terrible circumstances The
majority q the men were as cool as possible
and gave US little trouble
The sea was running very high during the
entre time consumed in the rescue, but fortu-
rate,y 10 was rolling swell, and. except when
re were close 10 the ships sides, there was only
little actual danger Of being swamped OF
course. oh Of the passengers were drenched to
The skin We protected them as much as was