The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-18

London, October 1.-THE Atlantic
Transport Company's steamer Mohe-
gan, formerly the Cleopatra, OF the
Wilson and Furness-Leyland Line,
which left London for New York yes
terday with fifty passengers and crew
Of $50. is ashore off the Lizard, between
Manacles and the Lowlands
According to a dispatch just received
from Falmouth, out of the 200 persons
constituting the passengers and crew
of the Mohegan only thirty have been
saved. A coast guard message reports
that the passengers are "drOWning like
rats
Another account says: Bodies are
washing ashore, one being q lady lash
ed to a plank, with both legs severed
Particulars as to the disaster are
very difficult to obtain. 1t appears that
when the MOhegan struck, gale was
blowing and the sea was running high.
Life boats put off from the Lizard and
from Falmouth, one returning hlled
with passengers. Several were drown
ed, however, it is reported, on the pas
sage of the life boat to the shore. An
other life boat saved six persons.
The coast at this point is extremely
dangerous and has been the scene of
numerous wrecks. Some years ago
there was movement set on foot to
get light ship placed there, but 1t
failed.
A dispatch from Falmouth says the
Mohegan foundered and was probably
blown ashore by the heavy east wind
soon after her machinery was disabled.
All the Falmouth tugs went out, but
none were able to approach the YES
sci.
Later-A life boat has landed thirty
of the MOhegan'S passengers and re-
turned for more. One lady died after
she had been brought ashore.
Falmouth October 15.-From the
best evidence obtainable at St. keVer-
inc, it appears that the Mohegan fOun-
dered five minutes after she struck the
rocks. She was going at full speed,
struck twice, stopped and rapidly set
tied into the water. AS the captain and
the executive officers of the steamer
went down with her it has been i'm
possible thus far TO ascertain how she
got out of her course, as FalmOuth
light and the coast were visible.
Among the incidents cited is the es-
cape Of the PembertOns. Mr.. Pember-
ton jumped into a life boat his Wlfe
threw him three children and then
1eaped into the boat herself and thus
the whole family was saved.
St. Keverne, October 15.-In the low
er end of the church here lie hfteen
bodies, among them those of four wo-
men and one II year old girl. The bod
les are laid out reverently. The faces
of the victims present a sad sight,
showing how rudely the waves and
rocks played with their features.
The whole village and neighborhood
are alive with excitement and knots Cf
men linger about talking with the res
cued members of the crew.
axcaa6iro1v difficnlt trace
the events of the disaster; but, SO Tar
as can be aScertained, it seems that
the weather was not thick, but that
a strong southeast wind was blowing
and that there was heavy ground
swell on and a strong current running.
Dinner was ready and Captain Grit
tiths was about to proceed to the sa-
loon when a crash made it apparent
that the steamer had gone ashore. The
captain Immediately went ON deck and
the survivors say they saw him on
the bridge doing all that lay in the
power of a brave man to lessen the
disaster.
Authentic particulars of the events
occurring after the ship struck are
not yet obtainable. 1t seems, however
that one of the ships boats containing
several women got away safely, but
was capsized. A number of its Occu-
pants were rescued by lifeboats. An
other boat with sixteen hands was
picked up by a lifeboat and safely got
ashore AMI two or three other persons
managed II reach land.
Out of the 161 persons on board for
ty-five escaped. Up to a late hour to-
night, abon thirty bodies have been
washed ashore at different points. A
ssouthprly wind is now blowing and 1t
is expected that the bodies of many
more victims will be recovered by to-
morrow. An inquest will be held on
Monday.
The rescued persons are receiving the
greatest attention from the inhabi
tants and the utmost kindness is being
shown to the female passengers. Most
of the passengers were Americans re-
turning home.
A. G.. L. Smith, who was among the
saved. says his home is in Oregon. In
a conversation with the representative
of the Associated Press, Mr.. Smith said
this evening that he saw the captain
on the bridge giving orders which were
carried out as far as possible. AS the
ship sank the captain ram along the
side and sprang overheard. The yes
sci lurched and the passengers all
seemed to be thrown into the water at
the same moment. Mr.. Smith. who is
strong swimmer, managed TO get
through the mass of people in the wa
ter and succeeded in evading several
who tried to clutch him as he passed
them. He says he swan for three
hours and half before he reached the
shore.
London. October 15.-The officers and
crew of the Mohegan number ninety
six and of these thirty three are known
to have been saved. The body of r.