Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-02-16
THE VEENDAM SUNK.
Steamer St. Louis Brings in the
Grew and Passenger Of
Holland Liner.

| New York, Feb. 1.-THE American line
steamer st. Louis, Capt. Randle which
arrived today from Southampton, reports
the loss at sea of the Holland-American
line steamer Veendam, Capt. Singer,
from Rotterdam for New York. The pas
sengerS and crew Of the Veendam were
saved by the ST. Louis
At quarantine Capt. Singer of the
| Veendam reported as follows: ''The
! Neendam left Rotterdam February , with
a general cargo, nine cabin, eighteen
| Storage passengers and eighty-five crew,
! bound for New York; had strong north
| west gales and high west and west-north-
west seas. February about J:17 p. III.
ships time, being in latitude 1875 north,
longitude 2O.01 west, the steamer struck a
| submerged wreck or Wreckage which
probably tore a hole in the ships bottom
and broke her propeller shaft. We found
| that our ship was making considerable
water. We Immediately set all pumps
at work, but notwithstanding this the wa
ter gained on us. In the meantime all
our boats were made ready in order, if
necessary, to leave the ship at a moments
notice, because she was now sinking rap
| idly by the stern.
| Distress Signals Shown.
At 1:30 a. m. we observed the mast
head lights of large steamer bearing
| signals of distress, on which the vessel
| bore down on us. We then decided for
safety of the passengers 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 reported that our
ship was sinking and that we wished to
be taken off. At 1:4S a. N. we COM
menced TO transfer our passengers and
crew, using three boats of the st. Louis
and one or ours. Our men were kept at
the pumps.
AT 4:53 a. m. Monday morning every
body had been transferred to the st.
Louis. When the boat left the Veen-
dam was labOring very heavily and sink
ing rapidly by the stern. The transfer
OF the passengers and crew took place.
Notwithstanding the great difficulties and
high seas running, in three hours and ten
minutes, and was accomplished without
the slightest accident.
set the Wreck on Fire.
AS the wreck was dangerous obstruc-
ton to navigation, we decided to set her
on fire, which was done. The position Of
the wreck was then latitude 1919 north,
longitude 1917 west.
lon board the st. Louis we were warm
ly received; the captain and his officers
dc everything possible for our comfort.
We take this opportunity to express our
utmost gratitude also in the name of the
passengers of thef Veendam."
The captain of the St Louis reports as
follows: THE St. Louis left Southamp-
ton February 5, at 1924 a. H., with 221
cabin and 1873 Storage passengers. She
experienced west and northwest winds
and heavy seas until the morning of the
18th, when at 1:22 a. IN. she sighted Il
steamer bearing west half-south, seven
miles distant, sending up distress rockets.
The St. Louis bore down and stopped
l. 1
ported her to be the steamer Neendam Of
the Holland-American line. from Rotter-
dam for New York, in a sinking condition.
The captain asked to be taken off, as the
Veendam was sinking rapidly.
Not Person Injured.
eve Immediately responded to his
wishes by sending three of our lifeboats
the first in charge Of Mr.. Segrave Of the
st. Louis, the second in charge of Mr..
BeckWith, senior second officer, which
made two trips, and the third in charge
of Mr.. Campbell, extra second officer,
which made two trips, the Veendam using
one of her boats. In three hours and ten
minutes, or at 4:53 a. n. they had sue
ceeded in transferring all the passengers
and crew, PIP in all, safely on board the
ST. Louis without the slightest accident
or injury to any of them. Our boats were
somewhat damaged by coming in contact
with the ships side as the steamers were
H.
we proceeded on our course, leaving the
Veendam sinking low in the sea aft and
cast her boat adrift near her. We dis
tributed the passengers and crew amongst
our own according to class, and made
them as comfortable as possible. The
position of the Veendam was latitude
1919. longitude 1917.
1--WE take pleasure in saying that Capt.
Singer and his officers maintained per-
feet discipline on their ship and very ably
assisted us in disembarking the passen-
gers"
The passengers Of the st. Louis passed
resolutions commencing the gallant serv-
ice and splendid seamanship displayed
by the officers and crew of the st. Louis
in the rescue of the Veendam's passen-
gers and crew.
The Veendam was formerly the White
Star steamer Baltic. She was built at
Belfast, Ireland, by Harland & Wolff
in 1871. She was a four masted, barken-
tine-rigged screw steamer. She registered
4O36 gross tons and 2767 net tons, and
was 41S feet long, Al feet beam and 319
feet deep.