The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-13
STEAMER LEFT TO SINK AT SEA
THE VEENDAM STRIKES A SUB
MERGED WRECK.


Water, and the Pumps Unable to
Keep 1t Out--American Liner st.
LOuis Takes or All on BOard-The
Sinking Vessel Set on Fire.
New York, Feb. 12.-The American Line
steamer St. Louis, Capt. Rabdle, which
arrived to-day from Southampton, re-
ports the loss at sea of the Holland-Amer-
lean line steamer Veendam Capt Stem
ger, from Rotterdam for New York.
The passengers and crew of the Veen-
dam were saved by the st. Louis.
At quarantine Capt Stenger of the Veen-
dam reported as follows: THE Veendam
left Rotterdam Feb. with a general car
60 nine cabin, 11S steerage passengers,
and eighty-fve crew, bound for New York.
Had strong northwest gales and high west
and west-northwest seas. Feb. at 5;17
p m. ships time, being in latitude 1879
north, longitude 20 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 max
ing considerable water. We Immediately
set all the pumps to work, but, notwith-
standing 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, because She
was now sinking rapidly by the stern. At
1870 a. m. we observed the masthead lights
of large steamer bearing about east by
south from us. We made signals of dis
tress, on which the vessel bore down on
us. We then decided, for the safety of
the passengers and crew, to abandon the
ship. The vessel poved to be the st.
Louis, of the American Line, bound from
Southampton for New York. We hailed
her and reported that our ship was sink
ing and that we wished to be taken off.
AT LAB a. m. we commenced to transfer
our passengers and crew, using three boats
of the st. Louis and one of ours. Our
men were kept at the pumps.
''At 1853 o'clock Monday morning every
body had been transferred to the st.
Louis. When the last boat left the Veen-
dam was laboring very heavily and sink
ing rapidly by the stern. The transfer of
the passengers and crew took, notwith-
standing the great difficulties and high
seas running, three hours and ten nin>
utes, and was accomplished without acci.
dent.
LAS the wreck was a dangerous obstruc-
on fire. which was done.
ION board the St. Louis we were warm
ly received and the captain, and his Off
GERS did everything possible for our COM
fort. We take this opportunity to express
our gratitude, also in The name of the pas
sengers of the Veendam" -
The captain of the st. Louis said that
Capt. Stenger and his officers maintained
perfect discipline on their ship, and very
ably assisted in disembarldng the passen-
gers.
The passengers of the St. Louis passed
resolutions commencing the gallant SER
vice, 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 st. Louis was very slow in making
the dock owing to the dense fog to-day A
great crowd awaited her arrival When at
noon the American liner was finally moor
ed, Thomas b. Seagrave, first officer of
the ST. Louis, who commanded the first
boat that was lowered and who, according
TO all accounts is the real hero of the res
cue, told a modest story of the occurrence.
He said:
1T was shortly after 1 o'clock Monday
morning last that the officers on board the
st. Louis first noticed the signals of dis
tress. The rockets were being fired about
five miles TO the starboard of us. Orders
were 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 that
the vessel was in sore distress. 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 set
Ting. A high rolling sea was running at
the time. Our captain ordered the life
boats manned and the work of rescue be-
gan. was given command of the first boat
lowered. We We're then lying off about
quarter of mile from the Veendam AS
our lifeboats drew nearer we could plainly
hear the cries of distress from the fright
ened passengers. AS soon as we got close
by Capt. Stenger told me there was no
hope of saving the vessel and that all
haste should be made in transferring the
passengers to the ST. Louis.
THE first to be taken from the Veendam
was a six-months' old babe. Following this.
about twenty more children were lowered
into our boats. AS soon as this was done
we pushed off and made back to the ST.
Louis, where the youngsters were taken
on board.
1.-The Veendam was laboring in a heavy
sea and the work of rescue was difficult |
The passengers were lowered from the
ships side by means of life slings. The
excitement on board the Veendam was
intense After all The children had been
taken from the Veendam the women were
transferred to the llfe-boats. Next came
the men, and last of all the ships crew.
Many of the women We're so overcome
that they had to be picked up and dropp-
ed overheard into the arms of the life |
boat crew. Capt. Stenger behaved like a
hero.
'oThe second boat to be lowered from
the St. Louis was commanded by George
Beckwith, senior second officer. No soon
er had this boat settled into the sea than
an Immense swell smashed it against the
ship's side and crushed IL: Another boat
was lowered and into this Beckwlth and
his crew were transferred. This boat
took eighteen women from the Veendam.
"Henry Campbell second officer of The
81 Louis, commanded the third boat
which also took eighteen passengers. By
the time the third boat had pushed off
from the Veendam, l had again arrived
with my boat, and in the meantime. two
of the Veendam's lifeboats had been low
cred. The second boat foundered before
any passengers had been taken aboard.
The crew, however, was quickly rescued.
at was 4:53 a. m, when the last boat
pulled up to the side of the st. Louis. lust
three hours and ten minutes after the
first boat had left our ship My boats made |
four trips and transferred ninety passen.
gers Beckwith made two and transfer !
red thirty-six passengers. Campbell made |