Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-10-20
THE LOjS OF THE MOHEGAN.
Latest Reports Indicate that 1903
Persons Persisted,
ONLY FIFTY WERE RESCUED.
Cause Of Disaster Remains n Profound
seorot--Many Remarkable Stories OF
Rescue Told-Crsw Made tho Most
ChlvalrouS Efforts to Save tho Women.

LONDON, Oct. 1.-THE Atlantic
Transport company issued the follow
ing statement regarding the fate of
passengers and crew of the steamer
Mohegan, which was wrecked last
Friday evening of Lizard, between
the Manaclcs and the Lowlands
"of the flfty-four passengers, eleven
have been saved, ten bodies have been
recovered, and thlrty.ninc arc missing,
"0f the crew and cattlemen, thirty
nine have been saved, fourteen bodies
have been recovered and lfty-one are
missing"
Since this statement was issued, nine
other bodies have been picked up, in.
Guiding two that have been identified
Us those Of passengers,
The reports OF the various CORE.
opondents differ widely as TO the res
cues, recoveries and losses, though
none has been able TO obtain the exact
number Of those saved, or OF the bodies
recovered,
The cause OF the disaster remains
the profoundest mystery. Nobody at
tempts to explain how the Mohegan
got so far north Of her true course
from six to seven miles. There was no
fog nj the time; while the wind on her
port quarter was not sufficient to pre-
vent her answering the helm 1t has
been suggested that her compass was
faulty, but daylight lasted long after
Eddystone light was passed.
The sailors say the fact that the
Lizard light was not visible should
have service to give the alarm,
The masts OF the Mohegan, which
IRE above water, show that her stern
is landward, causing theory that the
navigating officer, on discovering that
he was in the bay, suddenly turned
seward. Two engineers who were
saved declare, however, that they never
slaclsened speed,
Remarkable stories Of rescue con.
tinue.
Robert Barrow, seaman. performed
the feat Of swimming unaided through
the toughest water to Cove Rock point,
distance Of two and one-half miles.
He climbed up the rugged cliff, where
searching party found him early the
next morning, completely exhausted
A. Q, L. Smith Of Oregon, passenger,
surrendered TO q woman wreclrage that
was supporting him, and swan ashore
unaided. The woman was saved. Her
name is reported as Webb, but no such
name appears in tho company's list.
Messrs. Smith and w. j. Blooming
dale say there was the greatest diff
Guilty in launching the boats. Tho
ropes were new and stiff and the
blocks would not work. Four or five
times as many sailors as should have
been necessary struggled to lower
each boat, The lockers were hard to
open.
The crew, in n chivalrous effort to
save the women and children, made
the mistake Of undermining the
boats. There were only four sailors
in one boat, which capsized as soon as
it was launched. Messrs. Smith and
Bloomingdale say that Captain Crit
fits had appeared i'll oil day.
Mr.. Williams, the company's man
ager, says the disaster was utterly in
explicable. The vessel was new and,
he asserts, we'll found, while the cap.
tain and crew were most reliable He
says the crews OF the companys YES
sells have constant boat practice, and
he is indignant at the insinuations re-
garding the condition Of Captain Grif.
fifth.
Up to midnight tifty-one bodies had
been recovered. Some were found
miles away in coves, and it is expected
that more will be washed ashore.
Many persons undoubtedly were
killed by being dashed on the rough
rocks who would have escaped if cast
ashore on an ordinary coast. Some of
the bodies are horribly mangled. A
great deal of jewelry and money has
been found.
As all the navigating officers were
lost, it is doubtful whether light will
ever be thrown on the cause of the dis
aster.
DU Bose ASKS COMPENSATION.