The Mena star. (Mena, Ark.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-19
DISASTER AT SEA.
Over 100 People Find Watery
Graves After a Steamship Wreck.
The British Liner Mohegan. Bound for New
York, Goes Down and a Frightfui Loss
OF Life Results-Latcst Report says
the Cause May Never He Known.

Falmouth. Eng, Oct. 16.-The British
steamer Mohegan, Capt Grifiths, be-
longing to the Atlantic Transport
company, has been wrecked in the
vicinity of the Lizard, between the
Manacles and the lowlands. 1t is be-
lieved that about 143 persons of her
passengers and crew were drowned.
Only 81 survivors have reached the
shore. The Mohegan was formerly
the Cleopatra of the Wilson and
Furness- Leyland line. She left London
for New York on Thursday, having on
board, SO far as can be ascertained at
present, SO passengers and crew of
l15 officers and men.
When the steamer was seen to be in
distress, lifeboats put off from the
shore and every effort possible was
made to save the passengers. The
coast at this point is extre mely dan
gerous and has been the scene of nu-
merous wrecks The general opinion
at present is that the machinery of the
Mohegan became disabled dkring the
heavy easterly gale which was blow
ing and that she ran ashore and foun-
dered.
1t was learned that the Mohegan
sank about 20 minutes after she ran on
the rocks. The local seamen who have
been questioned upon the subject APP
pear to be unable to explain how the
Mohegan got into such position.
One of the passengers rescued by the
Port Houstoclx lifeboat says that all
the passengers were dining when the
catastrophe occurred, though some of
the children, and those who were sea-
sick, were in their hunks. Suddenly
the Mohegan struck with grating
noise. AT first the engineers thought
this was caused by coal falling down
in the bunkers, but a second shock
followed and the vessel began to set
tie. coastguardsman who was on
duty at Coveract says he noticed the
Mohegan was pursuing dangerous
course.
Latest Estimate of Losses.
London, Oct. 17.-The Atlantic
Transport company issued the follow
ing statement yesterday evening re-
garding the fate of the steamer Mohe-
evening off the Lizard, between the
Manacles and the Lowlands: "Of the
passengers, IL have been saved, 10
bodies have been recovered and 33 are
missing. OF the crew and cattlemen,
SO have been saved, IA bodies have been
recovered and 81 are missing" Since
this statement was issued Is other
bodies have been picked up, including
two that have been identified as pas
sengers. The reports of the different
correspondents differ widely as to the
rescues, recoveries and losses, though
none has been able to obtain the exact
number of those saved or the bodies
recovered.
The latest advices from Falmouth
yesterday evening say that SO bodies
have been identified, mostly the bodies
of sailors Four as yet unidentified.
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 at the time, while the wind on
her port quarter was not su efficient to
prevent her answering her helm. 1t
has been suggested that her compass
was faulty, but daylight lasted long
after Eddystone light was passed. The
sailors say that the fact that the Liz
ard light was not visible should have
served to give the alarm. AS all the
navigating officers were lost it is
doubtful whether light will ever be
thrown on the cause of the disaster.