The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-10-04
WRECK OF A STEAMER.
The Scotsman Ran Ashore Off
the Coast of Belle Isle.
Fifteen of the Passengers, All Women and
Children, Were Drowned-Two Hun
dred and Fifty Survivors on the Barren
Rocks For Four Days-Looting and Rob-
berry by the Crew.

Rocks For Four Days-Looting and Rob-
berry by the Crew.
MONTREAL, Sept. 3O.-Two hun
dred and fifty scantily clad, baggage
bereft men, women and children were
on board of the Intercolonial special
which steamed into Bonaventure depot.
They comprised the greater number of
those who sailed from Liverpool on
Sept. IA on board the steamship Scots
man, bound for Montreal, who were
wrecked on the shores of the straits
of Belle Isle at 2:3O on the morning
Of the 21st
1t was not only a tale of shipwreck
that they had to tell, but one of death.
of suffering and pillage. For 10 at
least Of the Scotman's passengers per-
ished; all suffered cruelty from cold
and privation and almost the worst
horror of all, the men who were sup
posed to succor and assist those com
mitted to their care, in the hour of
need, turned on the helpless passen-
gers and with loaded guns and re-
volvers, compelled them to part with
the rev valuableS saved.
Captain Skrmshire and his officers
were noble exceptions. The passen-
gers ascribe to them the role of he
roes. For the honor of the British
merchant marine the crime may not be
ascribed to the men engaged in it,
but to a gang of wharf rats and hang
ers-on, picked up in the docks at Liv-
erpool to replace the usual crew of the
Scotsman, which Joined the seamans
strike on the other side
All of the passengers who per-
ished were women. This is accounted
for by the fact that they were the oc
cupants of the first boat which left
the steamer after she struck, and which
was swe mped before it could get clear
Of the ship.
The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool
on Sept. Il. The passage of the Straits
of Belle Isle was a fair one, though the
green crew in the stoke hole lesser ed
the speed of the ship, so that when she
reached Belle Isle she was about a
days run behind her usual average.
Entering the Straits Of Belle Isle on
Thursday night a dense fog blanketed
down on the vessel and made naviga-
tion a matter of great caution at all
times in the straits a precarious un-
dertaking. The speed of the ship was
reduced and she felt her way in. At
o'clock there was a shock underneath
the keel of the vessel, followed by an
other and another. The passengers
were asleep in their berths, and all
were awakened by the shocks.
On deck the thick bank of fog shut
out the sight of shore. Passengers ran
hither and thither, but Captain Skrim-
shire and his officers went among them,
calming their fears. A superficial ex-
animation OF the ship told the captain
that she would be a total wreck and
that she must be abandoned at once.
A port lifeboat was lowered and in this
many Of the women and children were
placed. Hardly was it clear of the ship
when It capsized, throwing its occu-
pants into the water. Those who per-
ished were in this boat. Some were
saved for the ship had listed to port
and several ladies were washed back
on to the deck. One lady clung to a
rope for two hours before being res
cued. The skin was torn from her
hands.
Meanwhile dlsgraceful scenes were
being enacted on board. Hardly had
the vessel struck before men from the
stoke hole rushed to the cabins, and,
Sitting open valises and bags, with
their knives, took all the valuables they
could lay hands on. Several of them
fired shotguns and tried to force men to
leave the cabins.
1t is said that some of the steerage
passengers Joined the fremen in loot
ing the baggage of the first class pas
sengers. In more than one instance
rings were torn from the fingers Of
fainting and dying women. Captain
Skrlmshire and his officers, busy in
caring for the saftey of the passengers,
had no time to interfere with the van
dals.
Many of the passengers suffered
from the exposure. After much diff
Guilty some overcoats and shawls were
secured for the women, nearly everyone
Of whom had left the ship in their
night clothes.
The passengers were obliged to climb
up a rocky cliff nearly 300 feet high,
before they could find a place large
enough to rest. Here they stayed on
the bare rock for four days and nights.
The first night they had absolutely no
shelter but on Saturday the captain
sent up some tarpauins and blankets.
These were very acceptable, as 1t had
rained hard all night and was most
bitterly cold.
A number of the passengers attempt
ed to reach the lighthouse, which was
eight miles away, as the crow flies. To
do this it was necessary to climb about
1,200 feet higher before a practicable
path could be reached, and there the
difficulties had only begun. The path
is rocky and uneven and is crossed by
hugh cliffs and gullies which were
very deep. Altogether the distance by
land must have been over 16 miles, and
one gentleman took II hours to reach
It, and only rested half an hour on the
way.
1t was not until the 26th that the
Montfort came along and was sig
nailed by the Belle Isle lighthouse. A
number Of the Scotsman's passengers
had walked there from the wreck,
eight miles, as the crow flies but nearly
10 by the road. After bringing these
people on board the ship, she proceeded
to where the Scotsman lay. The wealth
er was bright and clear. AS soon as
practicable the boats were launched
and the work began.
Mazet Meeting Postponed.
NEW YORK, oct. 3.-Owing to the
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