The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-31
EASTER HORROR.
Excursion Steamer Wrecked
On the Dreaded Cas-
quet Rocks.
SEVENTY LIVES LOST
The Stella Caught In a Fog
Bravery of Her Captain
Women Saved.
rpr cahle 10 rhe Associated Press. !

TBy Gable to The Associated Press
SOUTHAMPTON, March 81, 1S99-The
passenger steamer Stella, plying between
this port and the Channel Islands, crash
ed upon the dreaded Casquet Rocks, near
the Island of -Aldernay, yes terda fer-
noon. in a dense fog, and foundered in ten
minutes, her boilers exploding with a
tremendous report as she went down.
In spite of this( it is said, there was no
manic on board or her and it is believed
that many of the women on board as
we'll as otherpassengers and members Oh
the crew have been saved.
The coasting steamer Lynx, which
brought the news of the disaster here
picked up four boats and forty persons
belonging to the Stella.
--latest advices seem to show that about
seventy persons were drowned. The acc
ond officer of the steamer, who was
among those rescued says that col
lapsible boat was launched full OF peo-
pie. but he thinks, she struck on the
rocks, owing to the fog.
Another steamer has picked up boat
containing fifty-five persons, including
twenty women, who escaped from the
NNNe- ->~---~-
ed here. Three boats, including the col
lapsible one are still missing.
The Stella, which belongs to the London
and Southwestern Railway Company, ieit
Southampton at noon yesterday, convey
ing the first daylight excursion OIL the sea-
son to the Channel Islands. There were
about 1S5 passengers on board ana tse
crew numbered 50 men. The weather was
foeev but all went well until the after
noon when the fog became more dense
Az four o'clock the Casquet Rocks SUD
denly loomed up through the fogbank ana
the steamer almost Immediately after
wards struck amidshlps Inc Saptaim ssl,,;,,ir
seeing that the Stella was fast SINKING
ordered the lifeboats to be launcheu. Hls
instructions were carried OUT Wltn tue
utmost celerity and the women ana Si chli-
dren were embarked in the boats. IneH
fhe Captain ordered the men to look after
a survivor states that he and twenty
five others put off from the Stella N q
small boat. The sea was calm put tnefe
was a big swirl around the ROCKS Wneh
fhis boat was short distance away from
the wreck the boilers OF the Steiia OURS,
with a terrific explosion ana the vesse' @
disappeared stern foremost in. the sea.
The last thing the survivor saw was
the figure of the Captain OF the Steiia
standing calmly on the bridge. and giving
his las torders;; The captain per,sheS peefieS
caused by the sinking steamer being very
| great indeed.
Continuing, the survivor referred te
| said:-
.sThe seuction was SO tremendous tna'
| we thought our boat would be engulfed
| / saw five boats and the coilapsible boat
| besides our boat leave the wreck They
/ contained altogether between elgHty alie
| one hundred persons. Five OF the poats
! were soon lost to view put we tooh
/ hoat filed with women in tow and tnt
| occupants of our boat took the oars II
| furn and rowed all night long until mos
Of us dropped asleep, thoroughly ex
/ hausted- -
IN the morning hut the Great Western
! Railway Companys steamer Lynx, iron
/ Weymouth. had meanwhile hove in slght
1 She bore down on us and took us all o.
board. She eventually landed US a
The Great Western Railroad Company
/ Steamer Vera from Southampton, picke'
| IN forty others of the Survivors ant
Handed them at Giernsey
/ The disaster caused intense excitemen
\ In the island of Guernsey and here, Ther
4 were narrowing scenes at the offices Q
/ the London and Southwestern Railway q
j both places. Many Guernsey families los
1 one or more relatives
and wives are asking after theie hus
/ hanas. parents are seeking news of los
Iehildren and children are making in
/ louiries for missing parents. All tn
i fls eS are half-masted al St Peter-le-Port
Tn 10 noon today l02 passengers la'
! been accounted for, including Mr. J. Par
i ton and his wife. Mr.. Parton is the man
4 ager Of the Western London office of tn
i American Line.
The steamers Vera and Honfieur ar
cruising IN the vicinity of the wreck
I