The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-10-06
FIFTEEN LIVES LOST.
Steamer Scotsman a Wreck In
the Straits of Belle Isle.
SURVIVORS SUFFER HARDsH1Ps.
Fight Starvation for Four Days ON tn.
Barren Rocks-substitute Crew Holds
Up the Helpless Passengers, Robbing
the Trunks of valuables.

Barren Rocks-Substitute Crew Holds
Up the Helpless Passengers, Robbing
the Trunks of valuables,
MONTREAL, Sept. 3O.-Two hundred
and fifty scantily clad, baggage-bereft
men, women and children were on
board an Intercolonial special which
steamed into Bonaventure depot last
night. They comprised the greater
number of those who sailed from Liver
pool on the Scotsman, bound for Mont
real, which was wrecked on the shores
Of the Straits of Belle Isle at $50 of the
morning of the 21st. It was not only q
tale of shipwreck, but one Of death,
suffering and pillage. For Is, at least,
of the Scotsman's passengers persisted,
all suffered cruelty from cold and priva-
tion, and almost the worst horror of all,
the men who were supposed to succor
and assist those committed to their care
in the hour of need, turned on the help
less passengers and with loaded guns
and r%evolvers, compelled them to part
with the few valuables saved.
Captain Skyrmshire and his officers
were exceptions. 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
hangers-on, picked up on the docks at
Liverpool to replace the usual crew of
the Scotsman, who had joined the sea-
mems strike on the other side. The
list of those who persisted is as follows:
Miss STREET, Montreal.
Mrs. CHILDS, wife of the stage manager
of "The Sign of the Cross company.
MRS. ROBERTS and INFANT.
MRS. SCOTT,
MRS. ROBINSON, Montreal.
Mrs. DICKINSON. wife of a former editor
of the Toronto Globe.
MRS. WATSON.
MRS. TALBOT.
MRS. TUTHILL.
MRS. SHELTON.
MRS. ELIZA WATKINS.
MISS B. WEAvERs.
All the Dead Were Women.
It will be noticed that all who per.
ished were women. This is accounted
for by the fact that they were occu-
pants Of the first boat which left the
steamer after after she struck. Hardly
was it clear Of the ship when it cap
sized, throwing it's occupants into the
water. Some were saved, for the ship
had listed to port and several women
We're washed back on the deck. Mean
while d~isgraceful scenes were being en-
acted on board. Hardly had the vessel
struck before the men from the stoke.
hole rushed into the cabins and Sitting
open valises and bags with their knives
took all the valuables they could lay
their hands on. Several of them fired
shotguns and tried to force men to
leave their cabins. It is said that some
OF the Storage passengers joined the
fremen in looting the baggage of the
first class passengers.
In more than one instance rings were
torn from the fingers of fainting and
dying women. Captain Skrymshire
and his officers could donothing against
the mob.
When morning came it was found
that the Scotsman lay close in shore,
alongside a cliff fully 1000 feet high.
Until $50 the officers and some of the
crew Of the Scotsman worked unceas.
ingly in getting the passengers ashore
and then darkness and a heavy fog set
in they were safe on the rocks. But
here the new danger of starvation faced
them. The lower decks of the ship
were entirely under water. A quantity
of biscuit was carried on shore, and
on this, with a very little corned beef
and wild berries, over 200 people existed
for four days. Some natural springs
were found, but despite this the bad
conditions of food and water brought
on much sickness. Many of the pas
sengers suffered from the exposure.
After much difficulty some overcoats
and shawls were secured for the m
nearly everyone of whom had left the
ship in their night clothes. It was not
until the Goth that the Montfort came
along. The Montfort took $50 of the
passengers and the steamship Grecian,
which soon after came in sight, took the
remainder, excepting four, who decided
to return to England on the steamship
Monterey, the next vessel to appear.
Forty-tive of the crew also went in this
boat.
Bolander Heinz Win.
Sioux CRY, Sept. 3O.-The jury yes
terday returned a verdict for the plain
tiff in the Bolander will case, after be-
II --.--- e. r -