Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-04-08
EIGn7T lives LOST.
British Channel Steamer Crashed
Oh the Rocks.
EXPLODED AS SHE SUNK
Tho Captain and All Officers Except
First Mate Went Down with the
shIp-HeroIc Action of the Crew.
Vessel Was Speeding In IL Fog.

Vessel Was Speeding In IL Fog.
southampton, April 1.-The passenger
steamer Stcln. plying between this port
and the Channel islands, crushed upon
the dreaded Cusquct rocks near the Isl
and of Attorney, Thursday afternoon IN
a dense fog and fuundered i'll ten min
utcs. her boilers exploding with II ire
mcndous report us she went down. In
spite OF this, it is said. there WAS M
panic on board. The roasting steamer
Lynx, which brought the news of the
disaster here picked up four boats ami
40 persons belonging to the Stella. An
other steamer has picked up boat con-
tanning rs persons. including 70 wo-
men. They have been landed here.
Eight passengers OF the Stella who were
landed at Chrrhourg, France were res
cued from Il boat that originally COLI
tancd ii men, The buat capszcd and
six were drowned The others chung to
the keel for five hours and then man
aged to right the boat, which was half
full of water.
The Stella had no passengers on
board, and her crew numbered IL per-
sons. The passengers were going to
spcnd Easter IN the Channel islands.
The second officer OF the steamer who
was among the rescued. says that Il col
lapsihlc boat was launched full Of pco-
pie, but he thinks she struck the rocks
owing to the fog. The second mate was
the only officer of the Stella rescued. 1t
is now believed that the loss of lif"
will reach so. though it is hoped that
some others have been picked up by
passing vessels. Another steamer of the
same company, which arrived at the
Island Of Jersey ut about noon ycstcr-
day. reports having passed many bodies
OF victims OF the disaster about the
Casquct rocks.
The scene at the moment of the sink
ing of the vessel was hcartrcndinE.
Women were screaming and praying and
people were clinging 10 spars and other
wrcckage in all directions. Those who
had succeeded in getting into the boaLs
had narrow escape from being cngulfcd
OH account of the suction caused by the
sinking vessel.
The voice of Captain Rocks, from the
bridge. was frequently heard urging the
rowcrS to pull for their lives.
The boats were adrift for ID hours,
during which their occupants were with
out food or water, and as their clothes
were drcnched they suffered greatly.
Many most pathetic incidents are re-
ported. In several cases men lifted
their wives and children into the boats
and then persisted themselves in their
presence One wife. who was thus be-
rcft, lost her reason.
4 large number of the survivors ar
rived here without any clothing clad
only in blankets.
The disaster is generally attributed to
the high speed mt which the steamer
was travelling in the fog.
Other accounts say that Captain
Rocks supposed the fog was merely in
banks us is the usual experience, and
decided to run through it, but as it be-
came continually dcnSer he lost his
bearings.
When the Stella struck there was
terrible scnsa ton, noise of metal and
woodwork being torn bodily away. the
vessel passing over the Jagged rocks nj
full speed and her side being ripped open
like matchwood When she slid off the
rock she turned completely over, carry
ing Il lot of people with her.