The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-30
.SHIPWRECK ORGIES.
Crew Of Scotsman
Pillage Ships
Passengers.
USED THEIR KNIVES AND GUNS.
Twelve Women Die, the
Rest Rescued After Long
Suffering.

Suffering.
Montreal, Que, Sept 29.-Two hun
dred and fifty scantily-clad, baggage
bereft men, women and children are on
board of an inter-colonial ship which
will steam into Bonaventure depot late
tonight. They comprise the great
er number of those who sailed from
Liverpool on Sept. IA, on board the
steamship Scotsman, bound for Mon
treal, who were wrecked on the shores
of the Straits of Belle Isle at 2.30 o'clock
on the morning of the 21st.
1t was not only tale of shipwreckI
that they had to tell, but one of death,
of suffering and pillage. For fifteen,
at least, of the Scotsmans passengers
persisted, 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, turned on the help
less passengers and with loaded guns
and revolyers, compelled them to part
with the few valuables saved.
Capt. Skrimshire and his officers were
notable exceptions. The passengers
describe them in the role of heroes
The crew had been picked UP on the
docks at Liverpool to replace the usual
crew Of the ship which 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 1.-THE Sign of the Cross company
Mrs. Roberts and infant.
Mrs. M. Scott.
Mrs. Robinson, wife of the manager of
The : IN Life" company, of Toronto.
Miss Robinson
Mrs. Morgan-all first cabin passengers.
Second-class passengers:
Mrs. Watson.
Mrs. Talbot
Mrs. Tuthill.
Mrs. Shelton.
Mrs. Eliza Watkins.
Miss B. Weavers.
1t will be noted that all who persisted
were women. This is accounted for by
the fact that they were the occupants
of the first boat which left the vessel
after she struck, and was swamped be-
fore II could be got clear of the ship.
The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool.
Sept. Ia. The passage to the Straits of
Belle Isle was q fair one, though the
greer crew in the stoke hold lessaned
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 Thurs
day night dense fog blanketed down
on the vessel and made navigation IL
matter of great caution, at all times
in the straits a precarious undertaking.
The speed of the ship was reduced and
she felt, her way in.
AT : o'clock there was shock under
meath the keel of the vessel followed
by another and another. The 'passen-
gers were asleep in their berths and all
were awakened by the shocks.
On deck the thick bank of fog shut
hither and thither, but Capt. Skrim-
shire and his officers went among them
calming their fears.
A superficial examination of the shin
told the captain that she would be a
total wreck, and that she must be
abandoned at once. A port life boat
was lowered, and in this many of the
women ana children were loaded. Hard
~ was it clear of the ship when it car
sized, throwing it's occupants into the
water. Those who persisted were in this
boat. Some were saved, for the ship
had listed to port. and several women
were washed back onto the deck.
Meanwhile disgraceful scenes wera
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 their cabins 1t is said that
some OF the storage passengers Joined
In the piundering. In more than one
instance rings were torn from the ing
ers of fainting and dying women. The
captain snd his officers busy in caring
for the safety of the passengers. had no
time to look after the vandals.
When morning came, it was found
that the Scotsman lay close inshore
alongside cliff fully a thousand feet
high. A second boatload of women
and children which had been sent off
was called back, and the passengers |
taken to the rocks alongside the bank. |
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 little corned beefl
and wild berries, over 200 persons ex-
listed for four days. Some natural
springs were found, but despite this. |
the bad conditions of food and water
brought on much sickness. Many of |
Inc passengers SuneTGQ from the eX-I
posture. After much difficulty. some
overcoats and shawls were secured for
the women, nearly all of whom had left
the ship in their night clothes.
The passengers were obliged to climb
up rocky cliff nearly 300 feet high
before they could find a place large
enough to rest. Here they stayed on |
the rocks for four days and nights.
1t was not until the 26th that the
Montfort came along and was sgnalled
by the Belle Isle lighthouse, which a |
number of the Scotsman's passengers
had reached. After bringing the pas
sengcrs on board the Ship she proceed
ed to where the Scotsman lay. As soon
as practicable, the boats were launched |
and the work Of transferring the pas
sengers baggage commenced. The
Montfort took two hundred and fifty |
OF the passengers and the steamship |
Cirecian, 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-five of the
crew also went on this boat.
VOLUNTEERS SUMMONED.