Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-09-30
UNTOLD SUFFERING
OF the Survivors Of Wrecked
Steamer Scotsman.
Face Drowning and Starvation and at
Mercy Of Crew.
Fifteen Women and Children Perish by Cap
sizing Of Boat.


steam into Bona Venture depot late
tonight. They comprise the greater
number Of those who sailed from Liv-
crpooI, Sept. IA, on board the steam
ship Scotsman, bound for Montreal
the straits of Belle Isle, at 2.30 a. NJ.
| oct. Il. 1t was not only tale Of
shipwrcck that they had to tell, but
one Of death, Of suffering and pillage
for 49, at least Of the Scotsman's pas
scngcrs perishcd all suffered cruelty
from cold and privation 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 helpless
passengers and with loaded guns and
revolvers compelled them to part with
/ the few Valuables saved. Capt.
! Skhimpshire and his officers were noble
exceptions. The passengers ascrbe to
! them the role of heroes. For the honor
Of the British merchant marine the
| crime may not be ascribcd to the men
J engaged in il, but to a gang of wharf
! rats ana hangers on, picked up on the
| docks at Liverpool. To replace the usu-
| al crew OF the Scotsman. which joined
| the scamcn's strike on the other side
/ The list Of those WHO persisted is as fol-
lows:
| First class passcngers-Miss Street,
| Montreal; Mrs. Childs. wife Of the
stage manager of the Sign of thu
| Cross 60; Mrs. Roberts and infant;
Mrs NJ Scott. Mrs. Robertson, wife Of
the manager of the sun Life 60. Of To-
ronto; Miss Robinson; Mrs. Dickinson,
Wife of 4 former editor uf the Toronto
Globe. Second class passensers-Mrs.
NJ Scott occurs twice.: Mrs. Watson.
Mrs. Talbot; Mrs Tuthill; Mrs. Skel-
ton: Mrs Eliza Watkins; Mrs. b. Wea
VerS
II will be noticed that all who per
shcd We're women. This is accounted
I for by the fact that they were the o."
cupunts of the first boat which left the
l steamer after she struck and which
( was sWampcd before it could get clear
Of the ship.
I The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool,
Sept II. The passage 20 the Straits Of
Belle Isle was = fair one. though the
green crew in tl- stoke hole lesscncd
the speed Of the ship, 80 that when she
reached Belle Isle sEr was about
days rum behird h.r usual average.
Entering tn straits Of Belle Isle,
Thursday ri.-h,. q dense fog blanketed
down on the vessel and made naviga-
ton a matter Of greater caution. at all
times in the straits a precarious under
taking. The speed Of the ship was re-
duced and she felt her way in. AT ,
! o'clock, there was a shock underneath
the keel Of the vessel followed by an
\ other. The passengers were asleep in
their bcrths and all were awakened by
/ the shocks. ON deck the thick bank of
7 fog shut out the sight Of shore Pas
scngcys ran hither and thth"r, but
Capt. Skrimpshirc and his officers WeGt
among them. calming their fears. \
superficial examination Of the ship told
the captain that she would be a total
and that she must be abandoned at
once.
y port lifcbolt was lowered ana in
this many Of the women and children
! were placed. Hardly was il clear Of
the ship when il capsized, throwing it's
occupants into the water. Those who
persisted wcr. in this boat. Some Wcr"
saved, for the ship had listed to port
/ and several ladies were washed back
( onto the deck. one lady chung to Il
rope for tt,o hours before she was
rescued. Tic skin was torn from her
! hands
Y N.1uwhila disgraccful scenes We're
7 heilE enacted on board. Hardly haG
/ tn" Messed struck before men from til"
I stoke Eulc rushed to the cabins, ana,
I Sitting open vaIises ana bags with
( their knives. took al the valuahlcs
1 they could lly their hands on. Several
Of thcm fired shotguns ana tried To
force mca to leave their "abius.
| 1t is said that some Of thc stcCraEo
passengers Joined the firvmen in loot
I ing the baggage OF the first-class pas
/ scngers. In more than one instance
rings were torn from the fingers NJ
fainting ana dying women. capt
/ Skrimpshire and his officers. husiIy
caring for the safety Of the passengers.
had no time to interfere with the van
| dlls.
! When morning came it was found
| that the Scotsman lay close in shor,.
! alongside cliff fully 1000 feet high \
/ second boat load of women and chill
drcn which had been sent off was called
back and the passengers traHs-shippcd
to the rocks alongside the '-ip.
tnti GIG tho officers anu s0a.n Of thr
crew Of til" Scotsman work'I unC oasingiv
| in sending the passenger ashore. AMI
when darkness ana hcayy (, set in, all
We're safe Oh the rocks. but HUI. the rex
| danger of starvation faced thcm. Thu
| lower decks of the steamer were entirety
| under water. \ quantity Cf biscuit wa
| carried on shore. ana on ms with littIc
| corncd beer and Will berries over 2tn per.
sons existed fer four days Some natural
| springs We're fcurd. but despite this TIN
| bad conditions of food ANA water brnugh.
on much sickness. Nany OF the passeu
! gers suffered from the exposure. Afte'
much difficulty, some ovtrc0ats and
shawls were secured for the women. near
| ~ cvcry one of whom had left the ship i'll
her night Clathes. -.
The passengers We're obliged to climb IN
q rocky cliff nearly 300 feet before they
could hnd place large enough to resi-
Iierc they stayed on the rocks for four
days and nights. The first night they had
abs llutciy no shelter, but. Saturday tn
captain scar mp tarpaulins and blankets;
ihrN Wcrr very acceptable. as it had
raincd Eard all night ard was bitterly
cold.
\ number Of passengers attempted I'd
reach the lighthouse. about miles away
To do this il was necessary to elm,
about 1900 feet higher before a practicable
Path could be reached and there the diff
cul les had only begun. The path ~
rocky and uneven and is crossed by huge
c,elts and deep gullies. One gentleman
took II hDurs % a IU1 4