Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-05
A. Only wharf Rats and Hangers on
Could be Obtained at Liverpool $50
in Montreal-Fearful Suffering
From Cold and Privation.

and almost the worst horror of all, the
men who were supposed to sucCor and as
sist those committed to their care in the
hour OF need, turned on the helpless pas
sengers, and with loaded guns and revolv-
erS, compelled them to part with the few
Naluablcs saved. The captain and steam
shin officers were noble exceptions. The
passengers ascrihe to them the role of
heroes for the honor of the British mer-
chant marine. The crime may not be as
orihed to the men engaged in it. but to
gang of wharf rats and hangers-on, pick
ed up on the docks al Liverpool. to replace
the usual crew of the Scotsman, which
Joined the seamens strike on the other
side.
The list of those who persisted is as fol-
First class passenge~s-Miss Street,
Montreal
Mrs. O. Hilds. wife Of the stage manager
of the Sign of the Cross" company,
Mrs. Roberts and infant.
Mrs. NJ Scott.
Mrs. Robinson wife of the manager of
the Sun Life company of Toronto
Miss Robinson.
Mrs Dickinson, wife of a former editcc
OF the Toronto Globe.
Second class passengers:
Mrs. NJ. Scott
Mrs. Watson.
Mrs. Talbot.
Mrs. Tuthill.
Mrs. SHELTON
Mrs. Eliza Watkins
Miss b. Viewers
1t will be noticed that all who persisted
were women. This is accounted for by the
fact that they We're the occupants of the
first boat which left the steamer after she
struck and which was swamped before it
could get clear of the ship.
The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool on
September a. The passage to the Straits
of Baltic Isle was fair one, though the
green crew in the stoke holes lessened
the speed of the ship, so that when she
reached Belle Isle she was behind her
usual average about a days run Enter
ing the Straits of Belle Isle on Thursday
night a dense fog blanketed down on the
vessel and made navigation a matter of
great caution at all times in the Straits.
The speed of the ship was reduced and
she felt her way in. At o'clock there
was a shock underneath the keel of the
vessel, followed by another and another.
The passengers We're asleep in their berths
and all were awakened by the shocks.
On deck the thick banks OF fog shut out
the sight of shore. Passengers ran hith-
or and thither, but Capt Skrimshire and
his officers went among them calming
their fears. A superficial examination of
The ship told the captain that she would
he a total wreck and that she must he
abandoned at once.
port life boat was lowered and in this
many of the women and children were
placed. Hardly was it clear of the ship
when it capszed, throwing its occupants
into the water. Those who persisted were
in this boat. Some We're saved, for the
ship had listed to the port, and several la
dies were washed back on to the deck.
One lady chung to rope for two hours be-
fore being rescued. The skin was torn
from her hands
Meanwhile, dissvaceful scenes were be-
ing enacted n board. Hardly had the
vessel struck, before men from the stok p
hole rushed ia the cabin. and. Sitting
open valiscs and bags, with their knives
took all the Valuables they could lay their
hands on. Several of them fired shot guns
and tried to force men to leave their cab
ms.
1t is said that some of the vile passen-
gers joined the men in looting the bag
gage of the first class passengers. In
more than one instance rings were torn
from me fingers of fainting and dying
| women, Capt Skrmshire and his officers
iu caring for the safety Of the passengers
had no time to interfere with vandals.
| When morning came it was found that
| the Scotsman lay close in shore, along
| side a cliff a hundred feet high. A sec
ond boat load of women and childrct
which had been sent off was called back
and the passengers transhipped to th'
rocks alongside tho ship.
Until $50 the officers and some of The
crew worked increasingly in getting the
passengers ashore and when darknes.
and a heavy fog set in all We're safe OF
the rocks. But here the new danger O
starvation faced them The lower deck
OF the ship Were entirely under water.
quantity of biscuit was carried OF
shore and on this. with a very little corn
cd beef and wild berries over hundred
people existed for four days. Some natur
al springs were found but despite this
the Sad conditions of food and waite
brought on much sickness.
~ 10 rl1 ffcTNl
the exposure. After much difficulty som
overcoats and shawls were secured 70
the women, nearly every one of them ha'
left the ship in their Night clothes.
The passengers We're obliged to elm
up a rocky cliff nearly 300 feet high, be
fore they could find a place large enough
to rest. Here they remained on the rock
for four days and nights, The first nigh
they had absolutely no shelter, but O'
Saturday the captain set up some tarpu
Inns and blankets These were very ac
ceptable, as 1t had rained hard all nigh
and was most bitterly cold.
rumber of passengers attempted t.
reach tho lighthouse, which was abou
eight miles away as the crow flies. r
do this it was necessary to climb aboI
200 feet higher before a practicable pat
could be reached, and there the difficult
ties had only begun. The path Is rock
and uneven and is crossed by huge cleft
and gullies which were very deep. Alto
Fethor the distance by land must hav
been over IA miles, and one gentlema
took eleven hours to reach 1t and onl
rested half an hour on the way.
II was not until the 26th that the Mont
fort came along and was signalled by tn
Belle Isle Lighthouse where a number O
the Scotsman's passengers had Wake
from the wreck After bringing these PEG
pie on board the ship. she proceeded t
where the Scotsman lay, The weathe
was bright and clear As soon as practi
l.l thF Ion Nod
work of transferring the passengers he
gan.
The Montfort took go of the passenger
and the steamship Grecian, which 500
Only one remedy in the world that wi