The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-04-06
EIGHTY LIVES LOST.
British Channel Steamer Crashed
on the Rocks.
BOILERS EXPLODED AS SHE SUNK

The Captain and All Onicers Except
First Mate Went Down with the
Ship-TIeroic Action OF the Crew.
Vessel Was Speeding In a Fog.
Southampton, April The passenger
steamer Stella. plying between this port
and the Channel islands. crashed upon
the dreaded Casquct rocks, near the ISL
AID of Aldcrney. Thursday afternoon in
dense fog and foundcred in ten mini
u;es. her boilers exploding with n trc-
mcndous report as she went down. In
spite OF this. it is said. there was n
panic on board. The coasting steamer
Lynx. which brought the news of the
disaster here, picked up four boats ana
III persons belonging to the Stella. An
other steamer has picked up n boat con
tanning ~ persons. including 20 wo-
men. They have been la.dcd here.
Eight Passengers of the Stella who wcr"
landed at Chcrbourg. France. were res
cucd from boat that originally con-
tanned II men. The boat capsizcd and
SIX were drowned. The others clung 70
the keel for five hours and then man
aged to right tho boat. which was half
full of water.
The Stella had 14O passengers on
board, and her crew numbered ~ per
souS. The passengers were going TO
sr"rd Easter III the Channel islands.
The second officer "f the steamer, wis
was among the rescued. says that II col.
lapsh!c boat way l1ruchrd full of pon-
pie. hut h. thinks she struck the rocks.
owing to the fog. The second mate was
the only officer of the Stella rescued. 1t
is row believed that the loss of lif"
will reach 50. though il is hoped that
some others have been picked up by
passing vessels. Another steamer of tn"
same company. whics arrived at tn"
Island of .lots"y nj about noon ycsf"r'
day. r'"'r,s haviu.: passed many bodies
of victims OF the disaster about the
Casquet rocks.
The scene ut the moment of the sink
ing oc the vessel was hcartr"ndins.
Women were screaming and praying and
people were clinrin; to SparS and other
wrcckagc in all directions. Those who
had succeeded in Getting into the boats
had narrow escape from being rngulfcd
on account Of the suction caused hy the
sinking vessel.
The voice of Captain Rocks. from th''
| bridge. was frequently heard urging the
rowcrs to pull for their lives.
The hoats were adrift for IL hours.
during which their occupants were with
out food or water. and as their clothvs
were drenchcd they suffered greatly.
Many most pathetic incidents are TO-
ported. In several cases men liftcl
their wives and children into the boats
and then perishcd themselves in their
presence. One wife. who was thus be-
reft, lost her reason.
A large number of the survivors ar-
rived here without any clothing, clad
only in blankets.
The disaster is generally attributed tn
the high speed at which the steam, \
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 1t be-
came continually dcnscr he lost his
| bearings.
When the Stella struck there was n
terrible sensation, n noise of metal and
woodwork being torn bodily away, the
vessel passing over the jagged rocks at
| full speed and her side being ripped open
| like matchwood. When she slid OFF tn"
rock she turned completely over, carry
| ing lot of people with her,