Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-30
HORkVH5 OF THE SEA.
smrwnEfN, DEATH, SUFFERING
AND rrIiLAcE OF PASSENGERS.
At LEEh FOURTEEN LIVES LOST.
An nut one of Those who Perish
w9men, and the Exception a" In
sant-Disgracefui Conduct OF 'he
Crew.

|
MONTREAL. QUEBEC, September %
Two hundred and fifty scantily-clad'
baggage -bereft men. women, and chill
| dren we're on board Of an lntercoionial
special. which steamed into Bona
venture depot tonight They comprised
the greater number Of those who sailed
from Liverpool on September l4th on
board the steamship Scotsman, bound
for Montreal, which was wrecked on the
shores OF the Straits OF Belle Isle at
half-past 2 o'clock on the morning of
the 2lst.
IL was not only a tale of shipwreck
that they had 10 tell. but one Of death,
OF suffering, and pillage; for fourteen, at
least OF the Scotsman's passengers per-
ished; all suffered cruelty rom cold and
privatlon. and. almost the worst horror
Of all, the men who were supposed TO
succor and assist those committed 10
their care, in the hour Of need. turned
on the helpless passengers, and with
loaded guns and revolvcrs compelled
them 20 part with the few valuables they
had saved.
CAPTAIN Skrimshire and his officers
were exceptions. For the honor of the
British merchant marine the crime may
not be ascribed TO the men engaged in
II. but 10 q gang Of wharf-rats and hang
ers-on picked UP on the docks st Liver
pool 70 replace the usual crew Of the
Scotsman, VINO joined the seamen's
strike on the other side.
The list Of those who persisted is as
follows:
FIrst-Class Passengers-Miss Street,
Montreal: Mrs Childs, wife Of the stage
manager Of the Sign Of the Cross Com
pany; Mrs Roberts ana infant, Mrs.
Scott, Mrs Robinson. wife of the mama
ser Of the Sunlight Soap Company, Of
Toronto; Mrs. Dickinson. wife Of former
editor Of the Toronto Globe.
Second-Class Passengers-Mrs. NJ. NJ.
Scott, Mrs. Talbot Mrs. FULFILL, Mrs
Shelton, Mrs Eliza Watkins, Mrs. Il.
Weavers, and Mrs. Watson.
ALL WHO Persisted WOMEN.
IL viii be noticed that all who per-
ished were women, this is accounted for
by the fact that they were occupants OF
the first boat which lett he steamer
after she struck, which was swamped
before il could got clear of the snip.
The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool
September 18th. The passage TO the
Straits of Belle Isle was a fdir one,
though the green crew in the stoke-hole
lessened the speed of the ship, 50 that
when she reached Belle Isle she was
about q days run behind her usual ave-
rage.
Entering the Straits OF Belle Isle on
Thursday night, q dense fog blanketed
down on the vessel and made navigation,
matter of great caution at an times
In the straits a precarious undertaking.
Tho speed OF the ship was reduced, and
she felt her way in.
At 2 o'clock there was a shock under
meath the keel of the vessel, followed by
another and another. The passengers,
who were asleep. were awakened by the
shocks.
ON deck the thick bank of fog shut out
the sight of shore. Passengers van hither
and thther, but Captain Skrmshire and
his officers went among them, calming
their fears A superficial examination OF
the ship showed the Captain that she
would be total wreck, and must be ADAM
COned at once.
a port Hfe-boat was lowered, and in
this many Of the women and children
were placed. Hardly was it clear Of the
ship when it capsized, throwing its occu-
pants into the water. Those who perish
ed were in this boat Some were saved,
for the ship had listed 20 port and seve-
raj women were washed back onto the
deck one woman chung to a rope for
two hours before being rescued.
DIsGRACEFUL SCENES.
Meanwhile, disgraoeful scenes were be-
ing enacted on board. Hardly had the
vessel struck before men nom the stoke
hole rushed into the cabins and Sitting
open Valises and bags with their knives,
took ell the valuables they could lay
their hands on Several OF them fred
shotguns. and tried TO force men to leave
their cabins.
IL is said that some OF the steerage
joined tho hTemen iu lootiug The baggage
of the first-class passengers. In more
than one instance rings were torn from
the fingers OF fainting and dying women.
Captain Skrimshire and his officers could
do nothing against the mob.
When morning came it was found that
the Scotsman lay close in-shore along
side a cliff fully q thousand feet high \
second boat-lOad of women and children,
which had been sent of. was called
back, and the passengers were trans
shipped TO the rocks alongside the ship.
Unti $50 the officers and some of the
crew OF the Scotsman worked unceasing-
~ in getting the passengers ashore,
and when darkness and a heavy fog set
~ .lr..
the new danger Of starvation faced them.
The lower decks of the ship were entirely
under water
STARVATION AND EXPOSURE.
A quantity of biscuits was carried on
shore, and on this, with a very little corn
ed beef and wild berries. over 200 people
existed for four days. Some natural
springs were found, tut despite this, the
bad conditions of food and water brought
on much sickness Many OF the passen-
gers suffered from the exposure.
After much difficulty some overcoats
and shawls were secured for the women,
nearly every one of whom had left the
ship IN night-clothes.
The Passengers were obliged TO climb
up a rocky cliff nearly 300 feet high, be-
fore they could find place large enough
TO rest. here they stayed on the rocks
for four days and nights. The first night
they had absolutely no shelter, but on
Saturday the captain sent up blankets
and other clothing A number Of passen-
gers attempted to reach the lighthouse,
about eight miles away. To do this il
was necessary to climb about 1900 feet
higher before a path could be reached.
RESCUING STEAMERS.
1t was not till the 18th that the Mont
fort came along, ana was SiguqllCd by the