The record-union., 1899-09-30
The Steamship Scotsman, Bound
From Liverpool to Montreal,
Totally Wrecked on the Shores Of the
Straits of Belle Isle.
One of the Lifeboats Filled With
Women Capsizes, Most of the
Occupants Being Drowned
Surviving Passengers Suffer
Severely from Cold and Hun
ger-Disgraceful Scenes Enact
ed by Members of the Crew.


MONTREAL, Sept. 29.-Two hum
dred and fifty scantily clad, baggage,
bereft men, women and children were
on board of an Intercolonial speclal
which steamed into Bonaventure de-
pot tonight. They composed the
greater number of those who sailed
from Liverpool on September 10th on
board the steamship Scotsman, bound
for Montreal, which was wrecked on
the shores of the Straits of Belle Isle
at half-past of the morning of the
21st
1t was not only a tale of shipwreck
that they had to tell, but one of death,
suffering and pillage, for fifteen at
least of the Scotsman's passengers per-
ished, and all suffered cruelty from
cold and privation, snd, almost the
worst horrors of all, the men VINO were
supposed to succor and assist those
committed to their care, in the houf
of need, turned on the helpless passen-
gers, and with loaded guns and re-
volvers compelled them to part with
the few valuables saved.
captain
were exceptions. For the honor Of the
British merchant marine the crime
may not be ascribed to the men en-
gagged in it, but to a gang Of Wnarf
rats and hangers-on, picked up on the
docks at Liverpool to replace the usual
crew of the Scotsman, which joined
the seamen's strike on the other slde.
The list of those who perished is as
follows:
First-class passengers: Miss Streat,
Montreal; Mrs. Childs, wife Of the stage
manager of the Sign of the Cross"
Company; Mrs. Roberts and infant;
Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Robinson, wife of the
manager of the Sunlight Soap Com
pany of Toronto; Miss Robinson, Mrs
Dickinson, wife of a former editor or
the Toronto Globe
Second d-class passengers: Mrs. M. M.
Scott Mrs Watson, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs
Tuthill, Mrs. Skeleton, Mrs. Eliza Wat
kins, Miss B. Weavers-
1t will be noticed that all who per-
ished were women. This is accounted
for by the fact that they were occu-
pants of the first boat which left the
steamer after she was wrecked, ana
was swamped before it could get clear
of the ship.
Entering the Straits of Belle Isle
on Tuesday night, the steamer ran into
a dense fog. At o'clock in the morn
ing 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 We're
- ~.l.,-, I'D Ia11,sy.
on deck The thick bank of fog shut
out the sight of shore. superflclai
examination of the ship told Captain
Skrimshire that she would be total
wreck, and that she must be aban-
doned at once.
A port lifeboat 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
occupants into the water Those VINO
perished were in this boat Some were
saved, for the ship had listed TO port,
and several women were washed back
on the deck. One woman clung to a
rope for two hours before being res
cued.
Meanwhile disgracefu1 scenes were
the vessel struck before the men from
the stoke hole rushed into the cabins,
and Sitting open valises and bags with
their knives, took all the yaluables
they could lay their hands on. Several
of them fired shotguns, and tried to
force men to leave their cabins.
1t is said that some of the steerage
passengers joined the firemen in loot
ing the baggage of the first-class pas
sengers. In more than one instance
rings were torn from the fingers of
fainting and dying women. Captain
Skrimshire and his officers could not
control the mob
When morning came it was found
that the Scotsman lay close in shore,
alongside a cliff fully thousand feet
high A second boat load of women
and children which had been sent off
was called back, and the passengers
trans shipped to the rocks alongside
the ship.
Until $50 the officers and some of
the crew of the Scotsman worked I'M
ceasingly in getting the passengers
ashore, and when darkness came and
heavy. fog set in they were safe on
the rocks But here the new danger
of starvation faced them. The lower
decks of the ship were entirely under
water. A quantity of biscuit was car
ried on shore, and on this, with very
little corned beef and wild berries, over
300 people existed for four days. Some
natural springs were found, but despite
this, the bad condition of food ard
water brought on much sickness. Many
of the passengers suffered from the ex-
posure After much difficulty some
| oyercoats and shawls We're secured for
the women, nearly every one of whom
had left the ship in night clothes.
The passengers were obliged to climb
up rocky cliff nearly 800 feet high
before they could find place large
enough to rest. Here they staid on the
| rocks for four days and nights. The
| first night they had absolutely no shell
ter, but on Saturday the Captain sent
UP blankets and other clothing. A
number of passengers attempted to