The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1899-10-04
Wreck Of THE SCOTSMAN
The Dominion Liner Goes Aground
on the Shores of the Straits
of Belle Isle.
Fifteen OF HER PASSENGERS DROWNED
All Who PerIshed Were Women
Survivors Reach Montreal and
Relate Their Terrible Adventures
sailors Loot the Vessel and Rob
Victims.


Montreal, Que, Sept. 30.-Two hun
dred and fifty scantily-clad, baggage
bereft men, women and children were
on board of an intercolonial special
which steamed into Bonaventure depot
Friday night. They comprised the
greater number of those who sailed
from Liverpool on September IA on
board the steamship Scotsman, bound
for Montreal which was wrecked on
the shores of the Straits of Belle Isle at
half-past two on the morning of the
21st. 1t was not only a tale of ship
wreck that they had to tell, but one of
death, of suffering and pillage. For
Is at least of the Scotsman's passengers
persisted; 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. 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 it, but TO a gang of
wharf 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
side.
All Were women.
All who persisted were women. This
is accounted for by the fact that they
were 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 passengers were
asleep in their berths when the ship
struck on the rocks. A superficial ex-
animation of the ship told the captain
that she would be total wreck and
that she must be abandoned at once.
A port lifeboat was lowered and in this
many of the women and children were
placed. Hardly was il clear of the ship
when it capsized. throwing its occu-
pants into the water. Those who per-
ished were in this boat. Some were
saved, for the ship had listed TO port
and several women were washed back
onto the deck.
DisgrncefuI Scenes.
Meanwhile disgraceful scenes were
being enacted on board. Hardly had
the vessel struck before men from the
stokehole rushed into the cabins, and,
Sitting open valises and bags with their
knives, took all the valuables they could
lay their hands on. Several of them
fired shotguns and tried to force men
to leave their cabins. In more than one
instance rings were torn from the fin
gers of fainting and dying women.
Capt. Slrimshire and his officers could
do nothing against the mob.
When morning came il was found
that the Scotsman lay close inshore,
alongside cliff fully a thousand feet
high. After much hard work the pas
sengers were gotten safely ashore.
On n Rocky Cliff.
A quantity of biscuit was carried on
shore, and on this, with a very little
cornea beef and wild berries, over 200
people existed for four days. The pas
sengers were obliged to climb up a
rocky cliff nearly 300 feet high before
they could find place large enough to
rest. Here they stayed on the rocks
for four days and nights. 1t was not till
the Goth that the Montfort came along
and was signaled by the Belle Isle light
bell, where number of the passengers
walked from the wreck. After bringing
these people on board the ship she pro-
ceeded to where the Scotsman lay. The
weather was bright and clear. AS soon
as practicable the boats were launched
and the work of transferring the pas
sengers began. The Montfort took $50
of the passengers and the steamship
Grecian, which soon after came in sight,
took the remainder.
Trains Collide.