The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-09-30
LOOTING OF THE SCOTSMAN.
Result of the seamen's Strike at
Liverpool


Montreal, Que, Sept. 3O.-Two hun
bred and fifty scantily clad, baggage
bereft men, women and children were
on board of an intercolonial special
which steamed into Bonaventure depot
last night. They comprised the greater
number of those who sailed from Liver
pool on September Il on board the
steamship Scotsman bound for Montre-
al which was wrecked on the shores
of the Straits of Belle Isle at half-past
2 of the morning of the 21st 1t was
not only tale of shipwreck that Lney
had to tell, but one of death, OF SuIie
ing and pillage for fifteen at least OF the
ScOtsman'S passengers perlsheo; an
suffered cruelty from cold and pflNa-
ton and almost the worst horror OF all,
the men who were supposed TO succor
and assist those committed TO theH
care, in the hour of need, turned on
the helpless passengers and, with load
ed guns and revOlVerS, compelled IheIn
to part with the few valuableS saved
Captain Skrimshire and his officers
were exceptions. For the honor OF the
British merchant marine the crime may
not be ascrfbed to the men engaged IN
it but to a gang of wharf rats ana
hangers-On, picked up on the DOCKS at
Liverpool to replace the usual crew OF
the Scotsman which joined the sea-
mems strike on the other side.
The list of those who persisted IS as
follows: ...,--,-o,-,e
F1RSI
MISS STREET, Montreal.
MRS. CHILDS, wife of the stage
manager of the Sign of the Cross"
MRS MRS ROBERTs AND INFANT.
MRS. ROBINSON, wife of the man
ager of the Sunlight Soap company, of
Toronto.
MRS. DICKINSON, wife of a former
editor of the Toronto Globe.
SECOND CLASS PASSENGERS.
MRS. M NJ. SCOTT.
MRS. WATSON.
MRS. TALBOT.
MRS. TUTHILL.
MRS. SHELTON.
MRS ELIZA WATKINS.
MISS B. WEAVERS.
1t will be noticed that all who perish
ed were women. This is accounted for
by the fact that they We're occupants
of the first boat which left the steamer
after she struck and which was swamp
ed before il could get clear of the ship.
Entering the Straits of Belle Isle, on
Thursday night, the steamer ran into
a dense fog. At 2 o'clock in the morn
ing there was a shock underneath the
keel of the vessel, followed by another
and another. The passengers were
awakened by the shocks and hurried on
deck.
The thick bank of fog shut out the
sight of shore. A superficial eXamina-
shire that she would be a total wreck
and that she must be abandoned at
once.
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 oc-
cupants into the water. Those who per-
ished were in this boat Some were
saved for the ship listed to port and
several women were washed back on
the deck. One woman chung to a rope
l.
Meanwhile disgraceful scenes were
being enacted on board. Hardly had
the vessel struck before the men from
the stoke hole rushed into the cabin
and, Sitting open valiseS and bags with
their knives, took all the va1uables they
could lay their hands on. Several of
them fired shot guns and tried to force
men to leave their cabins.
It is said that some of the steerage
passengers Joined the fremen in lOOting
the baggage of the first class passen-
gers
In more than one instance rings were
torn from the fingers of fainting and
dying women Captain Skirmshire and
his officers could do nothing against the
mob. When morning came it was
found that the Scotsman lay close in
shore, alongside a cliff fully a thousand
feet high. A second boat load of women
and children which had been sent off
was called back and the passengers