Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-23
ROSSMORE LOST AT sea-
Abandoned by Captain and Crew
After a Terrible Struggle
With a Hurricane.
A GALLANT RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN
The Doomed Vessels Crew
Taken Off by the Steamer
Trojan and the Tanker
Rotterdam--The Ross
more a Wreck.

New York, Feb. II. = The tank
steamer Rotterdam from Rotterdam,
which arrived today, reports that on
February 9th, in latitude 40.33, longi-
tude 49, 20, she sighted the British
steamer Rossmore from Liverpool for
Baltimore, in sinking condition.
The Rotterdam took off all on board
the Rossmore, AZ in all, including eight
cattlemen. The Rotterdam stayed by
tho Rossmore for GO hours.
Capt. DuncaDson of the Rossmore
reported that nine members of his crew
had been taken off by the steamer
Trojan before the Rotterdam came up.
The Rotterdam, which is a tank
steamer, sailed from Rotterdam Janu-
airy, Gath. On January 30th she en-
countered fierce storm, the wind
blowing with hurricane force all that
day and the succeeding one. February
LIST, the weather was better, but on
February I'd there was u recurrence of
the storm with even greater fury, and
during its prevalence the bridge of the
steamer was smashed and much damage
Was done on deck. February Sd, the
storm moderated to fresh gale, and
so continued until, as told above, the
Rossmore showing signals of distress,
was sighted February 9Th.
IN A FEARFUL HURRICANE.
The story of the wreck of the Ross
more was told by her officers today.
The steamer left Liverpool on January
23d for Baltimore with small cargo
of salt and China clay. Almost from
the outset of the voyage she eneount-
cred terrific gales and mountainous
seas, which swept the decks and caused
considerable damage. On January Both
a NNW hurricane was met, which
lasted "a hours, the wind blowing in
fearful gusts of violence. On the 31st
the steering gear became disabled and
the steamer fell off in the trough of
the sea, rolling violently. One of the
engineers had his collar bone broken,
and one of the crew was badly bruised
about the legs. The damage to the
steering gear was repaired, but the
gear broke second time and after
being repaired again was third time
broken so rapidly that repairs could
not be effected.
These breaks occurred between Feb
ruary Sd and 4th, when the gale, after
subsiding, had again assumed hurri-
cane proportions. The vessel was SO
pouDueu by bne terFlnc seas u1ab ljdpt,
Duncanson decided that he would
abandon her on the first opportunity.
February 9Th the British steamer
Trojan, from Newport News for Glas-
gov, hove in sight and in answer to
signals, took out the first and third
officers and seven cattlemen and fire.
men, nine in all, but the weather con-
ditions prevailing at the time pre-
vented further rescue.
A BRAVE RESCUE.
The same day the Rotterdam bore
down, and although the gale was blow
ing furiously, succeeded in taking out
% OF the Rossmore's crew. The Rotter-
dam stood by GO hours before the final
rescue was effected. February Sth, the
remainder of the crew, 10 in number,
were taken off the vessel and the Ross
more was abandoned.
Capt. Duneanson says that the Ross
more strained and labored SO violently
in the tremendous seas that she started
a leak which could not be stopped,
and that when abandoned considerable
water was in the holds