The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-09-30
ROBBED THE SHIPWRECKED
CREy,S CRCELTY TO P4SSENGERS
 OF THE SCOTSMAN.

Drowned but 25O fench
 Had Nothing but Night Clothes On
 Terrible Suffering from Hunger and
 Cold.
 Montreal, Sept. 29-Two hundred and fifty scantilly-clad, baggage-berett men, women and children are on board of an Intercolonial special which will steam into Bonaventure depot late tonight. They comprise the greater number of those who sailed from Liverpool on sep tember II on board the steamship Scots- man. bound for Montreal, who were wrecked on the shores of the Straits or Belle Isle at 2:So o'clock on the morning of the Fist. It was not only tale or shipwreck that they had to tell, but one of death, suffering and pillage; for hI- teen. at least, of the Scotsman's pas sengers perished, 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 leW valuables saved.
 Captain Skrimshire and his officers were noble exceptions The passengers ascribe to them the role of heroes. For the honor of the British merchant ma rine the crime may not be ascflped 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. The list of thost who perished IS as follows:
 First-class passengers-M Street, Montreal; Mrs Childs, wife of the stage manager of the Sign of the Cross company; Mrs. Roberts and infant, Mrs. M. Scott, Mrs. Robinson, wife of the manager of the Sun Life company of Toronto. Miss Robinson, Mrs. Dickln- son, wife of a former editor of the To- ronto Globe.
 Second class passengers-Mrs. M. Scott (occurs twice), Mrs. Watson, Miss JalDOI, AIIS. | ullhIlt '. pNNitoA'i A'NA H' Eliza Watkins Miss B. Weavers.
 It will be noticed that all who perish ed were women. This is accounted for by the fact that they were the occu- pants of the first boat which left the steamer after she struck and which was swamped before it could get clear Of the ship.
 ! The Scotsman sailed from Liverpool | on September IA. Entering the Straits 1 of Belle Isle on Thursday night dense fog blanketed down on the vessel and made navigation matter of great cau- l tion. at all times in the Straits pre- l carious undertaking. The speed of the | ship was reduced and she felt her way in. At 2 o'clock there was shosk un- 1 derneath the keel of the vessel, fol- l lowed by another and another The passengers were asleep in their berths and all were awakened by the shock.
 During the excitement that followed l disgraceful scenes were enacted. Hardly had the vessel struck before men from the stoke hole rushed to the cabins and sitting open valises and bags with their knives took all the val uables they could lay their hands on | Several of them fired shot guns anc | tried to force men to leave their cabins. It is said that some of the steerage pas sengers joined the flremen in footing the | baggage of the first-class passengers In more than one instance rings were | torn from the fingers of fainttng ant crying women. Captain Skrimshire and his officers busily caring for the safety of the passengers, had no time to inter- fere with the vandals. When morning came it was found that the Scotsman lay close in shore alongside 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 transhipped to the rocks alongside the ship.
 Until 6:3O the officers and some of the crew of the Scotsman worked unceas- ingly in getting the passengers ashore and when darkness and heavy fog set ill all were safe on the rocks. Bu' here the new danger of starvation faced them. The lower decks Of tIs ship were entirely under water. A quantity of biscuit was carried on shore and on this. with a little corned beei and wild berries over two hundred per sons existed for over four days. Some natural springs were found but despite this the bad conditions of food and wa ter brought on much sickness.
 Many of the passengers suffered iron the exposure. After much difficulty | some overcoats and shawls were se' cured for the women. nearly every ont of whom had left the ship in nlgh clothes The passengers were obliged to climb up rocky cliff nearly 3O' feet high before they could find plac biz enough to rest. Here they stayed on the rocks for four days and nights The first night they had absolutely nc shelter. but on Saturday the captain sent up tarpaulns and blankets. They ! were very acceptable as it had ra1net hard all night and was bitterly cold. A number of passengers attempted tt reach the lighthouse, about eight mlle AWAY as the crow flies. To do this i was necessary to climb about twelve | hundred feet higher before a practlca l ble path could be reached and there th difficulties had only begun. The pau ! je rocky and uneven and is crossed D! b,1pe clefts and gullies which are yer, | deen. Altogether the distance by lant | must have been over sixteen miles, an( one gentleman took eleven hours t reach the lighthouse and only rested half an hour on the way. It was no
 until the 26th that the Monttort caln
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