The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-27
I'LL HANDS ARE SAVED
ORIENT COMPANY's STEAMER LUS-
ITANIA STRIKES A REEF OFF
CAPE BALLARD
PASSENGERS IN A STAMPEDE
ONLY THE DISCIPLINE OF OFF,
GERS AND CREW PREVENTED
LOSS OF LIFE
STEAMSHIP A TOTAL WRECK

ST. JOHNS. N. E. June 26.-The Ori-
ent Steam Navigation company's steam
er Lusitania, Capt. E4cNay, from Liver
pool, June IS, for Montreal, having near
ly $50 passengers on board, was wrecked
last night off Cape Ballard
The Lusitania was bound round Cape
Race for Montreal, with a large cargo
and shipload of passengers. She mis-
took her course in dense fog and went
ashore near Renews, twenty miles north
of Cape Race, before daybreak. ThH
ship ran over a reef and hangs against
cliff. The passengers, who are most
ly emigrantS were panic stricken. They
stampeded and fought for the boats, but
were overcome by the officers and crew.
who secured control after great trouble
and a prolonged struggle with the
rougher element among the passengers,
VINO used knives. The women and chill
dren were first landed and tie men fol-
lowed. The crew stood by the ship.
The passengers Of the Lusitania had a
terrible experience. The first knowledge
which they had of the disaster was
when, owing to the ship rasping over
the rocks, they were all hurled from
their berths by the shock.
Many of them We're bruised and they
all hurried on the deck in their night
clothes. A scene of great excitement en-
sued. Five hundred people were clamor-
ing to escape, While the crew tried to
pacify them and launch the boats.
Some of the male passengers, in their
attempt to seize the boats, trampIed the
women under foot and fought the crew
with knives. Some Of the more cool Of
the passengers assisted the crews in the
efforts to get out the boats. One boat
was upset and its occupants were i'm
mersed.
SUFFERED FROM COLD
The women and children rescued were
almost naked. Drenched with spray,
they were pulled up the cliffs by the
coast people. Some Of the boats were
demolished in the surf while attempting
to land and their half-drowned occu-
pants neld on to rocks, shivering with
cold until rescued.
This morning the unhappy passengers,
after shivering for hours on the hilltop
tramped over weary miles in their en-
deavOr to reach the houses of the fisher
men.
Previous to reaching the cliffs, the
passengers passed two hours of terrible
anxiety on the wreck. AS a furious rain
storm and heavy sea ragged all night, it
is feared the Lusitania will be a total
wreck The last reports received here
said the steamer was breaking up, that
her foreholds were full Of water and
that her cargo was being salvaged.
Six steamers are now on the way to
the scene Of the wreck.
Later reports received here show that
the wreck did not result in any loss of
life. All the passengers escaped, al
though several were injured.
The Lusitana has been forced on the
rocks, has listed to one side and is half
full of water.
Cape Ballard, as cabled from ST. Johns,
IS situated on the coast of New Found
laAd, about sixty miles south of st.
Johns. The Lusitania was built at
Liverpool, by Laird brothers, in 1871.
She is 979 feet inches long, has Al feet
inches beam and is 27 feet inches
deep.
SAFE AT ST. JOHNS.
ST. JOHNS, N. F., June 26.-The
steamer Glencoe arrived mere at mid
night bringing six first, fifteen second
three of the crew of the Lusitanfa.
Capt. McNay and the chief officers Of
the ship remain with the wreck. The
passengers are almost entirely Russian
and Polish Jews. The steamer struck
az nalf past l yesterday morning dur
ing dense fog. Capt McNay had to
force the vessel upon the reef, for If he
reversed the engines the whole ships
bottom would have been torn out and
she would have sunk instantly
The panic among the passengers was
intense. The details of what occurred
on board have been previously cabled
The drawing of knives by the passengers
was not general; it occurred in isolated
instances only.
Three hours elapsed between the time
When the Lusitania struck and the time
the passengers started to disembark. This
delay was occasioned by the difficulty in
controlling the passengers and handling
the boats. All the passengers and crew
agree that If the Lusitania had struck
the rocks in rougher weather not a soul
on board would have been saved.