Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-06-27
FIVE HUNDRED PEOPLE
RESCUED FROM STEAMER.
THE LUSITANIA. OF THE ORIENT
STEAM NAVIGATION COM
PANY, WRECKED.
RAN UPON A REEF IN THE FOG.
MEN FOUGHT FOR BOATS, BUT
WERE SUBDUED by THE
| chips CREW


ST. JOHNS, N. r.. June 26.-The
Orient Steam Navigation Company's
steamer Lusitania, Capt. McNay. from
Liverpool, June Is, for Montreal. hav-
ing 500 passengers on board, was wreck
ed last night off Cape Ballard.
The Lusitania was bound round Cape
Race for Montreal, with large cargo
and ship load of passengers. She
mistook her course in dense fog and
went ashore near Renews, twenty miles
north of Cape Race, before daybreak.
The ship ran over reel and hangs
against a cliff.
The passengers, who are mostly emf
grants, were panic-stricken. They stam-
peded and fought for the boats, but
were overcome by the officers and crew,
who secured control after great trouble
and prolonged struggle with the
rougher element among the passengers,
who used knives. The women and chill
dren were first landed and the men fol-
lowed. The crew stood by the ship.
A heavy sea was running, but ct lat
est advices the Lusitania was holding
her own 1t was thought likely, how
ever that she would prove total
wreck.
The disaster. occurred miles from the
nearest telegraph station and the details
obtainable are meagre. Several steam
ers are fitting out here to go to me
scene of the wreck. 1t is expected that
the large cargo of the Lusitania will be
salvaged.
A report has reached here that boat
load of people from the Lusitania was
upset and that twenty persons were
drowned.
ST. JOHNS, n. F., June 26-The
passengers of the Lusitania had terri
BILE 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 were bruised, and they all hurried
on deck in their nightclothes, A scene
of great excitement ensued. Five hun
dred people were clamoring to escape,
while the crew tried to pacify them and
launch the boats. The male passen-
gers, in their attempt to seize the boats.
trampled the women under foot and
fought the crew with knives Some of
the more cool-headed OF the passengers
assisted the crew In the efforts to get
out the boats. One boat was upset and
its occupants were immersed. 1t is still
supposed that some OF these were
drowned, but that point has not yet
been definitely established. Another
boat, having on board twenty people,
has not yet been reported. She is sup
posed TO be adrift in the fog, and this
may have given rise to the report
which reached here that twenty persons
were drowned by the upsetting of a
boat.
The women and children rescued
We're almost naked Drenehed with
spray, they were pulled up the cliffs by
the coast people Some Of the boats
We're demolished in the surf while at
tempting to land, and their half
drowned occupants held on to rocks.
shivering with cold, until rescued.
This morning the unhappy passen-
gers. after shiyering for hours on the
hilltop. tramped over weary miles in
their endeayor to reach the houses OF
the fishermen, where they are now
sheltered.
Previous to reaching tie cliffs. the
passengers passed two hours of terrible
anxiety on the wreck.
As furious rainstorm and heavy sea
ragged all night, 1t is feared the Lusita-
MIA will be total wreck The last re-
ports received here said the steamer
was breaking up, that her foreholds
were full of water and that her cargo
was being salvaged.
There is no hope Of saving the effects
or the passengers, as. where possible,
they were slowed above decks.
Six steamers are now on their way
from here to the scene OF the wreck. 1t
is expected that the rescued passengers
Will De brought here tonight.