Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-08
A MIDNIGHT PERIL
Details OF the Collision That Sent
the Liner Waesland to
the Bottom.
TREAoHERoUs FOG IS THE CAUSE
Passengers Awakened to Face Death
in the Sea-AI but Two Safe
in Port.

Liverpool, March S.-Haggard and
half-nude passengers of the wrecked
Red Star liner Waesland crowded the
decks of the steamer HarmOnideS yes
terday as she was towed into this port
with her stern and bow plates torn
and great dent in her port side. Aft
GER her collision with the Harmonides
forty miles OF Holyhead Wednesday
at midnight the WaeSland settled and
sank so quickly that her passengers
had no opportunity to clOthe them
selves. and they took TO the lifeboats
clad only i'm blankets strapped about
them with life-preservers. All of them
We're rescued. but two-Edward Dan
gerfield, Il Steeragc passenger from
Kansas. and Elsie Emmett the H.
year-old daughter of Rev. \. Emmett.
One woman was injured.
Driftcd in the Fog for Hours.
The condition of The Waesland's pas
senSers was pitiable when they were
landed here. Some of them had. drift
ed about in the fog for hours before
they were taken aboard the Harmon
ideS. and the awful experience was
told in their hollow eyes and wasted
features. \ few of them were hySteT-
ical and many others are suffering
terribly from the exposure. According
10 the officers and crew. however. their
bravery during the fearful moments
before the ship lurchod and sank was
extraordinary. Women were put into
the boats first and thsr were no brutal
scenes such as have marked other sea
cataStrOpheS. There was panic and
terror. the officers say. but no incident
of marked cOwardice or brutality.
Harmonides strikes Twice.
When the disaster occurred the yes
sells were SteaminG slowly OFF the coast
of the Island of Anglesey. The Har-
monides crashed head on into the
WaeSland and backed away. but once
again struck the sinking ship, making
Il great gap in her side. though the
sea was perfectly smooth, the fog
added to the terror of the passengers
of Ine WaeSlaud. Women rushed on
deck screaming. but We're som reaS-
sured by the officers. The boats were
lowered. but this resulted in two fatal
itieS. The end of one of the lifebOats
slipped from its daVit and precipitated
the occupants into the sea. y steerage
passenger. Edward Dangerfield. of
Kansas. struck his head against the
boats fittings aud was killed. and
k.isiP Emmett, y yeyrs-old. daughter
of Rev. y. Emmett. was drowned. The
others persons in the boat were picked
up.
me bravery of the passengers,
many of whom were Scandinavian en-
igranTs. was exemplary. Precedence
was given to the women and children.
As the last boats were leaving the
fast-sinlling ship. whose decks already
we're under water, an explosion an
nOunced that her boilers had burst. |
ana forty minutes after the first i'm
pact the Waesland gave mighty lurch |
and disappeared beneath the waves. |
about midway between Holy |
head and TuSkar Light.
Saved Just What They Wore.
Nothing was saved except what the |
passengers an,. crew wore The boats |
the passengers We're Separ- |
ated for Il time owing to the fog. but |
eventually they reached the sides of |
the HarmonideS and the survivors |
were taken on board that vessel. where |
everything possible was done for their /
comfort. y pilot met the HarmOnides |
on the Island of Anglesev and COM |
the news of the disaster to |
persons ashore. Tugs were sent to /
search for the HarmOnideS and ac- |
the steamer to this port |
Here the passengers were landed and |
housed. They will pro-
ceed to Philadelphia Wednesday on |
board the Red Star line steamer Noord- |
land.