The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1902-03-07
(By Associated Press.)

Liverpool March THE British
stamer Harmonides, from Brazilian
ports, which was in collision and sank
the Red line steamer Waesland Wednes-
day night about 40 miles southeast of
Holyhead and which was towed to this
port early this morning by tugs which
went In search Of her, has a great hole
in her bows.
One of the rescued passengers of the
Waesland, who was on board the Har-
monides, said the Waesland was run
into amidships in a fog at midnight and
sank half an hour afterwards, her boil
ers bursting as she went down.
The report that only two of the pas
sengers of the Waesland, a man and a
child lost their lives Is confirmed. In
addition, one woman was injured.
Some of the Waesland's boats were in
the water q couple of hours before-ow-
ing to the fog-they could get alongside
the Harmonides. When the Hermoni-
des arrived here her decks were crowded
with half-clad passengers of the Waes-
land, whose pale and haggard faces told
the story of their trying experience. So
hurried was the departure of the pas
sengers from the sinking ship that, in
blankets and handkerchiefs their only
headgear.
Struck Her Twice.
When tn disaster occurred Wednes-
day night, the two vessels were steaming
slowly off the coast of the Island of
Anglesy. The Harmonides crashed head
on into the Waesland and backed away,
but once again struck the then sinking
ship, making great gap in her side.
The sea was perfectly smooth
The denseness of the fog added to the
terrors of the passengers of the Waes-
land. The women rushed on deck
screaming, but were soon reassured by
the officers.
The boats were quickly lowered. but
the operation resulted In two fatalities.
The end of one of the lifeboats slipped
from its davit and precipitated the oc.
cupants of the boat into the sea.
A steerage passenger, Edward Dan
gerfield of Kansas, struck his head
against the boats fittings and was in
stantly killed, and Efie Emmett, aged
IL years, was also killed. The other
persons who were in the boat were
picked up.
The bravery of the passengers, many
Of whom were Scandinavian immigrants,
was exemplary. Precedence was given
to the women and children.
Boilers Burst.
AS the last boats We're leaving the
fast sinking ship, whose decks We're al
ready awash, an explosion announced
that her boilers had burst and 40 min
utes after the first impact the Waesland
gave mighty lurch and disappeared
beneath the waves, sinking about mid
way between Holyhead and Tuskar
light.
Nothing was saved except w!at the
passengers and crew wore.
The boats containing the passengers
were for time separated, owing to the
fog, but eventually all reached the sides
of the Harmondes and the survivors
were taken on board that vessel, where
everything possible was done for their
comfort.
pilot boat met the Harmonides off
the island of Anglesy and communicated
the news of the disaster to persons
ashore, with the result that tugs were
dispatched in search of the Harmonides
and accompanied the steamer to this
port. Here the passengers were landed
and comfortably housed.
They will proceed to Philadelphia
Wednesday on board the Red Star line
steamer Nordland.
Description OF COLLISION
The surviving passengers, as rule,
escaped with only few slight bruises.
The Harmonides' stem and bow plates
We're so torn and twisted that it ap-
peared marvellous that she escaped sink
ing. She also has deep dent in her
port side.
An officer of the Waesland, in an in
terview, gave a graphic description OF
the loss of the steamer. He said
II saw the whole affair. / was late In
turning in as the night was foggy and
we naturally We're apprehensive. Prac-
tically all the passengers had retired.
IT was taking a last look at the
weather and in doing so, peered ovei
the ships side, when, without the slight
est warning, there came fearful crash
which made the Waesland stagger from
stem to stern.
My God, we are struck I shouted.
"Then there loomed right over our
ships bow the steamer which had run
into us. 1t was terrifying, Of course
We instantly recognized the peril.
"The darkness at that time was inn
penetrable, but there was no mistakine
the terrible consequence of such an inn
pact The nose of the Harmonides ap-
peared to have eaten right into our side
We were going very slowly with no
more speed than was necessary to keep
headway. We were struck at right
angles, tremendous hole was made
and for moment the stem Of the Har-
monides was literally inside our ship.
Getting Out the Boats.
"A rush Of excited people from all parts
of the ship Immediately ensued. The
passengers tumbled up just as they had
retired for the night. The men, women
and children We're in their night dresses.
In few moments the passengers had
thrown shawl or blanket over their
shoulders. Terror and bewilderment
reigned for few moments, but the pas
sengers gradually ranged themselves in
groups about the decks. where they We're