The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-07
BUT ONE OTHER LOST.
Elsie Emmett, a IL Year Old
Girl, Was Drowned.
Other Passengers Escaped in
Their NightclOthes.
SANK IN 80 MINUTES.
Story of the Collision Told by
an Eyewitness. /.


LiverpoeI, March THE British
steamer aarmonides from Brazilian
ports, which was in collision with and
sank the Red Star line steamer Waes-
land Wednesday night about forty
miles southwest of Holyhead and which
was towed to this port, early this morn
ing by the tugs sent in search of her
has a great hole in her bows. One of
the rescued passengers of the WaeSland
who was on board the Harmonides said
the Waesland was run into amidship in
a fog at midnight and sank half an
hour afterwards, her boilers 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, appears to be
confirmed. In addition, one woman was
injured. Some of the Waesland's boats
were in the water a couple of hours
before, owing to the fog, they could get
alongside the Harmonides.
When the Harmonides arrived here,
her decks We're crowded with half clad
passengers of the Waesland. whose pale
and haggard faces told the story of
their trying experiences. So hurried
was the departure of the passengers
from the sinking ship that in some
cases they were only covered by blan-
kets and handkerchiefs were their only
head gear.
When the disaster occurred Wednes-
day night the two vessels were steam
ing slowly off the coast of the island of
Anglesy. The Harmonides crashed head
into the Waesland, and backed away,
but once again struck the then sinking
ship, making great gap in her side.
Though 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 We're quickly lowered, but
the operation resulted in two fatalities.
The end of one of the life boats slip
ped from its davit and precipitated the
occupants of the boat into the sea- A
steerage passenger, Edward Danger
field, of Kansas, struck his head against
the boats fittings and was instantly
killed, and Elsie Emmett, II years old,
the daughter of the Rev. A. Emmett,
was drowned. The other persons who
were in the boat We're picked up. Tue
bravery of the passengers, many of
whom We're Scandinavian emigrants,
was exemplary Precedence was given
to the women and children.
BOILERS BURST
. AS the last, boats were leaving the
fast sinking ship whose decks were al
ready awash, an explosion announced
that her boilers had burst, and 40 min
utes after the first impact the Waesland
gave a mighty lurch, and disappeared
beneath the waves, sinking about mid
way between Holyhead and Tuskar
Light. Nothing was saved except what
the passengers and crew Wore. The
boats containing the passengers We're
for a time separated, owing to the fog,
but eventually they all reached the sides
of the Harmonides and the survivors
were taken on board that vessel wnere
everything possible was done for their
A nil the H9r
monides of the island of Angelesey and
communicated the news of the disaster
to persons ashore, with the result that
tugs were dispatched to search for the
Harmonides and accompanied the
steamer to this port. Here the pasSen-
gers were landed and comfortab bly,
housed. They will proceed to Philaeel-
phia Wednesday on board the Red Star
Line stea mer NOrdland.
The surviving passengers as rule
escaped with only few slight bruises.
The Harmonides stem and bow plates
were so torn and twisted that it appear
She also has deep dent in her port
side An officer of the Waesland in an
interview, gave a graphic description
of the loss of the steamer. He said:
SAW THE WHOLE AFFAIR.
"I saw the whole affair. l was late
in turning in as the night was foggy
and we naturally were apprehensive.
Practically all the passengers had re-
tired. L was taking a last look at the
weather and in so doing peered over the
ships side when without the slightest
warming there came a fearful crash
which made the Waesland stagger from
stem to stern. My Godi We are struck
L 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
impenetrable; but there was no mis-
taking the terrible consequences of such
an impact. The nose of the Harmoni-
des appeared to have eaten right into
our side. We were going very slowly
with no more speed than was necessary
to keep Roadway We were struck at
right angles, a tremendous hole was
made and for moment, the stem of
the Harmonides was literally inside our
ship.
"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 were in their night
dresses. In a few instances the passen-
gers had thrown a shawl or a blanket
over their shoulders Terror and be-
wilderment reigned for few moments,
but the passengers gradually ranged
themselves in groups about the decks,
where they were best sheltered and the
crew worked like clock work in getting
out the boats. The only exception to
the good behavior of the passengers was
in the case of salon passenger, who
rushed hither and thither calling in
turn on heaven and earth to rescue
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