New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-08
(SINKING OF THE WAESLAND
TWO LIVES LOST AS THE PASSENGERS
LEFT THE DOOMED VESSEL.
THRILLING EXPERIENCES AFTER THE COL
LIsIoN-sToRY OF A SURVIVOR
OF THE DISASTER.

Liverpool March THE British steamer Har-
naonides, from Brazilian ports which was in col
lision with and sank the Red Star Line steamer
waesland on Wednesday night, about forty
miles southwest of Holyhead, and which was
towed to this port early this morning by the
tugs sent in search of her. has great hole in
her bows.
One of the rescued passengers of the Waes-
land who was on board the Harmonides. said
the waesland was run into amidships in fog
st midnight and sank half an hour afterwaro,
her boilers bursting as she went down Inc
report that only two of the passengers OF the
waesland, a man and child, lost their lives
is confirmed. In addition. one woman was in
5ured Some Of the Waesland's boats were in
the water a couple of hours before, owing to
the fog, they could get alongside the Har-
-gnonides.
CLAD ONLY IN NIGHT CLOTHES
When the Harmonides arrived here her decks
were crowded with haIf-clad passengers of the
WaesIand, whose pale and haggard faces told
the story of their trying experiences SO hur-
rled was the departure of the passengers from
: The sinking ship that in some cases they were
only covered by blankets, and handkerchiefs
were their only headgear. When the disaster
occurred the two vessels were steaming slowly
off the coast of the Island of Anglesey The
Harmonides crashed head-on into the Waes-
land. and backed away. but against struck
the then sinking ship. making great gap in
her side. Though the sea perfectly smooth,
the denseness of the fog added to the terrors
Of the passengers of the Waesland. The women
rushed on deck screaming, but were soon re-
assured by the officers. The boats were quickly
lowered. but the operation resulted in two ia
talities. The end of one of the Hfeboats slipped
from its davit and precipitated the occupants
Of the boat into the sea A steerage passenger,
Edward Dangerield. Of Kansas struck his head
against the boats fittings and instantly
Killed, and Elsie Emmett, twelve years old. the
daughter of the Rev. a. Emmett, was drowned.
The other persons who were in the boat were
Iicked up. The behavior Of the passengers,
many Of whom were Scandinavian emigrants,
was exemplary. Precedence was given to the
women and children.
THE BOILERS BLOW UP.
AS the last boats were leaving the fast sink
ing ship, whose decks were already awash an
explosion announced that her boilers had burst,
ana forty minutes after the first impact the
waesland gave mighty lurch and disappeared
beneath the waves, sinking about midway be-
tween Holyhead and Tuskar Light Nothing
was saved except what the passengers and
crew wore. The boats containing the passen-
gers were for time separated, owing to the
fog, hut eventually they all reached the sides
of the Harmonides. and the survivors
taken board that vessel where everything
possible was done for their comfort. A pilot
boat met the Harmonides off the Island Of An
glesey and communicated the news of the dis
-aster to persons ashore. with the result that
tugs were dispatched to search for the Har-
Tnonides and accompanied the steamer to this
port Here the passengers were landed and
. comfortably housed. They will proceed TO Phil
d adelphia Wednesday board the Red Star
Line steamer Noordland.
The surviving passengers, as a rule, escaped
with only few slight bruises.
The Harmonious stem and bow plates
so torn and twisted that 1t appeared marvellous
that she escaped sinking She also has deep
rent in her port side
STORY OF A SURVIVOR.
An officer OF the Waesland gave a graphic de-
scription Of the loss of the steamer. He said:
saw the whole affair. I was late in turning
in, as the night was foggy, and We, naturally
were apprehensive. Practically all the passen-
gers had retired. I was taking a last look at
the weather, and in doing peered the
ships side, when, without the slightest warning
there a fearful crash, which made the
Waesland stagger from stem to stern
My God We struck" 1 shouted.
Then there doomed right over our ships bow
the steamer which had run into 1t
terrifying, Of course. We instantly recognized
the peril. The darkness at that time was i'm
penetrable. but there was no mistaking the ter
Tible consequences of such an impact. The nose
OF the Harmonides appeared to have eaten right
into side. We 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
fumbled UP just they had retired for the
might. The men. women and children were in
their night dresses. In a few instances the
passengers had thrown a shawl or blanket over
their shoulders. Terror and bewilderment
reigned for few moments. But the passengers
gradually ranged themselves in groups about
-hn Gnrlyc zrf1G fhn4r hac CHI
the worked like clockwork in getting out
the boats. The only exception to the good be-
haviOr Of the passengers was in the of a
saloon passenger, who rushed hither and
thither, calling in turn on heaven and earth to
rescue him. Fortunately, the other passengers
were not affected by this mans pitiable mental
agony, but were quietly and methodically mar
shaIled into the boats
The experience in the small boats was irving
on account of the darkness and cold We did
not know exactly where we were, and for long
time could not discover the whereabouts of the
Harmonides though she near by The
boats stood well away from the sinking Waes-
land, for fear of being sucked down. and we
could hear the rending and tearing Of her tim
bers she seemed 10 break in two. Then there
was terrible explosion the boilers blew up
and all was over. We drifted and rowed for
seemingly, two three hours, when we finally
got IN touch with the Harmonides We had no
difficulty in getting board. All our effects
went 10 the bottom with the Waesland.
The collision terrific, alike in the sudden
ness Of the shock and in the completeness Of the
steamers destruction, and think we were
most fortunate in escaping did.
WORE LIFE BELTS UPSIDE DOWN.
p. r. Ferguson, a saloon passenger. who curl
ously enough. was on board the waesland when