The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-15
SEA SICKNESS KILLS TEN
Forty Other Passengers on the
Yaderiand in Hospital.
Steamship Arrives in New York City From
Antwerp With Sad Tale of Losses
on Her Trip.

New York City.-Ten persons u,ed
from seasickneSs during the voyage Of
the Red Star liner Vaderland. from
Antwerp to this port. according to the
statement OF Dr.. Waerserger, the ships
surgeon, which is supported by the
stories Of the passengers.
Forty more persons were so over.
come by the rolling and pitching Of the
ship that they had to be removed to
the steamer hospital. They responded
to treatment, and but one was left in
hospital when the vessel came in. He
was able to walk ashore at Ellis ISL
and. All who died were men--Hunga-
rian steerage passengers, and all from
the same province.
persons can die from seasickness.'
said DR.. W~aerSenger.; "While these
men technically died from congestion
of the lungs, they really were the vic.
TINS of seasickness. If we had made
the trip in fair weather none of these
persons would have died"
Only two bodies were brought to the
port, the rest being buried at sea either
at midnight or at 4 o'clock in the morn-
ing. Relatives were invited to witness
the ceremony. but in no case did any
one accept. and the officers and men at
tended to the simple rites Of sea burial
observed in every case, a prayer being
recited before the body was allowed to
plunge over the rail.
None of the cabin passengers, it was
stated, had left their beds to witness
the mournful scenes. The ship carried
955 steerage passengers. and those who
died were quartered in the forward
part Of the vessel, where the motion
was most severe. Those who sue
cumbed were i'll but a very short time
as Il rule. The fatal effect of the NAL
ady. according to the ships officers
and the doctor, was due to the half.
starved condition in which the victims
had left their native country. In spite
Of ali the aids that medical science
| could bring to them they had not vi
tally enough to pull through.
Despite the very unusual death rate,
there was very little alarm, according
to the officers and cabin passengers.
shown by the more fortunate Of the
steerage passengers, who did not SUI
fer.
Among the passengers on the Fader.
land were two physicians, and they
| aided the ships surgeon, DIR. c. Waer'
| seger. in every possible way. Ghey
frequently held consultations with
him, and gave him their professional
advice freely, in the interests of the
whole steerage. Just before leaving
BIO shin they drew up the following
joint note: -.
'.This is to certify that upon request
of the authorities on board this steam
err we, the undersigned, made an eX.
animation of many of the patients
and an inspection of their quarters and
found the latter in the best condition.
ToHthe best of our knowledge we be-
lieve the fatalities to be due to the eX-
haustion attending a rough voyage.
and further wish to state that the pa
tents received every attention possible
"Dr. SIDNEY X. SIMON,
New Orleans, La.
CDR. WILLIAM ACKERMANN.
"Milwaukee, Wis
Captain Z. G. Enoif, Of the Vader-
land, speaking of the sad trip, said:
"Those who died had been poorly
fed for many years. and on arriving on
the ship showed it plainly. Further
more. they were poorly clothed, and IN
no condition to stand the cold weather
Of the trip. or the rough weather We
encountered"