The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-21
Steamer Berlin Sinks OF Coast
of Holland.
Of l4l Persons on Board Only
One Was Saved.
SHE BROKE In TWO
And There Was No Time to Man
LifebOat.
Land Was But a Few Yards
Away When She Struck.
THE SEAS RAN HIGH
preventing Rescuers on Shore
From Rendering Aid.
Chorus of an Opera Company
Among Those Lost.
Land Was But a Few Yards
Away When She Struck.
THE SEAS RAN HIGH
Preventing Rescuers on Shore
From Rendering Aid.
Chorus Of an Opera Company
Among Those Lost.

London, Feb. 21.-The Rotterdam
mail steamer Berlin. from England
with l4l passengers and crew was
wrecked off the Hook of Holland, at
the entrance of the River Mas, lead
ing to Rotterdam, shortly before
O'Clock this morning, and with one ex-
ception all on board persisted. ter
rlnc southwesterly gale was blowing
right-in shore and drove the steamer
on sand bank close to the northern
1ecty as she was trying to enter the
new waterway. Heavy seas quickly
pounded the vessel to pieces. She
broke in two, her forepart sinking i'm
mediately. while the doomed passen-
gers and crew could be seen for a briss
space of time clustered on the after
part Then the after part slipped Off
the ledge and disappeared in the
mountainous waves. Tugs and life
boats. when the alarm was first sound
ed, promptly put out to the assistance
Of the Berlin, but the violence of the
gale and the heavy seas made it i'm
possible to approach the wreck and
the helpless life savers saw the steam
er break up and the crew and passen-
gers washed away without being able
to render the slightest assistance.
One man, an Englishman, was
saved He was unconscious when
dragged out of the water and taken
ashore and had not regained con
seriousness when he was carried to
hotel in the neighborhood.
BY o'clock in the morning 25
bodies had already been washed
ashore.
Rotterdam. Feb. 21.-A disastrous
steamship wreck. attended with great
loss of life. occurred today off the
HOOK OF Holland when the Great East
ern Railway company's steamer Ber-
lin, bound from Harwich to the Hook
of Holland, was lost. All but one on
board, 141 persons in all, of whom 9
We're passengers, were drowned. The
wreck occurred off the north pier OF
the Hook of Holland. The wreck oc-
CURED at o'clock this morning dur
ing terrific southwesterly gale. The
steamer struck the north jetty while
trying to enter the new waterway Al
the Hook of Holland. She broke IN
two, h~- forward part Immediately
sinking. while the passengers and
crew gathered on the stern. where they
Va1nly attempted to use the lifeboats.
One person was saved from the
wreck. Bodies to the number of 25
have already been washed ashore.
Story of the Wreck.
London, Feb. 21-The Great Eas.-
ern Railway company officially CON
firms the loss of the steamer Berlin.
with all on board. off the coast of Hol-
land. The Berlin carried passengers
and crew to the number of 141. Among
those drowned nf a
German opera company who had just
concluded their season at Covent
Garden.
Arthur Herbert. one of the kings
messengers. who was journeying to the
continent, also was lost.
With reference to the members Of
the German opera company. who left
last night on the steamer Berlin. the
manager of Covent Garden said:
$50 far as we know these do not
include any of the star artists. The
party was made up of members of the
chorus returning to their homes. They
made arrangements directly with the
railway company, so that we are not
yet able to get an exact list Of their
names.
The disaster has aroused the most
intense alarm among the other mem
bers of the company owing to the
friendships and relationships existing
The Berlin left Harwich at 10
O'Clock last night. upon the arrival
there of the London. train with the
greater NUMBER Oh passengers VINO
subsequently lost their lives. The
steamer should have reached the Hook
of Holland at O'Clock this morning
and would have then proceeded for
Rotterdam.
A great gale was blowing I'm the
North sea when the Berlin started. As
the Berlin was entering the waterway
at the entrance of the River Mas.
however, she apparently became un-
manageable on account of the force OF
the wind and was driven ashore. The
alarm was given and lifeboats from
the shore went to the assistance of the
stricken steamer. but the seas were so
heavy that the boats were unable to
approach the Berlin shore close
enough TO take off any of the passen-
gers or crew and the lifeboat men
had to sit helpless while the steamer
pounded until she broke in two and
every soul on board was carried down.
The steamer apparently struck about
amidshiDs. as her forepart broke of
and sank Immediately. while her
afterpart could be seen for consid-
erable period of time afterward.
The waterway in which the disaster
occurred, is a new one. on the north
l.