Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-02-28
METDEATH IN GALE
Mail Steamer Berlin Wrecked OF
Coast Of Holland When a Few
Yards From Land.
.I42 PERSONS persisted
Terrific Seas Broke Up Vessel With
Such Suddenness That But One
Man Succeeded In Reach
Ing Shore.

London, Feb. 22.-The worst dis
aster for many years in the history o
the busy cross-channel traffic be
tween England and the continent oC
CURED during a violent gale shortl.
before 6 O'Clock Thursday morning
when the Rotterdam mail steamer Der
lin, from Harwich, to Hook of Hol
land, having safely weathered the
hurricane was wrecked as she was
entering port. With one single ex
ception all her passengers and crew
numbering LAB persons, lost their
lives.
The terrific seas broke up the
steamer with such awful suddenness
that all efforts to save life appear to
have been utterly hopeless. Late
Thursday night 1t was reported that
few survivors were clinging to the
wreck, but Us the heroic efforts all
day Of the life boat crews had failed
to reach them little hope that they
will be saved remains.
No cause yet has been assigned for
the disaster and 1t probably never
will be known how the steamer came
to miss the channel. It Is conjectur-
ed that some arrangement of the en-
gines or steering gear may have rem
dered the vessel uncomfortable. Cap
tain Precious of the Berlin had a
good record Of IA years service. The
list of passengers on the fated steam
or was lost and :. all the names of
those who were on board have not
yet been learned, but as far as has
been asecrtained there were no Amer
leans among them.
The life boat, Captain Jansen,
which has record Of 1886 lives saved,
made desperate efforts all day to
reach the wreck and rescue any pos
lible survivors. Many times the life
BOAT and its tug were flung back on
he shore. Three times communica.
ion with the Berlin was established
tut each time the life boat parted |
Ter anchor and hawser and was
Iwept away. Once she was within |
o yards Of the wreck and her crew |
ould hear the cries Of the survivors
linging to the stern Of the Berlin.
he boiling seas, however, made a
carer approach impossible, and the
lie boat was compelled to put back.
Captain Parkinson who appears to
Q the sole survivor, was on his way
D Amsterdam to Join his vessel, the
lyrmidon of the Holt line, to bring
or back to Liverpool. Describing |
he disaster he said the night was the
lost terrible Of all his experience.
ever had he seen such weather. 30
'rrific was the gale that he remained
I night completely dressed on deck.
he Berlin already. was near the light
! the north pier and the passengers,
any Of whom had not gone below,
ere beginning to breathe freely
yaln after the terrible crossing, when
70 ship struck with a violent shock.
hen suddenly the vessel broke In
rain. Captain Parkinson hurried to
e bridge to offer Captain Precious
8 help. but Just as he put foot on {
o ladder he saw the captain and
e pilot swept away by the seas. s.
OF what followed Captain Parkin- = =
n can not give a clear account G
hen he recovered himself he was y
the water surrounded BY floating ls
nbers. One OF these he seized and s
succeeded In keeping himself
loaf until he saw the life hnat B