Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-03-02
WRECKED ON THE ROCKS
STEAMER SUNK AND ALL ABOARD
DROWNED.
after Nany Hours Of Terrible Surfer
ing and Desperate Attempts
Thirteen Are Rescued.

Thirteen Are Rescued.
London, Feb. 22.-The worst disas-
ter in many years in the history Of the
busy cross-channel traffic between
England and the continent was that
of the wrecking of the Rotterdam
mail steamer Berlin. which occurred
off the harbor Of the Hook of Holland
yesterday morning, after she hau
weathered the terrific gale encounter
ed during her trip from Harwich
The terrific seas that broke over
the doomed vessel all day yesterday
rendered almost hopeless the heroic
work of the life-saying crews. AT
late hour yesterday evening it appear
ed that the work of rescue must be
abandoned and those who might be
still alive left to their fate.
1t was not possible to tell for GER
tain whether the persons seen on the
remaining fragments of the ship are
dead or still hoping to be rescued. II
alive they were suffering intensely
from the cold.
The waiting room of the station at
the Hook Of Holland has been convert
ed into a morgue, and the station it.
self is guarded by troops.
Several of the bodies recovered are
badly mangled. 1t is supposed that
the wreck of the steamer was. caused
by the collapse of her steering gear
or by the breaking down of her. en-
gines.
Steamer Claxton Baffled.
The steamer Claxton, which was
dispatched to the scene of the wreck
to aid in the work of rescue, returned
to London this morning, and her cap
itan reported that it was found i'm.
possible to reach the Berlin, owing to
the heavy seas and terrific gale. Tugs
and lifeboats made repeated efforts to
reach the vessel, but were foiled At
late hour yesterday evening mes
sage from the Hook of Holland stated
| that the Berlin had broken in two,
and that members of the crew and a
number of passengers were seen cling
| ing to the wreck.
Ten Are Rescued.
This afternoon the lifeboats maze
a desperate dash for the wrecked yes
sci, and by the most superhuman eff
forts on the part of the crews succeed
| ed in drawing aside the Berlin. Prac-
| tically all the passengers and mem
| bers of the crew had been carried
away by the heavy seas, but 10 per-
sons, who had sought refuge in the
partially submerged smoking room
were gotten into the boats and carried
safely to the shore.
| All efforts to save others were fu-
| tile. Immense seas are breaking over
the Berlin, and it seems entirely prob
able that within few hours she will
go to pieces and those who may be
still alive swept to a watery grave.
Cause of Wreck Not Known.
No cause has yet been assigned for
the terribl eaccident, and it probably
never viii be known how the steamer
came to miss the channel, which, al
though 500 yards wide and well buoy
ed and lighted, is always difficult of
access in rough weather II is con-
| jectured that some arrangement of the
engines or steering gear may have
rendered the vessel uncomfortable.
Captain Precious. of the Berlin, had
a good record of IA years service. The
list of passengers on the fated steam
er was lost, and all the names of
those who We're on board have not
yet been learned, but as far as has
been ascertained there were no
Americans among the passengers.
All Survivors off,
Rotterdam, Feb. ga strong arm
ed swimmer today rescued the last
three survivors of the wrecked mail