The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-02-28
NOT A SOUL SAVED
Ocean Horror Takes One
Hundred and Forty Lives.
STEAMER TORN ASSUNDER
Disaster Occurred Of Holland Coast
During Heavy GaIe-Wreck Was
Near Landing Place, But
Rescue Was Impossible.

Rescue Was Impossible.
A special from Rotterdam, Holland,
says: \ disastrous steamship wreck,
attended with great less of life, &C.
Cured Thursday morning at o'clock,
OF the Hook of Holland, and at the
entrance of the river Mas, when the
Great Eastern railway company's
steamer Berlin, bound from Harwich
to the Hook of Holland was lost.
All on board, one hundred and for
sy-one persons in all. Of whom ninety
one were passengers, were drowned.
A terrific southwesterly gale was
blowing right in shore, and drove
tac Berlin on sandbank close to
the northern jetty as she was trying
to enter the new waterway. Heavy
seas quickly pounded the vessel to
pieces. She broke in two, her for
ward part sinking Immediately, while
the doomed passengers and crew could
be seen for a brief space of time
clustered on the after part. Then the
afterpart slipped off the ledge and
disappeared in the mountainous
| waves.
Tugs and lifeboats: when the alarm
| was sounded, promptly put out to
tte assistance Of the Berlin, but the
violence of the gale and the heavy
seas made it impossible to approach
the wreck, and the helpless would
| be lifesavers saw the steamer break
| up and the crew and passengers wash
ed away without being able to render
the slightest assistance.
The Berlin left Harwich at 10
o'clock Wednesday night, upon the
arrival there of the London train
| with the greater number of the pas
sengers, who subsequently lost their
lives. The steamer should have reach
ed the Hook of Holland at 6 o'clock
Thursday morning, and would then
have proceeded to Rotterdam.
AS the Berlin was entering the wa.
,erway at the entrance of the river
Mas, 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
We're 50 high that the boats were un-
able to approach close enough to take
OF my of the passengers or crew, and
the lifehoat men had to sit helpless
| while the steamer pounded until
she broke in two, and every soul on
board was carried down.
The waterway in which the disas-
ter occurred is a new one, on the
north side of which is the pier and
the railroad station. The steamer must
have been within few minutes OF
tvine up after her rough passage
across the North Sea, when she was
cvertaken by the disaster.
Land was but a few yards away
and except in the toughest weather,
those on board the Berlin could have
been rescued without difficulty, es-
necially as the waterway is navigable
at al times.
The Berlin was steel steamer,
twelve years old, and popular with
travellers to the north of Europe. in
summer she usually was crowded with
passengers, but at this time OF ths
wear her average was about as it
was Wednesday night, the number be-
ing equally divided between first and
second class.
Much difficulty is being experienced
in obtaining the names Of the passen-
gers, as the tickets were purchased
from many agents in London and
other cities, while some OF the tray
elers may have had return tickets.
The only names the company can be
sure Of are those of passengers who
secured reserved berths. The compa'
ny's agents are being asked to send
in Immediately to headquarters the
| names of all such persons.