Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-22
One Nan Of One Hundred and
Forty Three Lost at Sea.
MAI STEAMER STRIKES BANK OF SAND
High wind Blows and Life savers
Are Compelled 60 stand by and
watch Passengers and
Crew Perish.

] elnElc tAtNHlitl All Us NdeetiEt anu NANWs
numbering 1f5 persons, lost their lives or
arc clinging hopelesSly to the wreck.
The terrific seas broke up the steamer
I with such awful suddenness that all efforts
to save life appear TO have been utterly
hopeless. Late this evening II was reported
that few survivors were clinging to the
I wreck. but as the heroic efforts all day OF
the nfeboat crews had failed to reach
them little hope that they will be saved
remains.
No cause yet has been assigned for the
disaster and II probably never viii be
known how the steamer came TO miss the
channel II is conjectured that some de-
rsngement OF the engines or steering gear
may have rendered the vessel uncontrol-
able. Captain Precious Of the Berlin had
good record Of fourteen years service.
The list Of passengers on the fated steamer
was lost and all the names OF those who
were on board have not yet been learned.
but as far as has been ascertained there
were no Americans among them.
Vessel Founded TO Pieces.
terrific southwesterly gale was blowing
riEht in shore and drove the steamer on
a sand bank close to the northern tetty as
It was trying to enter the new waterway.
Heavy seas quickly pounded the vessel TO
pieces 1t broke in two. its forepart sink
ing Immediately. while the doomed pas
sengers and crew could be seen for brief
space Of time clustered the after part.
Then the afterpart slipped on the ledge
and disappeared In the mountainous
waves. Tugs and life boats promptly put
out to the assistance OF the Berlin when
the alarm was first sounded. but the vio-
Ience Of the gale and the heavy seas made
it impossible to approach the wreck. and
~ N.oT. -. %, H.
steamer break up and the crew and pas
seugers washed away without being able
20 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
consciousness when he was carried to
hotel in the nelghborhood.
BY o'clock In the morning twenty-five
bodies had already been washed ashore
Kings Message Lost.
The Great Eastern Railway company on
cials confirm the loss Of the steamer Ber-
lin with ali on board OF the coast Of HOl7
land. The Berlin carried .passengets and
crew to the number OF IN. Among those
drowned are nineteen members Of Ger
man opera company. who had just con-
cluded their season at covent Garden
Arthur Herbert. one of the kings mes
sengers who had journeyed to the conu-
nent. also was lost
With reference TO the members of the
German opera company. who left last night
on the Berlin. the manager Of Covent Gar
den said today:
So far as we know. these did not include
any OF the star artists. The party was
made up OF members OF the chorus return
ing 70 their homes. They made arrange
50 that we are not yet able 70 get an ex-
act list of their names
The disaster has aroused the most in
tense alarm among the other members OF
I the company owing TO the friendship and
relationships existing
The Berlin left Harwich at 10 O'Clock
last night upon the arrival there OF the
London train With the great number Of
! passengers who subsequently lost their
lives. The steamer should have reached
; the Hook Of Holland at 6 o'clock this
morning and would then have proceeded
to Rotterdam.
land near nj Hand
A great gale was blowing In the North
, I sea when the Berlin started. As the Ber-
; lin was entering the waterway. at the en-
trance OF the river Mass. however. it ap-
parently became unmanageabIe on ac-
count Of the force OF the wind and was
driven ashore. The alarm was given and
IIfeboats from the shore went 10 the as
sistance OF the steamer. but the seas were
!
proach the Berlin close enough TO take on
any OF the passengers or crew. and the
Hfeboat men had to sit helpless while the
, steamer pounded until it broke in two and
every soul on board was carried down.
: The steamer apparently struck about
amidships as its fore part broke OF and
sank Immediately. while its afterpart could
be seen for considerable period Of time
; afterward The waterway in which the
north Of which is the pier and the rail-
road station The steamer must have been
within a few minutes Of tying up after It's
rolling passage across the North sea, when
2 Il was overtaken by the disaster. Land
, was but a few yards away. and except in
the roughest weather those on board the
= Berlin could have been rescued without
= much dinleulty. especially as the waterway
= Is navigable at all tides.
The members OF the crew numbering
: hfty. were mostly Englishmen from Har-
: wfch. The ofhcsrs we're; Captain Precious:
q first ofhcer. c. NOrsley: second ofiesr J.
s Wyatt: chief engineer, Bennant: four as
ststant engineers and four steWardesses
s The Great Eastern Railway company this
e afternoon was able 20 issue q list OF for
Z eign passengers. including nineteen mem
= bers OF the German opera company who
e had Just finished their engagement az
J. COvent Garden and who had booked three
L weeks In advance N Berlin II IL pointed
/ out however. that some OF these may not
have sailed on account Of the stormy
weather
4 With the exception Of the manager Of
the opera company, there were only four
women and two children among the pas
Sengers. the other passengers being chiefly
business men
Musicians in Accident.
ROTTERDAM Holland. Feb. a--Hsrr
Denninger. a member OF the German Opera
company who has arrived here by way
: OF Antwerp. says that thirty-1ve q the
, company were on board the wrecked
steamer Berlin Dsnninger was too late
to catch the Berlin and came on the
Antwerp boat.
. actor Found Dead.
: NEW YORK. Feb. Z1Frank MacVIck-
D ars who had been playing IN the Man