The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1907-02-26
A VESSEL LOST
SCORES LOSE LIVES IN THE
RAGING SEA OFF THE
HOOK OF HOLLAND.
Rotterdam Mail s.Steamer Berlin
With 141 Passengers and Crew
Is Wrecked in Terrific Gale
While Close to Land,
and Victims 90 to
Death.

Death.
London, Feb. 21.-The Rotter
dam mail steamer Berlin, from
England, with 141 passengers and
crew was wrecked off the Hook of
Holland, at the entrance of the Riv-
ar Meas, leading to Rotterdam,
shortly before 6 o'clock this morn
ing, and with few exceptions all on
, board perished. A terrific south
west gale was blowing inshore, and
drove the steamer on q sandbank
close to the northern jetty as she
was trying to enter the new water.
way. Heavy seas quickly pounded
the vessel to pieces. She broke in
two, her fore part sinking immedi-
ately, while the doomed passengers
and crew clustered upon the after
part.
The after part Of the wrecked
steamer seems to be firmly imbed-
ded In the band bank. There are
etill few persons on board, cling
ing to the wreckage, and it is hoped
to effect their rescue at low tide.
During high water, at the height Of
the storm, the waves shut off all
view of the wreck, which led to the
belief that no trace of the Berlin
had been left. The receding tide,
however, revealed the remains oi
her stern, with handful OF surviv-
Ors.
The only person who, thus fal
has succeeded in reaching shore is
Captain Parkeston, of Belfast, Ire
land.
| Tugs and lifeboats, when the
alarm was fret sounded, promptly
put out to the assistance of the Ber.
Hin, but the violence of the gale and
heavy seas made it impossible tc
approach the wreck, and the help,
less lifesavers saw the steamer break
up and the crew and passengers
washed away without being able te
render the slightest assistance. One
man, an Englishmsn was saved.
He was unconscious when taken
out of the water, and bad not re-.
gained consciousness when he was
carried to a hotel in the neighbor-
hood.
By 7 o'clock this morning a7 had
already been washed ashore. =
Among those who were drowned
are 19 members of German opera
company, who had just concluded
their season at Covent Garden.
Arthur Herbert, one of the Kings
messengers, who was journeying tt
the Continent, also was lost.
The B Rio left Harwich at 1 O.
clock last night upon the arrival o
the London train with the create
number of passengers who subse
lquently lost their lives.
A great gale was hlowirg from
the North Sea when the Berlil
started. As the Berlin was entering
the waterway at the entrance of th
River Mas, however, she apparent
ly became unmanageable on accoun
of the wind and was driven ashore
The steamer apparently strucl
about amidship as her forepar
broke off and sank Immediately
while her afterpart could be seel
for q considerable time afterward
The waterway in which the disaste
occurred is new one, upon the sid
iof which is the pier and railroa
Istation. The steamer must hav
been within few yards Of tying u
after her rough passage when sh
was oyertaken BY the disaster
Land was but q few yards away
land except in the toughest weathe
81 those on board the Berlin coul
have, been rescued without difficult
: espacisll u as the WateiWayyis navi
i gable at all tides. s-5 :.
/ The Berlin was q steel steamer
J only Il years cld,, and popuia
! with travellers to the north of Eu
: rope. In summer she was usuall
I crowded with passengers, but a
| this time Of the year her averag
/ was about as it was last night, th
J number equally divided betwee
| first and second clase. One of th
4 inspectors Of the railroad who sa'
I the steamer eff at the Liverpo.
Ietation said last night that the1