Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-22
ONLY ONE MAN SAVED,
CONTINUED from Page One.)

subsequently IOSI tneIr lives. Inc
steamer should have reached the Hook
of Holland at o'clock Thursday morn
ing and would have preceded for Rot
terdam.
A great gale was blowing in the
North Sea when the Berlin started, but
the weather was no worse than on the
previous night when similar vessels
made the trip without mishap.
AS the Berlin was entering the water
way at the entrance Of the river Mas,
however, she apparently became un-
manageable on account of the force Of
the wind and was driven ashore. The
alarm was given and life boats from
the shore proceeded to the assistance
of the stricken steamer, but the seas
were so high that the boats were unable
to approach the Berlin close enough to
get off any of the passengers or crew
and the life boat men had to sit help
less while the steamer pounded until
she broke in two and every soul on
board was carried down.
The steamer apparently struck about
amidships as her forepart broke off and
sank Immediately, while her after part
could be seen for considerable time
afterwards. The waterway in which
tie disaster occurred is a new one on
the north side Of which is the pier and
railroad station. The steamer must
have been within a few minutes of ty-
ing up after her rough passage across
the North sea when she was overtaken
by the disaster. Land was but few
yards away and except in the toughest
weather those on board could have been
rescued without difficulty, especially as
the waterway is navigable at all tides.
The Berlin was a steel steamer only
- years old and popular with travellers
to the north Of Europe. In summer she
was generally crowded with passengers.
bat at this time of year her average
was ABOUT as it was Wednesday night
the number being equally divided be-
tween first and second class.
One of the inspectors of the railroad
who saw the steamer train Off at the
Liverpool street station Wednesday
night said that he thought there were
more first-cl2ss than second-class pas
sengers. most of them being commercial
men or persons having professional
business engagements on the Continent
! or else inhabita of the Continent re-
turing home from business trips to
Great Britain. Much difficulty is met
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 travellers may have
mad return tickets. The only names the
Company can be sure of are those of the
passengers who secured reserved berths
and the company's agents are being
asked to send in Immediately to head
quarters the names of all such persons.
The result was that the Great Eas-
tern Railway Co. Thursday afternoon
was able to issue list of As passengers,
| including 10 members of the German
| Opera Co., who had just finished their
engagement ut Covent garden. who had
| bought berths in advance. It is pointed
out however, that some of these may
not have sailed as travellers often
change their minds when the weather
| is stormy. The name OF one man who
| booked cabin passage and who decid
| ed rot to sail an the Berlin on account
of the rough weather. is made public.
With the exception CT the MEMBERS of
| the German Opera Co., only four wo
men and two children We're among>the
i Passengers, the others being chiefly
| business men. many of them natives
| land. Among the latter were several
| diamond merchants, who doubtless car
rieG valuable parcels of diamonds.
Arthur Herbert. the Kings foreign
service messenger, who was drowned.
was a grandson of the Third Earl of
Fowls, and was on mission to the
courts of Copenhagen, st. Petersburg.
Berlin and Teheran, bearing important
dispatches to the heads of the foreign
offices at those capitals.
Capt. Precious. the drowned COM
mander of the Berlin, was senior COM
mander of the Great Eastern Railway
Cos. feet and was considered to be a
particularly competent officer.
Among the members of the German
Opera Company known to have been
drowned is Mrs. Bertram, wife of the
well-known baritone, Theodore Bert
ram, who sailed for Rotterdam a day
previous to the departure of his wife.
who was delayed by indisposition.