The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-22
THE SALT LAKE HERALD. FRIDAY, FEBRUAR %, 1907

difficulty. especially as the waterway
Is nayigable at all tides.
The Berlin was a steel steamer, only
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 the
year her average was about as it was
last night, the number being equally
divided between first and second class
one of the inspectors of the railroad
Who saw the steamer tram or at the
Liverpool station said last night that
there We're more first-class than second
class passengers. most of them being
commercial men, or else inhabitants of
the continent returning home from
business trips to Great Britain. Much
difficulty is being experienced in OBJ
tanning the names of the passengers. as
the tickets were purchased from many
agents in London and other cities. The
only names the company can be sure OF
are those of passengers who secured
reserved berths.
The members of the crew, numbering
fifty. were mostly Englishmen from
Harwich. The officers We're Captain
Precious. First officer Morsley. Second,
officer ]. Watt and Chief Engineer
Bennant.
The Hfeboat Captain Jansen. which has
"A record of go lives saved. made despef-
ate efforts all day to reach the wreck ana
rescue any possible survivors Many
times communication with the Berlin was
esta blished. but each time the lifeboat
parted her anchor and hawser and was
swept away. Once she was within ten
yards of the wreck. and her crew could
hear the cries of the survivors cllngIng
to the stern of the Berlin The boiling
nnWpEer
impossible. and the hfebOat was CON-
PEELED to put back.
Many doctors are awaiting on the shore
here and have made attempts TO resus-
citate every one of the thirtythree bod
les so far washed ashore. but their ef-
forts have been fruitless.
Heroic Priests.
As fast as the bodies are gathered they
are sent to the dock yard of the Holland
American line. which has been trans
formed into mortuary chapel catholic
priests are performing the last offices
over the dead. One priest went out on
board tug. Another sought permission
to go out'in the lifeooat but was re-
fused.
The steamer Amsterdam Of the Great
Eastern Railway company has just ar
rived here. Her passengers heard cries
from the wreck as they passed it,
According to stories related By eye-wit-
nesses the Berlin took the channel en-
trance correctly and was making her way
between the piers when suddenly she was
seen to turn around as though her en-
sines had stopped. and a moment later
was dashed against the jetty.
Story Of Lone Survivor.
Captain Parkinson who appears to be
the sole survivor was on his way to Am
sterdam to join his vessel. the MyrmidOn
of the Holt line, to bring her back to Liv-
erpoOl. Describing the disaster he said
the night was the most terrible of all his
experience. Never had he seen such
weather. So terrific was the gale that
he remained all night completely dressed
on deck. Tine Berlin already was near
the north pier. ana the passengers. many
of whom had not gone below. were begin
ming to breathe easily again after the
with a violent shock. Then suddenly the
boat broke in twain. Captain Parkinson
hurried TO The bridge 10 offer Captain
Precious his help. but lust as he put his
foot on the ladder he saw the captain and
the pilot swept away by the seas.
OF what followed Captain Parkinson
cannot give clear account When he
recovered himself he was In the water
by floating timbers. One of
these he seized and he succeeded In keep
ing himself afloat until he saw the life |
boat. His cry for help was heard. and
he was picked up and brought ashore He 1
was taken to Hook station and removed |
thence to a hotel. He was in the icy /
storm-iashed water for about one hour |
captain PARKINSON Was almost IN tears /
as he recited what he had seen before /
being swept away by the waves.
Heard Agonizing Cries.
On the foredeck of the Berlin al the
moment of the disaster there were about /
100 persons, all of whom were hurled into
the sea. While Captain Parkinson was
in the water he heard all around him the 1
s1itied cries of the drowning He was
swept against floating corpses /
and estimates that he must have en- /
twenty bodies in this way
IL IS feared that the last vestige of the i
wreck will completely disappear tonight /
and there is little hope of rescuing the |
If there are any on board
some of the mails from the Berlin have !
been piaked up by fishermen
In addition To the mail bags picked I'D /
wo dispatch bags addressed to the Amer /
can ambassadors at Berlin and Copen- 1
hagen have been washed ashore with
their seals intact. Troops have been de-
tailed to patrol the coast to insure the 1
safety of pieces of mail that may be I
washed ashore.