Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-12
Sole Survivor From Gen.
Chanzy Unable to Tell
Story.
SHIP WAS CRUSHED
Struck on Rocks on Island OF
Minorca While Running
Before Gale.

Palma, Island Of Minorca, Feb. 12.-
Bodies are floating ashore today from
the wrecked steamer General Chanzy
Marcel Rodel, an Algerian customs Of
6cer, the only known survivor, is still
unable today to give a lucid account
of the disaster. When the vessel went
down he clung to a piece of wreckase
and was washed ashore. When tossed
on the rocks he was rendered insensi-
BILE and in this state remained through
out the night.
Reaches a Village.
Reviving in the morning he wan
dered about aimlessly most of the day.
finally stumbling into the village of
Cludadela exhausted and almost de
mented From his rambling story the
authorities first learned of the disaster
and rushed help to the nearest land
point. They found only a mass of
wreckage piled up on the coast.
Occurred wednesday might.
Paris, Feb. 12.-Advices received to-
day state the loss of the steamer Gen
sral Chanzy occurred Wednesday night
while the vessel was running before
a terrible storm in the vicinity of the
Balearic islands in the Mediterranean.
When the vessel struck, the shock was
terrific and the ship was literally bro
ken in pieces. The only Americans
aboard were Miss Elsie Henry and
team known as Dorenda and Green, ac-
robats, members of a vaudeville com
9any.
On Rocks at Full Speed.
Island Of M4RSFcs, -Fe5.s12.--
Driven helplessly from its course IN
one of the widest storms that has
swept the Mediterranean sea in 40
years, the French Transatlantic
Steamship company's steamer General
Chanzy crashed at full speed. in the
dead of night, on the treacherous reefs
near the Island of Minorca, and all
but one Of 157 souls on board perished.
The sole survivor is an Algerian Gus
toms official. Marcel Rodel, who was
rescued by a fisherman and who lies
in the hospital at Tiudadela ravtng as
a result of the tortures through which
he passed and unable to give an ac-
count of the disaster.
In the ships company there were 81
passengers. of whom 80 were in the
first cabin The crew numbered 70.
1t is not thought that any Americans
were aboard the liner.
Captain Was Experienced Man.
The ship was in command of Cap
tain Cayol, one of the most careful
officers of the line. In his long ex-
perience he had never before met with
an accident. He had intended to re-
tire from the service in the near future.
The passengers of the Chanzy were
mostly French officers and officials re-
turning to their post in Algeria, ac-
companied by their wives and chill
dren; a few soldiers, some Italians
and Turks and one priest. The only
Anglo-Saxon names on the passenger
list were Green and Stakely. They
were members of an opera troupe of
II which had been engaged to sing at
the Casino in Algiers.
The General Chanzy sailed from
Marseilles Wednesday at noon and
was due to arrive at Algiers Thursday
afternoon.
Ship Is Total Loss.
The Chanzy is a total wreck. Steam
ships have been dispatched from Spain
and from points in the Balearic islands
to the scene of the catastrophe.
Among the victims was the cele-
brated Partisan music hall singer,
Francis Dufor, as well as other promi-
nent music hall favorites.
The General Chanzy struck at
o'clock Thursday night. after Captain
Cayol. with all his experience. had
been unable to cope with the tempest
Of almost unprecedented violence.
Other ships in the neighborhood had
safely ridden out the storm, but the
Chanzy fell prey to the elements, was
lifted off its course through the Bal
earic archipelago and brought up on
the coast of Minorca, in the vicinity
of Ciudadela
Fishermen at daybreak picked up
Rodel clinging to a piece of wreckage. |
Pathetic Scenes at Port.
Marseilles, Feb. 12.-The news of |
the wreck of the General Chanzy |
caused CONSERVATION in this city, |
whence the vessel sailed. Relatives |
and friends of the passengers and crew |
rushed to the steamship office, lmpIor.
ing details of the accident. Pathetic |
scenes were enacted when they were |
informed that with the exception 0f |
one passenger all on board had per
ished.
A gil whose betrothed was on
board the lost vessel went to the quay |