The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-04-21
SCILLY ISLAND
WRECKERS MAKE
GOOD HAUL
Bleaching Of Minnehaha Provides
the Opportunity
CARGO THROWN OVERHEARD
Nearly 10000 Tons Of Merchandise
Cast Into Sea to Tighten
the Liner

HughtoWn, St Mary, Scilly Is
lands, April 2l.-The inhabitants of
the rocky Scilly Islands have al
ways been famous wreckers, but they
will forever remember yesterday as
the greatest day in their history. The
Atlantic Transport liner Minnehaha,
which ran ashore early on Monday
morning, disgorged part Of her 1900
tons of valuable cargo. all day long
casting 1t upon the waters, to be gat-
hered up by those who cared to take
the trouble.
Farming and fishing was abandon
ed school even was dismissed, and
most of the population Of the nearby
islands, men, women, and children,
devoted themselves to obtaining
treasures from the waves.
The salvagers decided to try to res
cue the Minnehaha in the same man.
ner as in the case OF the White Star
steamship Suevic. which went ashore
near the Lizard in March, 1907, by
cutting her in half.
Every effort to tighten the ship is
now imperative. The waves beat up
too high and strong for the tugs to go
alongside. Consequently goods were
thrown overheard from the forward
hold as fast as the steyedores and a
large crew, who arrived from Fall
mouth, could raise them to the deck,
Huge cases containing automobiles
and pianolas followed one another
over the side, striking the water with
great splash. Sewing machines
and clocks went with them, while
Michigan furniture fioated every
where. Many bales OF cigarettes
covered the face of the water, and
tons OF cheap American novels drift
ed to the nearby shore OF Bryher.
where they we're piled up like sea
weed.
Tidings of this jettlsoning OF
wealth spread early, and feet OF
fishing craft. luggers. and rowboats
scurried to the scene. AS fast as the
cargo hit the water the enterprising
boatmen pulled up the smaller cases,
while they took the larger one in tow.
Most OF the machinery was taken
from the wreck and transported 10 st
Mary's where the customs officials
took charge OF Il. II will be stored
in warehouses, and later sold by the
insurance companies. but II is doubt
full whether the watersoaked articles
will bring much.
Many boatloads OF provisions were
taken ashore at other points by the
islanders. The people Of Bryhei
Island fished out boxes OF food. tea
and tobacco, and thousands of paper
covered novels. enough to keep the
islands in reading matter for cen
fury
Two hundred and twenty-four cat
tie swan ashore, while ten were
drowned. Hay was brought from the
steamer to feed the survivors.
The seamen here think that II will
be impossible to save the Minnehah'
and they expect the first strong wine
to break her to pieces.
The Mlnnehaha lies pointing south
west, with Long Rock in parable
direction. She appears as though
she were at anchor and smoke still
curling from her funnel adds TO tn
Illusion. In the half.mlle channel be
tween her and the little island, wher
the passengers first landed and th
cattle are now huddled, are assemb
ed several tugs, comparatively. SINAI
boats. which are unable to approac
closer. but are standing by in case q
emergency.