New-York tribune., 1912-03-13
WAVE KILLS z ON LINER
Men Working at Stern Wheel OF
Rotterdam Swept from Feet.
SEA SMASHES STEEL DOOR
The Columbia Also Suffers from
Storm, Losing Two Lifeboats
and Part of Bridge.

Two big ocean steamships came into
mort Yesterday, each two days behind
schedule, one bearing the bodies OF two
men killed by the treacherous waters and
the other showing pair of empty cradles
that had held lifeboats when the voyage
began. They were the Rotterdam, or the
Holland America Line, and the Anchor
liner Columbia.
Both steamers met their worst weather
last Wednesday, and it was on that day
that the lifeboats went overheard from
the Columbia. During the twenty-four
hours from noon Wednesday to noon on
Thursday the Rotterdam made only III
knots, as against her best run or 40
knots on Sunday. But that was her sec
ond hurricane during the voyage. The
first struck her on Monday. three days out
from Rotterdam, and 1t was at s'3o on
that morning that the lives were lost
Four men, under command of Cornelis
Johannes van Heest, junior chief engineer
had gone TO the after end of the main deck
to repair the glass in one of the telegraph
indicators that give directions for the
hand wheel there when the steam steering
apparatus Is out of order. The wheel,
compass and two telegraph indicators
stand on the deck just outside the house
containing the steam steering engine. on
that morning both wind and sea were from
ahead. and the men had no thought or
danger
Suddenly. however, mountainous wave
swept over the stern on to the deck. There
was no chance of escape. 1t whirled the
hai shed through
the steel door OF the engine house as If II
had been paper and tossed them inside with
appalling force. Van Heest struck against
the port steering engine. breaking both
legs and fracturing several ribs. He died
within four hours Johannes Leonardus
WonteTs. boatswain, was caught by the
neck on the railing OF a companionway
leading TO the deck below and his back
was broken. He died three days later.
Disser, the ships plumber, and Ter Wort.
a seaman. were seriously injured.
Dr. George A. Blair. travelling in the
second cabin, was summoned to assist in
caring for the injured men. and for the
service which he rendered was rewarded
with a first cabin stateroom for the rest
OF the voyage.
was visible yesterday when the vessel ar
rived. The starhoard telegraph. when the
men were in the act OF repairing mac
been torn from It's fastenings; the com
pass was gone. the steel wall OF the deck
house was bent inward several inches. ana
there was a gaping hole In the deck over
head where "A companionway should have
been. Even the captain, G.. Stenger, COM
uodore of the Holland American fleet, ad-
mitted that the hurricane was of unusual
violence.
Both OF the dead men left families at
home i'm Rotterdam. The boatswain Is sur
vlyed by a wife and flve children. twins
having been added 10 his family less than
eight weeks ago For them the passengers
a purse Of $3.50.
A serious accident was narrowly averted
as the Rotterdam steamed up the bay yes
terday through the fog. The Camaguey.
OF the New York and Cuba Line. hove In
sight dead ahead. II. was only by re-
yersing her engines that the little freighter
escaped the sharp prov OF the liner Ii
the collision had come the liner might have
felt II. too. for there were forty cases OF
powder in the innocent looking Camaguey's
hold.
The wave which boarded the Columbia
on Wednesday besides carrying away the
two Hfeboats, crushed four others. stove
in the wireless telegraph house tore away
a portion OF the navigating bridge
wrenched two steel gangway gates from
n cir fastenings and twisted rails In every
direction. Two coal passers. working In
the bunkers. were buried beneath an ava
Iarche of coal. but were dug out with no
more serious injuries than bruises.
The only three passengers well enough
10 be about were I'm the smoking room at
the time playing poker, but when a part
Of the comber finding It's way In. soaked
their cards and scattered the kitty far
and wide, they gave it up also and went