Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-03
FATE OF SEAL SHIP
STILL IS IN DOUBT
Southern Cross. With ITO
Aboard, Once Reported Safe
at Channel, N. F.
RESCUE VESSEL IN ICE
OFF CAPE BONAVISTA
Bellaventure Carries 35 Survivors
and So Bodies From the New
foundland-St. Johns Stirred.

celNed early today indicated that lhe
sealing steamer Southern Cross, famous
as one of the vessels used i'll the Shackle-
ton antarctic expedition and which car
ried a crew of 40 men, had come safely
through the storm of Tuesday, which
brought death to more than sixty menu
bers of the crew of the sealer NeWlound-
land The reports were that the South
ern Cross was safe at Channel, n. T.,
a tinv port near Cape Race, and that
the sealer Erick also was there.
Doubt Is Manifested.
Confidence in the safety of the South
ern Cross excited by the report that she
was at Channel. gave way to doubt as
the day advanced and no confirmation Oh
the early tidings was received. The only
message that came here indicating tlal
the sealer had found refuge was dis
patch from North sydney n ;. Inns
stated that wireless messages received
at Sydney last night reported the South-
ern Cross at Channel
The government was skcptlcai re
,gardng the report, and this morning
Asent a wireless message to the ohlteu
Estates revenue cutter Seneca asking
her to search for the Southern cross
The Seneca is patrolling Tor lceperSs
100 miles off Cape Race. Practlcaily
all communication by telegraph OF
wireless with the southern coast has
been interrupted since Tuesday, When
the gale tore down telegraph lines and
aerials The blizzard continued to-
day.
Brings Men and Bodies.
The Bellayenture, one of the sealing
feet. was nearing this port today in
the midst of another storm, bringing
fifty-eight bodies and thirty five sur
vivors of the men of the Newfoundland,
who We're overwhelmed by the biz
gard while hunting seals on the ice
floes. SiXty-four men are known 70
have perished. After getting out OF
range Of the wireless station at Cape
Fogo, on Fogo Island. third of the
way down the east coast from the
sealing grounds, the Bellaventure was
unable to send further news of the
disaster.
Everything was in readiness here for
the care Of the bodies and the reliet
of the suffering men who had escaped
death. but had been severely injured by
forty-eight hours exposure to the bitter
wind and driving snow. 1t was arranged
to take the survivors to the Grenfell
Seamens Institute.
There are two distinct sealing grounds
to which vessels of the Newfoundland
feet make their annual trips. The
steamer Newfoundland was with four
teen others of the fleet off the coast
near the Strait of Belle Isle The South
ern Cross, with five other sealerS, did
it's hunting on the opposite side of the
island, in the Gulf of st. Lawrence
Vessel Blocked in Ice.
When ninety miles from port the
Bellaventure became blocked in the ice
off Cape Lonavista, and at noon her
captain sent a wireless message stating
that il might be Sunday before he could
dock. Many of the rescued sealers are
so ill that the death list probably will
be increased. AS the recently equipped
wireless station for the sealing Steam
ers was partially wrecked in yesterdays
gale. communication with the Bellaven-
turs was established today through the
Furness line steamer Eagle Point.
1t has been many Years since this citv
has been so stirred over. an ocean dis
aster. Hundreds of people roamed the
streets all night besiesing the newspaper
offices. the telegraph stations, the gov
ernment chamber .and the Grenfeu in
stitute- where the survivors will be
housed. but news was mcager while no
list of dead was available. Many in the
crowd We're relatives or intimate friends
of those who sailed month ago on The
Newfoundland.
NEW YORK. April "A private mes
sage received here today said that the
sealer Southern Cross had not arrived
at Channel y. F., as reported from St
Johns, and grave fears were expressed
for the vessels safety.