The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-01-14
Mail Steamer Cobequid
Hard Aground on Ra.ss:sss
0rNf
LIVES oheSs,slso PEOPLE IN
PERIL - ASSISTANCE
Being RUSHED.
Vessel Being Battered to Pieces by
Waves and Last Message Was
That Ship Was Filling.

HALIFAX, y. s. Jan. IA wire
less cry for help from the Royal Mail
steamer Cobequid. fast on the dread
I ed ledge OF Grand Manan. iust he
fore dawn today. followed five hours
later by final flicker OF her radio
saying mat the ship was filling. has
caused grave concern for the 100 per.
sons on board.
The Cobequid was bound for ST
John. y. r.. from the British West
indies. in command Of Captain Haw-
son, completing her first round trim
over this route. She had a crew OF
lV2 men, number OF second class
passengers and the following in the
nrst class cabin: l.. s. Navarro. l..
botta, w. {. Zoller. Mrs. Zoller and
cnlld. She had called at Bermuda
but most OF her passengers were from
points south of there.
Whether the Cobeduid had sur.
vived an all day battering by hurri-
cane seas and would hold together
until one OF the fleet OF nearly n
dozen rescue boats could reach her
was a matter of increasing hourly
anxiety tonight.
Up TO dark no trace OF the dis.
tressed vessel had been found on the
east shore OF the Bay of Fundy.
Where she was first reported aground
Nor could a glimpse be seen through
NE vapor which shrouded the west
SIDE or Grand Manan. on one of whose
numerous ledges Il was later be-
lieved she rested.
The Cobequid was formerly the
steamer Goth and had been pressed
INTO the winter service from mari
time provinces TO the tropics. She
sailed from Halifax on December 8
Tor west Indian ports and started
north again on December 30 for Gre
nada. She called at Bermuda on the
sth and then cleared for St. John.
Encountered Blizzard.
Approaching the bay OF Fundy, ia
nous for its swift tides and noun
famous seas. a blizzard descended
upon inc steamer. Captain Hawson
was heading for Gannet Rock light.
the guide to the western side of the
bay and a warning of the ledges
Whlch stretch ten miles to the south
ward OF Grand Manan. IL was about
sunrise when the operator at the wire
less station at Cape Sable across the
pay picked MP the Cobequids cry for
help. The message said that the YES
sci had struck a ledge of BTier
Island. which Is on the east side OF
the bay, and needed immediate assist
ance. For the next few hours frag-
mentary messages were received
from the stranded steamer. one of
which said that the forward hold was
hlling. Al 9:40 n. m. came the last
gasp or the fading wireless to the ef-
rect that the engine room was flooded
the batteries were exhausted and the
operator was unable TO get any
sparks
In the meantime both the Canadian
and American governments had be-
gun active measures for rescue. The
German steamer Kronprinzessin Ceci-
a u - NaNa
New 1ork, was urged TO change her
course and head for the Cobequid.
2OO miles TO the northward
other Steamships Sent.
lhe government steamer Lady
Laurier was started out from this port
for the run of $50 miles 10 Grand
Manan. The steamers Belvidere.
Helena and Lansdowne were asked to.
help and the revenue cutter Wood
bury. in command Of Lieutenant
Ridglcy. on her way from Portland
10 Bockland. were ordered TO steam
iull speed for the scene
Toward night Il was discovered
that the cable steamer Tyrlan was
AT anchor behind CampObeIlO only
forty miles from Gannet Rock iiabt
ana message was sent TO her skip.
per urging him 20 proceed immediate.
ly 10 the aid Of the Cobcquid.
When the keeper of the Rrier
iHANNiN NAN.AN WAS nOIlIIH0 oil fnN Ewr q
dent IN the hope that ne might give.
some Information regarding tho
Cobequid. he replied that he saw no
trace Of her This was subsequently,
confirmed by the steamer John 4,
Tenn, which made n circuit Of the
island during the day. On "a re-read.
ing Of the first message from The
Cobequid. the opinion was reached
mat the navigator was at n loss as
to the real position of the steamer and
that she was In reality ON the west
Communication Cut on.
fortunately communication with
Grand Manan had been cui of some
ilmo before. through the breaking of
inc cable. 90 thar no Information
could Do obtained from there. n WIS
expected fUnt some OF the steamers
would be- on Ganuot Rock Iiaht by
midnight and that the Woodbury
would roach The scene by a. M
Hope was felt that they would Boz
able tO sight the Cobcuuil as there
was bright moon and the gale To-
n'ghf seemed 90 ho ruhsidinr
Tho Grand Mannn LODGES have been
The scene ~ many disasters. but loss
or llfo BIAS been comparatively small
Twelve years ago the steamer War
wick struck ON MUIR. one Of the most
extensive OF the ledTcs and ovontu-
ally went 10 pieces but not until aU
on board bad been BROUGHT ashore
and much cargo. Including hundreds
of cases of whisksy bad been Urhf-
cred bv fishermen Tho steamer Hes
'ia was lost ON old Proprietor ledge.
October 2f. 1909. and ail but six uf
The forty ON board were lost
The Goth was built for the Union
Castle Mail lno af Belfast. ireland
In 1893 She is of steel and regis
tors 500 Tor. Gross and 2g1O tons
net She is 500 feet boo length and
equipped with twin screws
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