Evening journal., 1914-01-15
COBEQUII. IS
LEFT TO FATE
ON THE ROCKS
Steamer Ri pedFrOm Stem to
Stern Will Be Total
Loss
SURVIVOR TELLS OF
HORROR OF THE SEA
By The United Press.


YARMOUTH, n. 5. Jan. l5.-ldpped
from stem to stern, the Royal Mail
steamer Cobequid was abandoned ON the
rocks OF Trinity Lodges today, when
her captain and eleven members of the
crew. who had chosen to remain with
the ship as long as possible, were taken
of and the stout little steamer left to
her fate. Cared for in the hotels OF
Yarmouth are sixteen passengers and
eighty members OF the crew, rescued last
night after dozen steamships had
combed the coast, searching for the
stricken vessel.
Hour after hour these passengers were
huddled IN little staterooms, while the
sea dashed over the Coboquid. driving
her hard against the rocks. Sister OF
Charity Baptista, who was Miss Anna
Bauld. OF Halifax, was among the pas
seneers and today told Of their suffer
ing and terror as they waited in the
darkness. with but slight hope of being
saved from death by drowning or freez-
ing
1T was early Tuesday when the Co
beauid went ashore, said Sister Bap-
tista. "A terrific gale was blowing and
we could scarcely see half the length OF
the ship.
The shock of the steamer striking
the ledge was felt by every passenger
on the boat. Il was between $50 and
O'Clock. Everyone rushed from the
staterooms and the women and child
rem were Immediately gathered for
ward in the captains cabin. We could
hear the high seas breaking over the
shin and the roar of the blizzard. The
wireless operator was swapping ou'
Ibis appeals for aid.
"Then the boiler rooms were mood
ed. We could hear the crash above
us as the pilothouse lifeboats and
companionway we're swept away. The
Cobequid seemed to give a terrific
lurch and then set back somewhat
It was then I guess. that she was
literally broken in two.
1T was intensely cold. There wat
. but little heat, fires being built II
buckets. over these little llazes. te'
was made and the officers and mem
bers of the crew did everything pos
sible to make us comfortable. Al
Tuesday night and then Wednesda,
2 wore on and no help had come w
e began to believe the ship was doomed
e ave could hear the sirens OF othe
e vessels as they seached through the iol
] but knew the Cobequid was helpless an
i unable TO answer. Our ship was soil
/. mass OF ice. We prayed that the ston
- might abate and the fog lift. The chi
,- dren. blue with cold, fretted and cri,
e bitterly.
n "Ihcn came the lifting Of the v,
e which had shrouded our prison. III
wireless operator managed 10 send
l. few feeble calls. Late i'm the atternoe
d ship WAS sighted heading toward u
e 1t was the Westport.
n "Sixty-eight persons first answer'
e the call OF the purser to take TO Il
i lifeboats. We had been provided wit
N life preservers when the ship first stru'
n and struggled up on deck.
"The sea was still running with
tremendous swell When the lifeboat WI
: lowered. IL danced and lurched in te
= rifving manner on the waters and a
casionally the waves still broke over q
Cobequid.
"The greatest difficulty was expef
enced in launching the boat. Wi
the high seas running only the cou
age and self-sacrificing efforts OF u
officers and crew made the trip poss
BILE"
/! Captain Hawson and the membe
Of the CobeQuid crew who remain'
aboard the vessel last night we
| llltaken off bv the government steam
iIiLansdowne today. The packet w
| rapidly breaking up and it was e'
! ldent that she would be total loss.