Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1915-02-26
SHIP STRUCK MINE
AMERICAN STEAMSHIP EVELYN
LOADED WITH COTTON, SUNK
IN NORTH SEA.
CAPTAIN AND CREW SAVED

CAFIAlN ANU CREW SAvEL
Nationality of Mine Which Did the De
struction Not Estabiished-Ger-
many OiscIaims Responsibility,
as She Needs Cotton Badly.
Bremen.-The American steamship
Evelyn which sailed from New York
on January 20 with "a cargo of cotton
for Bremen, struck mine Sunday of
Borkum island, in the North sea. The
vessel sank. Her captain and 81 OF
her crew were saved. The nationality
of the mine which destroyed the Eve
Ign has not been established.
| The Evelyn is the first American
vessel to meet with disaster as re
suit of the sea warfare of the Euro
pean nations. 1t did not sink within
the war zone included in the German
admiralty's decree of February 4
which went into effect Feb. IS. Bor
KUN island lies directly off the Ger
man coast, at the mouth of the Ems
river, and is German territory.
Maritime records give the compile
ment of the Evelyn at % men, so that
it is probable that all on board the
vessel were rescued.
The Evelyn was single screw steel
steamship and was commanded by
Captain Smith. 1t was owned by the
firm of Harriss, Irby & Vose of New
York and carried a cargo of cotton tC
Bremen 1t was 252 feet long and 1885,
tons net 1t was built in Southampton
England, in 1888 It's home port was
Philadelphia.
The Evelyn was last reported as ar
irving at Rotterdam on February II.
While the extent of sea zones of wal
proclaimed by Germany was never de
fined exactly, the Borkum islands are
considered far distant from the danger
areas of submarines, although the wa
tiers of that vicinity are filled with
mines for defensive purposes, through
which Germany always has piloted in
coming ships. At the German embassy
it was pointed out that the accident
must have been caused by a mine, as
Germany, sorely in need of cotton
would have no object in torpedoing {
vessel laden with such a cargo fol
German consumption.
Early press dispatches from Berlin
announcing the loss of the vessel by {
mine caused somewhat of a sensation
in this capital, where the tension ha.
been more or less pronounced over the
situation in the war zones since the
dispatch of warning notes by the Uni
ted States to both Great Britain ant
Germany. 1t was conceded informal
ly that If the cause of the accident was
a mine there probably would be M
ground for diplomatic action by the
United States, as the laying of mines
is not prohibited by any internationa
convention now in force.
Berlin Blames England.
notwithstanding to advices receiv
ed here Captain Smith of the American
steamer Evelyn has informed the Ger
man authorities that his ship came II
grief through the advice of British
naval boarding officer, who instructed
him to follow the course on which hi
struck the mines, instead of the north
erly course, as laid down in the Ger
man instructions. The disaster occur
red at o'clock Friday morning ant
the Evelyn sank seven hours later
| Captain Smith, Dutch pilot, and l;
/ men drifted in row boat initial Sat
urday afternoon when they were res
cued by German patrol boat.
TWO MORE SUNK.
Another American steamer, the
Carib, has been destroyed by a mine
off the German coast, while a thirt
| Norwegian steamer, the Regin, has
been torpedoed or destroyed by &
mine off Dover. In the case of the
Regin all the crew We're saved by
British destroyers, and although mo-
stated in the dispatches from Berlin
it is believed that the crew of tht
Carib also escaped. The government
collier Branksome is reported to have
struck mine or was torpedoed il
the English channel Tuesday after
noon The crew is reported safe
passed by the Idaho legislature today
was the Johnson act, house bill 95
putting on the statute books the nee
essary machinery to put into effect
the initiative, referendum and recall
The act applies to the state, counties
and cities
Vancouver Man Suicides.
/ Vapcouvar Woch-C w Cp;rao q