Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-29
Passenger Steamer Lifted by
Great Seas and Smashed to
Pieces on Piers at Muskegon
Harbor Entrance.
so OF ~ PASSENGERS
SAVED FROM DEATH
Survivors, Most Of Whom
Escaped in Night Attire, Be-
ing Cared for by Members
of the Red Cross.

Muskegon, Mich, Oct. 2S.-With
ID known dead and six or more miss
ing, only time can bring an acct
rate count of the toll of the great
seas which early this morning bod
lily lifted the Crosby passenger
steamer Muskegon, formerly the
City of Holland, and smashed it TO
pieces on the piers at the entrance
to Muskegon harbor. The list of
dead is being added to almost
hourly.
The steamer. side-wheeler,
bound from Milwaukee, after outrid-
ing night of gale, made for the
harbor in the early morning dark
ness, but it said by Capt. Edward
Miller to have struck the bar at the
entrance. The wheel paddles
jammed in the sand, checking head
way, and the great combers threw
the ship about and hurled it onto
the pier There it hung, momenta-
rily, pounding into wreckage, and
then slipped off into the deep chan
mel, going down in 50 feet of water.
The vessel lies storm-torn tangle
of steel and splintered wood, effec-
tually blocking the harbor entrance.
50 Known to Be Saved.
Fifty of the u passengers and
crew, guided to safety by single
flashlight in the hands OF. coast
guard, were tonight known to have
been saved. 1t was feared several
we're caught between decks. Sur
vivors, most of whom escaped only
in their night clothing, were being
cared for by the Red Cross, while
in the city morgue lies the bodies
recovered.
James c. Reilly, Grand Rapids,
was added to the list of identified
dead tonight Il.
Graphic stories of terror, suffer-
ing and heroism We're told by sur
viyors, and the bravery of Capt
Edwin Miller and his officers and
crew, who remained at their posts
to the last. was recounted. Captain
Miller, sensing disaster as the vessel
was driven toward the pier, ordered
all to leap for their lives, and the
time-hallowed sea rule women
first" was followed. Only four
women, one of whom was employed
on the boat, were tonight known
to have been lost.
Women Leap From Ship.
The women, fearing to venture
over the rail. were bravely led by
Mrs. Fred L. Beerman of Muskegon,
who leapei from the ship. Others
jumped or were handed down ropes
by men passengers and crew.
Captain Miller, hard stricken by
the disaster and loss of lives, de-
clared the undertow swung his ship
after she struck the bar. Il told
the cabin boys to .waken the pas
sengers and crew, and ordered all
over the rail-" he said. "Those who
moved quickly were saved. The ones
who held back lost~their lives"
To R. ]. Kaknborsky,- coast
guard, many. of those saved owe
their lives, according to survivors.
Approaching as closely as possible
to the suspended steamer, he, while
others of the coast guard struggled
to free men and women from the
tangled wreckage, held hashlight,
directing the way to safety.
"It seemed that the ship was lifted
out of the water, striking with ter
rife force" said Kaknborsky. "The
lights went out and the boat was
pounded to kindling.
Uses Flashlight.
4 used a hashlight and it was by
this means that many of the pas
sengers were able to jump to the
piers"
The Muskegon was an iron ves-
sci, built in 1881 by the Holland
Steamship company and lately re-
built for the Crosby Line. She was
241 feet in length and had a gross
tonnage of 1,148.