Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1899 — NEARLY 100 PERSONS DROWN. [ARTICLE]

NEARLY 100 PERSONS DROWN.

Engllali Excursion Steamer Stella Sinks in the Casquets. The steamer Stella, with tourists for the islands of Jersey and Guernsey, struck on the Casquets, a few miles off the French coast, and sank in eight minutes, her boilers exploding with a tremendous report as she went down. There were 176 passengers on board, only eighty of whom are reported saved. Captain Reeks went down with the ship. The Stella was crowded with Easter holiday excursionists from London and Southampton. A thick fog prevailed and the Stella got out of her course. When the vessel struck the Casquets the people on board became greatly excited. The officers of the vessel, aided by a few cool heads, made their way among the frightened excursionists and checked a threatened panic. The people were crowded into small boats as fast as possible, the women and children taking precedence. The steamers Lynx and Vera, which happened to be in the vicinity, rescued several boat loads of the shipwrecked people. All available boats at Guernsey, the nearest point, went to the scene of the wreck. Despite the efforts of the ship’s officers the incredibly short time in which the steamer settled caused great confusion, and there was not time to distribute life preservers to all the passengers. Some of these did not watt for the boats, but jumped into the water. Several of them were picked up clinging to pieces of wreckage. The rescued passengers are unanimous iu their praise of the conduct of the crew.