People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1895 — EXPLOSION AT SEA. [ARTICLE]

EXPLOSION AT SEA.

GERMAN SHIP ATHENA LOST IN MIDOCEAN. The Cargo of Nltro-Glycerine Exploded —Fourteen of the Crew Ferlsh —Six Men Rescued by the British Steamer Tafna —List of Those on Board. Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 18. —The German ship Athena, from New York for Bremen, was lost at sea on Sunday, Dec. 15, together with the captain and 13 men, who were part of a crew of 20 men. The first-mate, second-*nate, and four seamen were picked up by the British steamer Tafna, bound for this port. The accident was due to an explosion of the ship’s cargo of naphtha and nitro-glycerine. The explosion occurred while the ship was lying in a helpless condition at sea off Cape May, N. J. Following is a list of those lost: Capt. M. Haak, George Kenke, cook; Fritz Nehring, Hans Roenig, John Spencer, John Anderson, Johann Voght, R. Wahlen, Sallmeske Holtz, Hans Asmussan, Wilhelm Heinz, Bernard Pechsteir, apprentice; two cabin boys, names not known. Those saved were: Alex Franzelius, first-mate; John Freese, second-mate; William Moulder, carpenter; John Rudsit, Martin Pillis, George Schroeder. The Athena left New Yor' Dec. 10 with a cargo of naphtha in barrels and several hundred cases of nitro-gly-cerine. She experienced severe weather until Friday. On that day she had all her masts carried away and sprung a leak. Her bow sank down into the water and the deck was submerged to where the foremast had been. On Saturday morning the Tafna was sighted. Distress signals were hoisted, but, on account of the heavy seas, the British steamer could not get near her. The Tafna signaled that she would stand by until Sunday. On Saturday afternoon the vessels drifted apart, and the Athena’s crew had given up all hope of being saved, but at daybreak on Sunday morning the Tafna was again sighted. Sunday morning about 8 o’clock the Tafna approached the Athena, and when within a cable’s length of her a flame was seen to shoot out of the center of the deck and the portholes at the stern. A terrific explosion followed, and instantly every man on board the doomed ship was either thrown or jumped into the icy water. The Tafna put out boats to rescue the men, but they # were only able to pick up six. It is supposed that the remaining 14 were so injured by the explosion or numbed by the cold water that they were unable to battle with the heavy sea which was running at the time. , ' * .v ,!

Tflfe Tafna lay by for two hours before continuing on her voyage. . The only theory that can be advanced for the explosion is that the side of the vessel was sprung during the heavy weather, and the barrels of explosive oil rubbing together caused a spark, which ignited their contents. Capt. Haak, the commander of the Athena, was about 45 years of age. He leaves a widow and two daughters in Germany. Just watch the inside-the-party free silver Democrat after tfhe homing of the national Democratic convention in 1896. Dollars to doughnuts he will tuck his tail and lick the hand of his political masters.

When Democrats in Kansas vote the Republican ticket, and Republicans in Texas vote the Democratic ticket —as was the case in both instances last fall, for the purpose of defeating the Populists, who otherwise would have won, it is simply the fulfillment of predictions made years ago by the Greenbackers that, when driven to the wall, the leaders of both old parties would unite, notwithstanding their former enmities. As further evidence that there are no real differences existing between the old parties, that they are committed to the same policy, we have only to cite to records of congress on the repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman law, the coinage of silver and the more recent question of issuing bonds, but the most striking evidence of the unity and good feeling existing among the leaders of the old parties is the warm and hearty support Mr. Cleveland is receiving from the leading Republican papers in his financial policy. There really seem to be more leading Republican papers supporting his policy than Democratic papers. The St. Louis Globe-Demo-Crat is giving a more hearty support and is far more adulatory and fulsome in its flattery of Grover than its contemporary, the Republic, a. Democratic paper. Honest Republicans and Democrats may well inquire, “Where are we at?” when their leaders and organs are so lovingly embracing each other and cooing like sucking doves. How long can the honest rank and file in the old parties by deceived by their hypocritical leaders? If there are no differences between the old parties why keep up the sham fight between them? What is the necessity for two party organizations when the leaders of both find it necessary to unite? These may be difficult questions to answer, but in all sincereness, friends, do they not claim your serious attention?