In the early hours of Thursday morning there occurred what
was probably the most terrible wreck that has ever taken place in the case of a Channel steamer. The Great Eastern Company's boat, the Berlin,' while performing her usual passage on the Hook-Harwich route, was lost with all hands and all passengers save one. The Berlin ' left Harwich on Wednesday evening at ten o'clock as usual, with about ninety- one passengers and a crew of fifty-two men. The weather when she started was exceedingly bad, so rough, indeed, that the wife of one of the passengers prevailed upon him at the last moment not to run the risk of crossing. About six o'clock, or an hour late, the boat was sighted nearing the piers which protect the entrance to the Hook of Holland Harbour. The entrance is not easy to make in rough weather, and in her effort to get in the 'Berlin' went ashore, probably after first striking one of the piers. Almost immediately after going ashore the ship broke in two, the fore part sinking at once. The after part of the ship did not sink, and her passengers and crew could be seen huddled together. exposed to the full fury of the gale. A lifeboat and several tugs attempted to give help, but the force of the wind and the high seas running made all approach impossible. The latest official telegram speaks of the possibility-of rescuing
survivors still on board. Among those who perished was one of the King's messengers, Mr. Arthur Frederick Herbert, en route for St. Petersburg with despatches. It does not appear that the wreck was caused by any fault on the part of the captain or ship's officers or crew, but must be regarded as due solely to the perils of the sea. No doubt a stronger and more powerfully built vessel, provided with watertight compartments, would have held out much longer, but we suppose the requirements of the Channel service necessitate lightly built vessels of shallow draught. '
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