The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-10-23
shlpWreck Of the Evening Star.
statement OF One Passengers.
TERRIBLE SCENES.
How tho Survivors Escaped.

sAAV SotaA SANVHS AISCsspcUs
New York, October 15.-The respons
sibility for the loss of the Evening Star
continues to be discussed by the-daily-
papers. The following interesting par
ticulars are taken from the Statements
Of passengers who were saved About
midnight, it began to blew "a hurricane.
with very ugly cross wind in the trough
of the sea. The night was dark. fear
fully dark. Nothing but thesmos solid, !,
gloomy darkness all around. No view to
cheer, nothing to remind the terrified
passengers of the deep sea over which
they rode but the foam of the. spray
which came in showers on our decks.
At this time the hurricane was SO fur
ious, and the steamship thrown so COM
pletely at its mercy, that for the general
safety the Captain was obliged to send
all the women below and lock them in the
cabin. We were now about two hundred
and forty miles north east of Matanilla
Reef, and one hundred and eighty miles
from land, and from this time until she
went down she never changed her posi-
ton. ~ So s. sa5llQ
At three o'clock A. NJ, October 3, we
commenced bailing the ship from the en-
CINE room and after cabin, at (which the
women helped with all their might, and
with; all the strength of frenzy and de-
spair, satna isl. trst
h. About four A. M. the starboard rudder
chain got out of the shiern, and the wheel
houses were washed overheard. AT FIVE
A. M. the engine was thoroughly disa-
bled in spite of the superhuman efforts
Of the chief engineer and his assistants
The increase of the water in the ships
hold soon drove the men from their duty
by the cargo shifting aft. The hurricane
was all this time blowing with agfury
which was fearful, terrific and appalling
in the extreme. Atabout five A. NJ, the
Captain went into the cabin and notified
the passengers that he had done all in
his power, and that the ship would GER
tainly go down. b49o
Some of the seamen were, at this mo-
ment assisting in getting the boats free
from the fastenings of the ship, while the
Captain was exorting the passengers tc
act eoolly. The storm continued to how,
in the most fearful and depressing man
ner, and, now came the most thrilling
moment of our trying time. The women
shfieking frightfalIy, rushed on deck il
the most frantic manner, tearing theil
hair, and in many ways acting more like
lunatics, than beings endowed with rea
son. Reason at this moment had GER.
tainly abdicated its throne, and nothing
buttbe widest state Of madness had the
poor beings come to- The men were
equally as violent, though for such a
scene it may have been worse. The wo-
men commenced diyesting themselves o.
their clothing, and madly, and wildly
| plunged into the foaming surf, never
to rise to its surface more,,e.5g4 8,
The Captain and crew tried to prevent
this, but to no avail; despair controlled
their actions, and rather than face lin.
gering death, many Of them voluntarily
sought that grave which opened with such
fearful jaws to receive their fearful all
While these fearful scenes were being
enacted, which was about SIX A. M.,' the
ship took heavy lurch, settling fast. A
heavy sea boarded her, and with one fear
ful continued lureh, down she went, and
all was over with the Evening Star,
Another statement says that only foul
life preservers were on board the Even
ing Star, which were distributed among
the ladies. The members Of, the ballet
troupe and the French circus company
not speaking English, could not under
stand what orders were given in relation
to the boats, and very few, if any, man
aged to reach them. elaG stse
Shrieks Of the frantic women could be
heard above the roar of the angry waves
rushing to and fro, imploring for aid, /, but
it was each for himself,
In addition to the French circus com,
pany and ballet troupe, there were forty
two frail women who, for various reasons
were seeking another field to prosecute
their unboly calling. some with impair
ed constitutions were migrating to q
warmer cline; others were suffering with
ennai, and merely wanted change oi
scene. 1t is stated that one young girl
has left a widowed mother, sister aud
child unproyided for-she being theil
only support.
John Thuro, of New Orleans, one of the
passengers Of the ill-fated vessel, bought
policy for $40 900 in the Accidental In
surance Company, for which he paid
$40. f.pg4sses
Several of the unfortunates had theil
lives insured for the benefit Of those de.
pendent upon them, in various New York
companies.
Q