The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1866-10-27
Dreadful Disaster-Loss of the Steam
re ship Evening Star. i1f tTF.

"f ship Evening Star. ''f
On the 29th ult. the ocean steamer Even
ing Star left New York for New Organs
with three hundred and -ffty. persons. on
board, among whom were over one hundred
women. Everything betokened pleasant
and speedy trip, but on the night Of the
second inst. terrible storm arose and the
noble vessel, with al on board, save sixteen,
went duwnamid tue foaming billows. The
following interesting particulars are taken
from the statement of passengers who were
sa3edg r e. aet1 ,7a -rftz'-1lsef
b 4" About midnight it began to blow hur-
ricane with a very ugly cross sea. The ship
was lying IN the trough Of the sea. The
Right was dark, fearfuliy dark nothing but
the most solid and gloomy darkness all
around no news 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 deck. At the
time rhe hurricane was so furious and the
steamship so completely at its mercy, that
for the general safety the Captain was7ob
liged to send the women and all below and
lock them IN the cabin. 4H
a We were now about 240 miles northeast
of Machanilla Reef and I80 miles from
she never changed her position Al three
a. III, October 3, we comm enced bailing tle
ship from the engine room and after cabin
at which the women helped with all their
might and with all the strength Of frenzy
and despair Al bout four a. IN, the starboard
rudder chain got out Of gear, and the wheel
houses were washed overheard At five a.
N. the engine was thoroughly disabled in
spite of the sUperhuman exertions 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 a fury which was
/ fearful, terrible and appalling in the extreme
A. about three a N. the captain went into
I the cabn- and tilted the passengers that
/ he had done all IN his power, and that the
/ ship would certainly 20 down. SUme of the
/ seamen were at this nom mt assisting In get
/ ting the boats free from their fastenings
/ he captain was exhorting the passengers
/ to act cOolIy.
The STORM continued to howl IN the most
/ fearful and deafening manner, and now came
/ the most thrilling moment Of our trying
/ time. The women, shrieking frightfuly,
rushed on deck in the most frantic manner,
+ tearing their hair, and 10 many ways acting
1 more ike 1unatics than beings endowed
with reason, whicr at this moment had Ger
fainIF abdicated It's throne acFh4 men were
equally as violent, though for such a scene
it may have been worse. The women com
lmenced diyesting themselves Of their cloth
ing, and madly and wildly plunged into the
| fOaming surf, never more to rise 70 It's sur
face. The captain and crew tried their best
TO prevent this but u 20 avail. Despair con
trOlled their actions, AM rather than face a
lingering death many Of them yolunarially 5
sought that grave which opened with such
fearful jaws 70 receive them
Nearly all the while these fearful scenes
were being enacted, which was about a N
the ship took heavy luroh and was settling
fast. A heavy sea boarded her, aad with
one fearful, continued lureh. dowd she went
and AL was over with the EFening star