The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-23
The Lost Steamer Evening Star.
Further Details of the Disaster-ArrIval
of the Second Officer An Savannah.
ET.n.. an Il I.sI.. TOgh


Mr.. William A. Goldie, second officer of the
lost steamer Eoening Star whose arrival at the
mouth OF the st. Johns river we reported in
our issue of Wednesday last, reached this city
last evening, and has kindly furnished US with
the following hastily prepared, though strictly
correct, narrative of the founderlng of the
Eoening Star, and his perllous voyage from
md-ocean to the Florida COAST
Left New York Saturday, o'clock P. NJ,
having on board two hundred and fifty CABIN
and steerage passengers, and crew OF seventy
6 P. NJ. discharged pilot. Strong breezes from
the N. E., with rain and heavy sea. Monday,
8 A. NJ, made Cape Hatteras; moderate breeze
and heavy swell from s. b.; crossed the Gull
Stream as usual. AT midday on Tuesday, I'd
instant fresh gale from N. E.. and cloudy; all
sail set shiu making eleven knots per hour.
Four 2. M, blowing a heavy gale with 9
weather. took in all sail, and hauled head
to the sea. At p. NJ, blowing a tremen-
dous hurricane, and who'd changing to all
points OF the compass; all OF the crew az
in case OF accident 10 p. M. q heavy sea struck
the ship on her port quarter carrying away
steerage gear and throwing one of the quarter
masters over the wheel, breaking his right arm.
The ship fell of INTO the trough of the sea.
Hook ed relieving tackles Immediately; shipped
heavy sea, carrying away paddle boxes and
bursting IN engiine-room doors, besides
breaking steam pipe and filling the engine
and fire room with water, putting out
the fires in the furnaces. The engineers
|
ship; alr hands, including the male passen-
gers, at work bailing the ship. Al midnight
! heavy sea struck the ship, carrying away the
donkey smoke-pipe and filling. the ship with
water, putting out fires in donkey boiler. Got
! steam on again soon possible, the water
gaining fast. All of the lady passengers at work
! bailing water from the after saloon, under the
| supervision OF the purser and steward. AT four
! A. NJ Captain Knapp gave me orders to have all
! the boats ready, with oars, breakers provisions,
and compasses we secured in them, and report
! to him, which was mmedi rtely attended TO.
! At 4'30 A. NJ. had all the boats ready as
| ordered, and reported the same to Captain
| Knapp; at A. NJ ship was settling fast; Cap
tain Knapp went to the saloon door and told
the ladies that he had done all that laid IN his
power to save the ship; that she could float but
a short time longer, and for them all to repair
to the boats, each OF which had an officer sta
| toned at them them to take charge and see
| that the passengers were properly placed in the
boats. The ladies all came on deck without
any excitement, and very calmly went to the
boats. In my boat there we're, as near as l
could judge, between forty and fifty LADIES'.
unlocked the tackles and swung the davits
clear OF the boats; the boat still remaining in
her chocks on deck. In fe W minutes after the
boats cleared, the ship settled forward to the
top OF her rails and gave surge aft and went
down, carrying all with her.
On coming to the surface, the first thing got
hold OF was the top OF the after house. l saw
my boat about thirty feet from me, bottom up,
and a number of sailors clinging to her. l inn
mediately made for her, got on to the bottom,
! and hauled up tour ladies' on to the boat with
me, and by surging to one side, succeeded in
| righting her. then paid my attention to getting
the ladies into the boat, and succeeded in rescu-
ing twenty-nne of them. On examining my
boat found everything had been washed out
OF her. We managed to get the boat clear Of
| the wreck, but not until n number OF my pas
sengers had been killed by floating dobrts from
the wreck washing over the boat | saw an
other boat with but two persons (passengers) in
| her. They having oars, | mOtioned them to
pull ahead to keep clear of my boat, bat they
not knowing how to manage her, she came fo1l
OF me, capsizlng my boat. On again regaining
| ii, succeeded in righting her, and picked up
four ladies and four gentlemen, cabin passen-
gers, the remainder having been drowned by
the capsizmg OF the boat Ia about one hour
after picked up another passenger g French
saw a number of passengers clinging to pieces
OF the wreck. My boat being full of water, and
having nothing to manage her with. 1t was lm-
possible for me to render them any assistance,
the safety of my boat and passengers requiring
my whole attention. 1t is impossible for me to
say what became OF the other boats.
On the 4tn l picked up six turnlps, which
gave to the ladies to eat. l also picked up an
awnipg-post, which | made mast OF, using my
shirt for sail. and steering the boat with a
piece OF thwart, shaped my course for the
westward.
On Friday, the 5th, had a fresh breeze from
the eastward, the boat going along finely under
sail heard the gentlemen complaining bit
terly for the want of water, the ladies rem aiming
died.
Saturday, the 9th, strong breezes from the
eastward, and heavy sea. We were all suffering
dreadfully for want of water, and against all OF
my warning they would drink salt water, which
made them great deal worse, some of them
becoming insane.
Sunday, 7th, heavy gales from eastward and
heavy sea. At about we made a sail aud
steered for it. She passed without seeing us.
She was so near to us that l could see her. Al
about A NJ one of the gentleman passengers
jumped overheard and was drowned. At about
SP. M: two more of my gentlemen passengers
becoming insane, jumped overheard and were
drowned. AT about 10 P. NJ. heavy seG
struck the boat, capsizing her, and drowning
one lady and one gentleman. The gentleman;
name was Frank R. Dennis.
succeeded in righting the boat and getting
on board the three remaining passengers one
gentleman and two ladies. then made a dIae
with my mast and boats painter and kept thC
boats head to the wind during the remainder o
the night.
Monday October 8, About A. NJ. the re
naming gentleman passenger jumped over
board. ! succeeded in getting him on boarC
again He remained for about i've minutes
when he went forward and jumped overheard
again and was drowned. He was member o
the opera troupe. The weather moderating
the two remaining ladies and myself rigged thC
boat out with q piece of one of their under
garments We then made sail on the boat ana
steered to The westward. At daylight l found
myself in colored water, and steered TO the
, westward, with light breeze and hot sun, we al
suffering so terribly from thirst and hunger
T the LADIES became speeohless. Their name:
, wete Miss Addie Norton and Mrs. Rose Howard
, OF New York.
Tuesday, 9th, fresh breeze sprung up from
the eastward, with heavy swell. About 2 P. NJ
made the land and stood for IL. About p. M
made light but could not steer for It on ac
count OF having no manageable sail. About one
hour alter this shower came up; caught some
N 0lnfhin0