The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1866-10-17
Responsibility for the Loss Of
the Evening Star.

New York, October Is. The respon-
.sibility for the loss Of the Evening Star
continues to be discussed by the daily pa
pers. The following interesting particu.
lars are taken from the statements OF pas;
seugers who were saved. About mid,
night, it began to blow a hurricane, with
a very ugly cross wind in the trough of
the sea. The night was dark, fearfully
dark. Nothing but the most solid, gloomy
darkue 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 flu.
rious, 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 we're now about two hundred
and forty miles north east Of Matanilla,
Reef, and one bundled and eighty miles
from land, and 'front.' this time until she
went down she ueveE changed her posi-
tion. u Na.
At three o'clock Am, October 8, wo
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 des-
pair.
! About four A. M. the starboard rudder
chain got out of the ahiern, and the
wheel houses were washed overheard. AT
five A. M. the engine was thoroughly dis,
abled 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 a fury
which was fearful, terrific and appalling
in the extreme. About five A, M. the
Captain went into the cabin and notified
the passengers that he had done all in his
power, and that the ship would certainly
go down,
Some Of the seamen were at this mo-
meht assisting in getting the boats free
from the f~astenings Of the ship, while the
Captain was ~exhorting the passengers tC
act coolly. The storm continued to how
in the most fearful and, depressing man
ner, and new came the most thrilling mo
ment of our trying time. Tho women
shriekiug frightGully, rushed op deck il
the most frantic manner; tearing tbei
, hair, and in many ways acting more like
lunatics, than beings endowed with rea
son. Reason at this moment had certain
ly abd:cated its throne, and nothing Blu
the widest stage Of madness had tn
poor beings come to. The men wer
equally as violent, though for such
scene it may have been worse. The wo
men commenced divesting themselves o
their clothing, and madly and Wild
plugged into the fOamipg surf, never t
rise to its surface more.
The Captain and crew tried their bes
to prevent this, but to no avail despai
controlled their actions, and rather tina
face q lingering death, many Of ther
, voluntarily sought that grave which oper
ed with such fearful jaws to receive thei
mortal all. While these fearful scene
l were being enacted, which was about ST
-. A. NJ, the ship took a heavy lurch, sci
: ting fast A heavy sea boarded her, an
with enc fearful continued lurch, dow
she went, and all was over with the Ever
ing Star.
Another statement says that only for
life-preservers were on board the Ever
ing Star, which were distributed anon
the ladies. The members of the ball,
troupe and the French circus compan,
not speaking English, could not undeI
stand what orders were given in relatio
to the boats, and very few, if any, maj
q aged to reach them.
Q Shrieks Of the frantic women could !
heard above the roariof the angry wav,
rushing to and fro, imploring for aid, b,
d it was each for himself.
In addition to the French circus col
& pany and ballet troupe, there were fort
r two lrail women who, for various reason
. we're seeking another field to prosecu
l. their ~unwbely calling. Some with il
o. paired constitutions we're migrating TO
warmer cline; others were suffering W
ennui, and merely wanted a change
ID scene. 1t is stated that one young 6
. has left q widowed mother, sister a