The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-08

took her. An old man had one arm raised and the
other hand, grasping purse containing fifteen
sovereigns, had been wrenched from 1t. The grasp
OF the dead almost dened that OF the living.
THE EXAMINATION OF THE BODIES
| as they came ashore was conducted In very loose
way. Frequently considerable sums OF money
would be taken, and before the record was half
made the magistrate in charge would be examining
| the next body. This method OF procedure became
30 criminally careless as to excite the indignant
protest Of several New York gentlemen who were
present to look after the bodies OF friends The sad
work proceeded under the direction OF an island
magistrate and few equally incompetent assist
ants. In the meantime the Dominion revenue
steamer Lady Head lay quietly at her wharf in Hal
iiax Brutes In human form were drinking and quar-
relling upon the rocks and two OF them who were
! fighting fell into the sea- Two regiments of SOL
diers were idling about Halifax, and their officers
strutting in the streets So far there has been
A DIsGRACEFUL LACK OF SYSTEM
| and organized effort In protecting property and
caring for the dead. The c0mpany's agents and
Captain Williams did not even reach the scene on
Sunday, and were indebted to the HERALD's tug
to tow them back when they were found becalmed
half way to the wreck.
Every incoming train and steamer brings mourn
ing friends search Of the bodies Of their beloved.
Many have been recovered, identified and for
warded to their homes, but hundreds still remain
drifting and shifting around with the cargo inside
the staterooms and compartments OF the
Inflated steamer. W. p. scrymser, OF New
York. who arrived Friday night, to forward
the bodies OF his brother-in-law, W. II.
Merritt, and Of his niece, Miss Merritt,
is still here awaiting the recovery OF the body of
Mrs. Merritt. Mr.. Christian, who lives near the
scene OF the wreck and took charge OF the effects
of Mr.. Merritt which were supposed to be lost,
called upon and restored them to Mr.. Scrymser
this evening. They consisted Of . gold watch and
chain, which he was bringing as q present for
New York friend; also couple OF rings, pocket
knife some pieces of money and bunch of keys.
THE HERALD CORRESPONDENT IN THE HOLD OF THE
VESSEL.
Anxious to obtain view OF the ship below the
water the HERALD correspondent procured
diving suit. with the permission and under the
direction of the wrecker and divers who were at
work upon the hull, and descended into the interior
OF the wreck. The waters were clear and every
object plainly visible around the ship where she
lay on the reef 1t was the first time
for the correspondent to seek Information
beneath the waters, and the sensation Is
almost mdescrlbable. The air from above, which
Is furnished through the rubber tube, comes with
a kissing sound, producing a strange feeling. !
deeply, and how slight an accident would insure
instant destruction. All around the objects
looked weird-lke; the glasses in the
casque magnifying the already bloated
forms into twice their size. The waters
are very cold, and chilly feeling
creeps over me at first, but as l proceed 1t wears
away and enter upon the task have undertaken
with more nerve than fancied possessed. The i'm
hull lies well down on the port side, which is
broken in several places from contact with the reef
Fish were swimming around eagerly dev0urng the
particles OF food which are to be picked up Pick
ing my way towards the hull catch hold of
rope and scramble up the deck. The place where
1 have descended is where the ship parted, and
sectional view OF the hull and cargo is obtained.
The forward hatch is open and peer down the
hold.
on WHAT SPECTACLE
is presented The cargo has broken bulk and
lays heaped up in a confused mass; bodies Of
men and women, bruised ana torn, were damned
among the cases and crates. 1t il horrible sight
to look upon, and the magnifyng power OF the orbs
through which gaze upon 1t renders it all the
more horrible. Fishes swim in and out among
the bodies and boxes, feasting upon the
bodies OF the dead Limbs are strewn around,
having broken of from the body from the continual
action OF the waters, which, when agitated, drive
against the ugly pieces OF the broken hall that
stick up here and render my movements very
hazardous. Having seen enough OF this part OF
the sunken horror proceed towards one OF
THE sTEERAGE CABINS,
the one where all the women and children were
drowned as they lay in their hunks. Scrambing
along the deck, guided by the rope from above, and
assisted by one OF the divers who has undertaken
to conduct me through the wreck, reach the CON-
panion way. II the sight in the hold among the
xUaa har ono hat of my nv
was ten times more There lying in an immense
heap were hundred or more bodies. They looked
for all the world as II they alive, with arms
disocated, eyes staring wildly faces grnnng as 1t
were at you and moving backward and forward with
the under-current some were dressed, many were
half nude. Children we're clngng 10 their mothers
and stout men were clasping their wives and SEEM
ing as II they met their fate with calm resignation.
No description OF the bodies brought to the
surface could convey idea Of the horrid sight in
that cabin. l close my eyes and motion to my
conductor my readiness to leave. have seen
enough in that charnel house, the recollection OF
which will never fade. My conductor motions me
towards the steerage cabin, where the men
were by themselves and where there was
such rush fer the companion way. Peer
ing down into that cabin l saw q
similar picture of death. Bodies OF stalwart men,
old and young were hustled together on the stair
way, giving-from their distended nostrils, gaping
mouths and staring, CLASSY eyes-some conception
OF the terror which seized them they vaiDly
struggled to reach the deck, but were prevented
by the waves which swept over the ship rs she
heeled over and filed the cabin. From another
part OF the vessel obtained a view OF
THE SLEEPING APARTMENT.
Here, piled up In heaps on the port side, were
numbers OF bodies OF men, and strewn among
them bed clothing OF one kind and another. From
continual knocking against the stanchIons and
sharp Jagged woodwork which is splintered and
broken from the Innings OF the hunks the faces and
limbs OF these dead are more CHASTITY than any !
have ever seen. Imagination cannot picture any
thing more terrible than what was In this
compartment. The flesh is torn from the faces OF
many OF the dead !. others again are bruised and