The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-04-18

ascend to the deck. Thinking that our lives
were in imminent danger We forced the matches
M. As soon as we we're on deck. We ran to
the side of a vessel, and I saw q rock, as l sup
posed. about 800 yards distant. I thought at
first it was an iceberg we had struck, but i'm
mediately afterward the ship began to heave
or plunge, and after three or four plunges set
| tied, and the water seemed to be rushing in.
Believing that our safety depended ON our
being on the side of the vessel nearest to
land, 1 rushed to that side and caught hold of
the rigging. Then the ship began to turn over
gradually on her side. I got on the side OF the
| ship and caught hold of a rope. then heard
| a dismal wall, which was fearful to listen to.
1t proceeded from the storage passengers be-
low, who we're then smothering. 1t did not
last more than two minutes, when oil was az
| still as death.
JOIN Farley, chief engineer, says: A great
number of the passengers were drowned while
| going from the vessel by a rope to the rock.
Tn cold was 30 intense that some of them,
being benumbed, were unable to hold ON to the
| rope, and they let so, and we were unable to
| render them any assistance. The rock that we
we're ON was covered with seaweed, which made
it very dangerous to stand upon, and the
| edges of the rock were round. All on the
rock with ourselves being soaking wet and cold,
were unable to render any assistance to those
| who were in the greatest of peril. A number
! of them were washed off the wreck and drown
ed, and q number who we're trying to get from
the rock to the island by q line were also
washed from it and drowned. We could see
! people falling from the ships side and rigging.
Several persons who became completely ex-
hausted lay down on the rock and died.
One little fellow, the only child saved from
the wreck, ran upon deck with a stream OF
passengers when the first alarm was given.
His parents and other members of his family
were still below, and evidently persisted when
the ship filed and fell over on her eide.
Hustled about among the struggling mass OF
excited humanity, the piteous screams of the
poor little fellow went to the stoutest heart.
He had lesped upon the back Of one Of the
men in the hopes of saving himself, but in
that frightful crisis, when everybody was in
tent upon saving himself, few paid attention
to the walls Of the boy, and the man upon
whose back he was clinging as if for bare life
made several Intellectual attempts to shake the
boy of. The cries of the boy at last attracted
the captain, who, perceiying the tenacious
manner in which be was struggling for life,
called out to to the men wit were surrounding
the lines that led to the rock and safety to on.
deavor if possible to save the boy, and the
poor little fellow was Immediately passed ovel
the heads of the struggling mass Of beings and
placed in the boat. Men who were e~xertins
themselves to save their own and other lives,
wept almost for joy as they saw the brave
little lad safely landed on the shore.
Foxley, Chief Engineer, who remained en-
the rock for several hours assisting the pas
sengers to land from the ship, Gays it was ex-
tremely narrowing to behold the sufferings Of
the unfortunate creatures even after they
were rescued. Many of them became insane,
frothed at the mouth. and toppled of the rock
into the water and were drowned; while other
were 80 chilled and exhausted with cold tina;
they laid down and died. They would wander
about, incapable almost Of helping themselves,
and perish. Some died after they had been
taken to the main land. All the passengers
speak in the highest terms of the gallant con-
duct Of the Third Officer and First Engineer In
particular, who remained on the wreck for
hours, assisting the passengers to reach tlsc
rock. Two lady cabin passengers came OF,
deck in the excitement, and were standing
near the wheel-house.. They hesiiated q mo-
ment. as if panic-stricken, and returned on 20
the compAnion-way, az if looking for some.
thing, then came out, gnd endeaYored TO reach
the forward part of the ship, who're tho pas.
sengers were sent ashore on the limo. At that
moment q huge wave swept over the ships
quarter. The men clinging TO the rigging
heard two heartrending sliiekr. and, when
thoy looked again, tho women had disap-
peared.
These are only II few of tho terrible Incl
dents OF that terrible wreck. Young men a.
well as old became paralyzcd, and, as they
chung to the rigging and to the sides of the
vessel, they seemed hereft Of all reason; and
when spoken to by others to make some effort
to reach the boat and save themselves. thoy
would roll their eyes in their heads, stare Va
cantly at the speaker, and ask them in a whin-
ing tone, "Wbat boat 2" Many again who
were reused out OF their bcrths had scarce
time TO put their clothes on, and reached the
deck to perish with cold. One cabin passen-
ger, a young man, came up with only a yes,
on. He chung to the ships side rs long AZ lie
was able, and finally rolled OF into the sea,
frozen to death. s.- aff
Tho latest report shows the lose Of life to be
much loss than at first stated. or all on
board, 4l3 were saved, and about $50 were
lost. There were among the latter $50 women
and children. Strong parties Of men are en-,
gagged recovering dead bodies, q large number
Of which are those of fcmnles.
Tbs ship is broken in two near the forcmast,
and the after part is buried in the water. She
struck twice on the ledge, and finally held on,
in a short time careening seward, the waver
dashiDe over the deck and sweeping on every.
thing, smashing boats and making general
havoc. Still later accounts say the vessels
cargo is beginning to come ashore. 1t is a
general one, the larger part being fashionable
dry goods. The whole is estimated at $500,
900. The scene Of the wreck is very danger
GUS, and many wrecks have occurred near
there. Mars Rock is ten miles east by south
| of Sambro light tha ono which Tho copta;r