The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-03

and then everything was going on as usual.
He went into the forward steerage. and had
not been there but q few seconds when the
crash came. With his chum. one Hogan, he
instantly attempted to gain the deck. but even
in the moment the passageways had become
blocked Such Was the startling nature of the
shock thstft had aroused passengers out of their
berths and into passages before they knew
or even thought of what was the matter.
When Leahy had reached deck the ship had
commenced to rock over from side to side, but
then there were few but the officers and crew
visible. He saw several men jump overheard
and sink. Some Of them did not make an
attempt to swim, but, as in all cases Of ship
wreck, became dazed and ventured on the first
chance of getting out of the vessel that pre-
scented itself. There were six lifeboats swung to
deck. These we're taken possession of by men
and several cast of. Others the waves swept
away. ALI save one succumbed to the fury
of the waves Immediately. and the occupants
were drowned. When the water commenced
to come in the steerage the passengers made
for the hurricane dock. The captain shouted
for any men who had lfe-belts or buoys to
rush into the sea or mount the rigging, as
those were the only chances for life. Leahy
and his chum Immediately assembled the rig
ging after much trouble, and from thence
had good view of what was going on.
'aLEAMING DAY" WITH ORGANS AND sHREKs
'Then," said he, 81 saw the first and awful
sight. It was just cleaning day. A large
mass Of something drifted past the ship on top of
the wave and then was lost to view in trough
of sea- As it passed by moan--it must have
been Shrek, but the tempest dulled the
sound-seemed to surge up from the mass,
which extended over fifty yards of water.
'What is that?" asked Leahy of one next
him. "Sea IONS" said the one addressed
probably foreigner, who did not know that
we had none such on our shores "My
God" said another, sit's the women" And
SO it was. The sea swept them out of the
steerage, and, with their children, to the
number Of two or three hundred, they drfted
thus to eternity
FALLING TO DEATHF ROM EXHAUSTION
Leahy was in the rigging seven hours, NOV
ing up and down to keep his blood in circu-
lation. He saw men on both sides of him fall
from exhaustion, mostly able-bodied Germans.
The only chance Of escape there was was by
means Of rope to the shore, which Mr..
Brady, third officer. swan ashore with.
Nearly half the number of those who ran the
risk of crossing on this, lost their lives.
OTHER INCIDENTS.
One man had just secured -four barrel on
before he had obtained hold grasping either
end, the bottom being out. The barrel from
its build, would be precipitated by the sea
some distance above the waves and then fall
back. One more than usually heavy sea sent
barrel and man at least six feet high. He had
lost his hold before he came down, falling in
heArough Of the sea /; but though on top of a
wave, which rose q little further on, the barrel
rode buoyantly the man did not come to
light
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
"We saw very little Of the women and chill
dren," says another informant; everything
happened so quick that before even those
who were strongest had got out of the choked
passageway the females were either so be-
wildered or tho water had so impeded their
progress that very few came on deck Those
that did were swept away before they could
fasten themselves or be secured by Others.
LAST LOVING EMBRACE.
II saw one woman" said he, Sin the
water with three children just as they were
washed overboard-two in her arms Zone in
fant) and the other with its arms about her
neck. They went down almost instantly