The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-21

assembled on deck, each with his cork belt
around his body, and ready TO be transferred
from one ship TO the other as soon as the or
der should be given for lowering the boats.
Under the circumstances it would have been
not unnatural ii the women of the party had
given way to the excitement ofthe moment,
but all praise TO their courage. the women
preserved their self-possession in a man
ner beyond admiration. Here and there
were heard the sobbings of child, not un-
Outstanding the peril, but scared by the SOL
emnity of the elders faces; and emigrant
mothers wept little out of sympathy for the
innocent fears of their young ones. Among
the ladies in the cabin not an expression of
alarm was allowed to escape the Inns. By
the time the passengers had gathered on the
deck In readiness 10 embark in the boats,
the Europe's engines had been stopped. The
national steamer approached rapidly. and as
she passed by our stern we noticed that she
bore the name of Greece. Her officers had
evidently not made out the import of our
signals, and they did not at first under
stand the hailing of the French officers, but
the shout of an American passenger ex-
planned the difficulty, and after passing
by us the Greece came TO a stop about a
| fifth OF mile off our port bow. Naturally
enough each moment seemed like an age to
the passengers, and even those who had
preserved the most perfect GOODNESS were
beginning to fret, when the officers sue
ceeded in gathering their men, and the dis
embarkation was begun. Here we entered
upon the real danger OF the day. Up to this
time there had been no pressing peril, for, as
the officers informed the passengers, the ship
would float for at least twenty-four hours
But the work of lowering the passengers
from the Europe and raising them to the deck
of the Greece threatened to be hazard
Gus in the extreme. Happily the ocean was
rather quieter than on any previous day of
fIsa
have been an utter impossibility to have
made the transfer; no boats could have lived
in that dreadful sea. AS it was, we could
not hope to enjoy entire freedom from disas-
ter to life. OF course the first consideration
was to get
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN AWAY.
Two officers and several sailors stood by
the ladder. 1t was an instant's work to pass
bow-line over woman's shoulders and
down she went until safely dropped into the
boat below. Then a child was sent awav.
and another, and again woman, until the
boat was full, and away she started. By this
time two boats were approaching from the
English ship, and people were descending to
the other boats OF the Europe. Once the
Decentralization was underway the Europe's
passengers lost whatever sense of anxiety
about sinking NAV have troubled some
of them before. With few exceptions the
male passengers evinced no eagern sss to
save themselves before the women and
children were out of danger. There were
several narrow escapes from being crushed
between the boats and the steamers side
Some Of the people, particularly women and
children, managed themselves awkwardly,
and in consequence every now and then
some one was left dangling in the air as the
waves washed the boats for a minute from
the ships side. 1t was an interesting study
n obs
by the various ways people had of de-
scending. Some put themselves INFO
the hands of the officers and sailors
and were as impassive while being lowered
as though they had been sacks of grain.
Most of the men and some few women
slipped down the ropes without being tied.
Some went down cautiously, watching for
the rise of the boat on a wave, and then
swung themselves neatly into a seat. Others
again let themselves go with a rush, burning
their hands on the rope, and arriving with a
thump in doubled.up condition. Mothers
out their children, and at the same
time dreaded to let their little ones
be taken from them to be sent down first.
One man left the ship before his wife.
AS far as the saving of worldly goods was
concerned, few evinced much anxiety, not
withstanding there was much of value in
the trunks. Many hoped that after the pas
sengers were transferred there would be a
chance of getting off at least the lighter bag
gage. Some packed their jewels in satchels,
or stuffed them into pockets, but no one
asked to have anything Of bulk carried.
number even of such few valises and bags
as were put into the boats were lost on the
trip, but everybody was so well pleased at
being safe that the lamentations for lost
property were few and far between. One
French woman lost a considerable amount
of stuff, but was well content in rescuing
her parrot in the bosom of her dress. The
work of Decentralization was. performed
with great rapidity as well as csrefulness.
THE OFFICERS OF THE EUROPE
behaved well, intelligently and coolly. Con-
corning the scsne as the boats arrived by
the side of the Greece, and as the passengers
were being raised to the deck, can speak
for the most part only from what have
heard. Judging that the matters of greater
interest were on the Europe's deck, re-
NAMED there until near the end. When it
came my turn to descend it happened that /
struck upon one of the two English boats,
and L found very comfortable place in
her bow seat. Mr.. Phenix, Doctor Bur-
ridge and "Jack," the last passenger low
cred. were also in the boat, as well as some of
the Europe's walters and the two steward
esses squatted down between the seats. The
sailors put strong and willing arms to the
oars, and we rapidly drew ear to the Greece.
In two hours and a half from the time the
first gun was fired, and in not more than an
hour and three-quarters from the time the
first boat was lowered, the whole 372 men,
women and children who had been on the
Europe We're safely enjoying the hospitality
of the Greece. What risk was incurred may
be Judged from the opinion of Mr.. Hubbard,
second officer of the Greece, who Gays he
feared we would not get of with less loss
than a score of lives.
Soon after the arrival of the French off,
GERS, Capt. Thomas decided to send his first
officer, Mr.. Buck, and his chief engineer,
Mr.. Douglass, to make an inspection of the
Europe's condition and ascertain whether
there was any chance whatever of saving
the vessel. The return OF these officers was
awaited with impatient interest, for all on
board the Greece, and especially the people
who had just quilted the splendid quarters
of the Eurnne felt nanz of rearet