The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-21
A FRIGHTFUL SCENE.
THE DISASTER on THE EURoPr

THE HISTORY OF THE sTEAMsHIP-rTs FIRST
DAYS JoURNEY-ITs SINKING CONDITION
DISCovERED-THE TIMELY ARRIVAL OF THE
GREECE-TRANsFER OF THE PASSENGERS
THRILLING SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The following graphic account of the late
ocean disaster, is given by passenger OF the
fated vessel, and who arrived at New York
in the Greece on the l2th inst. The narra-
tive is taken from the New York Times:
The French steamer Europe, of the General
Transatlantic company's line, sailed from
Harve on Thursday, March 26, at P. NJ.
She arrived at Brest on Friday forenoon, and
remained there until nearly P. NJ, on Sat-
urday, the 2Sth, when she sailed for New
York. On Saturday few additional pas
sengers-the writer among the number-had
come by rail from Paris and Joined the
company on the vessel. The passengers
then numbered 80 in first and second cabins
and lS3 in the third class. or steerage, max
ing total 22l persons. With the officers
and crew, numbering l53, the whole mum
Der of souls on board the Europe was 374
The freight list amounted to 1000 tons OF
French goods, including some 5000 baskest
of wine. When the tug which brought out
the latest passengers turned away from the
Europe, and as the latter steamed slowly
through the picturesque entrance to the
hsrbor of Brest, the new corners on board
had time 10 discover, as the Havre passen-
gers had already discovered, that the steam
er to all outward appearance was a paradise
OF ocean navigation. AS one gentleman of
yachting proclivities expressed himself,
''She'sH just like yacth, and with
such a kitchen we're sure to have
splendid time going across" In truth
never did a steamer offer tairer promises OF
tlne passage to her passengers than did the
Europe. She had been favorably known for
a number of years TO travellers by the French
line. She was originally side-wheeler, and
made her first voyage in May, 1865, under
command of Captain Lemaire, the same in
whose charge we left Brest. In lS67 the
writer crossed the ocean in the Europe, and
found her an exceedingly comfortable ship,
although not a fast one, as these times 90.
In 1872 the French company decided to
have the Europe and other side wheel
ers altered into screws, and length
ened. Increased carrying room, in
creased speed, and economy in fuel were the
advantages TO be gained 10y the alteration.
The original builders of The Europe were
the Messrs. Scott, of Greenocl<- on-the-
Clyde, but the rebuilding was done by
Leslie q Co. Of astle-on-Tyne. The
dimensions of tee Europe after the transfer
nation were follows: Length, 40 feet;
breadth of beam, A feet; depth of bold, 81
feet; tonnage. 1855; and her engines were of
with fresh southwest wind, and a
sea sufficiently heavy to reduce the
number of passengers who partook of the
first dinner almost to a maximum. During
the evening and night the wind increased
and the sea rose still higher. By noon of
Sunday we accomplished about 220 miles.
This was rather slow progress, but not so
bad as to give much reason for growing at
the weather-and then, you know, the wind
might change at any moment. On Monday
afternoon we passed German steamer bound
eastward From Monday evening
THE STORM
increased steadily in violence. The wind
shifted now 10 west, now to northwest, and
back again to southwest, but always the
gale bt came more and more furious. The
Europe battled bravely along, notwithstand-
ing the opposing forces, and by noon on
Tuesday we added 220 miles to our score.
BY that time the deck and smoking room
had begun to assume somewhat livelier APP
pearance than before, and the attendance on
the grand ceremony of the day, dinner,
was improving. There was a circumstance
which, without creating the least I'M
easiness, was repeatedly noticed as
unusual; the donkey engine was
in almost continuous motion. To
the few unconcerned inquiries made as to
ing, the answer was made that ashes were
being raised In the twenty-four hours up
to Wednesday noon we had run PIG miles
four DAYS out and only S9l miles from Brest
On Wednesday evening the gale concentra-
ted its powers for final and fatal attack
upon the unfortunate Europe. L will not
attempt to describe the real awfulness of
that night, for / should certainly fail to con-
yey even an approximate idea of the wrath
of the ocean. Certain il is that no passenger
who was on board the Europe will forget the
fury of the storm on Wednes-
day night and Thursday morning. Sleep
was out of the question, except for a very,
very few. Trunks and smaller articles
banged about the cabins, crockery clashcd,
the screw 90 raced )" and a general pandemo-
MUM stirred up the most drowsy of US.
Early on Thursday morning-say 9 o'clock
4 went on deck to have look at things
Although still violent, wind and
sea were both falling. The Europe, as far as
could be judged from the deck, was
staunch and true; she rose nicely over the
rollers; her decks, spite of the sea, were al
most free from water. The barometer made
a comparatively favorable showing. There
was, in short, nothing visible to create the
faintest uneasiness in the most timorous
mind. Afterwards the forenoon passed as
forenoons usually do on shipboard. The
sea tell considerably, and the WIND, COM
pared with the gale of the night before, be-
came of slight vigor. But alas! our sense of
comfort and security was soon to receive
shock. The reckoning at noon
showed that during the past "a hours we
had run only 40 miles. We were then LOB
miles from Brest, about latitude 4So 20N N,
and longitude 800 81 w. About 10 O'Clock
in the forenoon we had sighted a steamer
westward bound. AS we gradually over
hauled her it was found that she was a
steamer of the National Line. Between and
3 o'clock the two ships were nearly abreast,
and the Europe's passengers congratulated
that they were going faster than
at least one other ship. AT quarter to
our passengers were scattered around the
vessel, killing time they best could. A
larger number than usual were on deck,
watching our companion 70 starboard. The
walters in the saloons had just begun to lay
eral others were in the smoking room, max
ing themselves comfortable on the broad
lounges. Suddenly gun was heard. Every