Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-21
A. STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.

~
the state of Virgins" Mar
ratives.
The Rev. J. H. Warfeld, of Boston
and Daniel Clark and wife, of Buffalo
three of the survivors of the wrecked
steamer State of Virginia, arrived in New
York on Friday, 10y rail from Halifax
The last two named give graphic &C
count of their experiences.
When asked to relate her experience
Mrs. Clark said: "When the State Of
Virginia struck in the fog on that Satur
day night there was no panic on board
even the ladies expressed their belief
that tine ship would soon float. There
were many OF us IN tears, as We al
realized the danger of attempting tt
land through the surf. On Saturday
morning, about ten O'Clock, there were
fourteen of US, all women and child:en
who were lowered into one of the surf
boats which came alongside from the
island. When coming toward the break
crs the men in charge OF the boat turned
1t and attempted to bring it to lano
stern foremost. Then a great blllo \
struck us, and it seemed as If the boat
was going up in the air on an end
The surf was rolling mountains high
Then the boat turned right over, and we
all went into the water together. was
so Gazed bv the suddenness of the catas,
trophe that l was only partially con
scious. l really cannot now describe my
peculiar feelings. Invent under the boat
aud y lille in that position, l managed tc
get hold of life-preseryer. When
came up it was on the opposite side OF
the boat, and I managed to get hold Of
the keel. The next wave righted the
boat, and Immediately another huge bill
low struck and sept me clean over
Then l as carried by the waves agar
toward the life boat, when man got in
to it and stretched out of his hands. Mrs
Moulin, of New York, who vas strug
Cling in the water beside me, seized holC
of the mans other hand. He dragged Us
into the boat, but in an instant, we were
again hurled out by the breakers. | sa l..
my companions about me struggling IL
the alter, but did not see them dro n
sJust before we reached the breakers
saw boat behind US IN which was my
husband. l have not the slightest ide,
how l reached the lana, nor have l any
conception of the manner in which go
a life preserver OF ME while under TIT
keel of the surf-Doa When l was abb
to collect my thoughts l gazed aroune
me. My clothing had been nearly al
stripped from my person by the waves
T en- saw the bodies of Mrs. Walker
of Elmira, and Miss Coleman, of Albany
on the beach, where they had been cas-
up by the breakers. Both were quit
dead. When was getting into the boa
on leaving the ship one poor woman wht
know, asked me for pin. gave it t.
her and she pinned her money to TIN
waist of her dress, When we were pre-
pairing to get into the first boat Capt
Noodles daughter, most interesting
Young lady of t~ enty or thereabouts, wa
urgeu by her father TO enter. She clun.
to his neck, and, kissing him, refused t
be parted. He urged her to go into tn
boat and save herself. Finally she re
luctantly gave her consent. Then tn
boat was lowered, but Immediately Mis-
Noodles feelings overcame her, and
begged piteously to be allowed to remain
and share her fathers fate. She was pulle
again on board, and so her life was saved
We were rowed away. After reacbin
land was unconscious for a long time
was so much overcome by fright an
suffered so much from my injuries that
could scarcely realize what had take
place. It seemed all like dream to m,
supposed that the boat following L
was also swamped. knew my husban
was in it, and / was more than overjoye
when came across him twenty-six hour
atterward. When Mrs. Widestrand, VIII
was in our boat, was thrown upon t.
beach she had, as she supposed, her so
John In her arms. In a frenzy of excite
ment, on struggling through the surf
the beach she exclaimed, II have him,
have him." at the same time clinging t,
naciously to the strap of his little ulste
To her horror then discovered ths
the buttons had become unfastened, an
that in her struggles the child had slippe
out of his coat. Her grief, when she di
covered that he had fallen from her gras
and been drowned before her eyes, whe
she thought him saved, was uncontroll
BILE. We did all we could in our sorl
W COm1OIb WOU
an"
Mr.. Clark seemed to have the even
WI ich occurred Immediately after IL
snip struck viz dly portrayed in his men
DRY. "a few minutes before the shi
struck" caid he, captain Noodle hs
given orders to alter the vessels cours
He evidently knew he was approachir
land. When we struck the shock WI
slight. None of us felt much alarm,
the. captain thought we would float {
with the midnight tide. The fog WI
very dense, and all this time the engin
were being reversed; but we were wedge
in the sand and seemed to settle INTO
further and further. 1t was time
supreme suspense for all. was in II
second boat, following the one that W
caps:zed. I cannot convey to you N
feelings of anguish when l saw that DO
full of passengers, my wife among Il
number, hurled into the seething wave
The officer in charge of our boat, VIII
he saw the catastrop' Q, gave orders
return. When wa AGAIN GOT on the de.