Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-07-26

boats ready and to place as many ladies
and children in them as possible; but
no sooner had the attempt been made
than the firemen and others rushed into
them in spite Of all opposition. Seeing
this state of affairs the Captain ordered
the boats astern to be kept in readiness
until order could be restored, when to
his dismay he saw the sailors cut the
ropes in the bow and soon disappear
astern in the fog. Another boat was
broken down by persons rushing at the
davits, and many were precipitated into
the sea and drowned. This occurred
while Capt. Luce had been engaged in
getting the starboard boat ready and
placing the second officer in charge, and
while doing this the same fearful scene
leaping from the top of the rail down 20
feet, crushing and manning those who
were in the boat. Orders were then
given TO the second officer TO let go and
row after the ship, keeping under or
near the stern, to be ready to take on
board the women and children as soon
as the fires were out, and the engines
stopped. About this time rush by
the sailors and firemen was made for
the quarter boat, which was hanging by
one tackle. Some fifteen got in, cut the
tackle and were soon out of sight
Then the Captain found that not a sea-
man or carpenter was left on board, and
they were without any tools to assist
them in building a raft, which was now
their only hope. The only officer left
WAS Mr.. Dorian, the third mate. The
chief engineer with a part of the assist
ants had taken the smallest deck boat,
and before the ship went down pulled
away with about fifteen persons. The
Captain and mate had succeeded in get
ting the fore, main and two topgallant
yards overheard, and such other small
spars and materials as they could col |
lect, when the Captain became con-
WINGED that the ship must go down in a
very short time and not q moment was |
to be lost in getting the spars dashed TO-
gether to form raft, to do which it be- |
came necessary to get the life-boat, the
only boat remaining, into the water. |
This being accomplished, Mr.. Dorian,
the chief officer, took care to keep the
oars on board to prevent them from
leaving the ship, hoping still to get most
of the women and children in this boat
at last. They had made considerable |
progress in collecting the spars when an |
alarm was given that the ship was sink
ing, and the boat was showed off with.
out the oars or any thing to help them
selves with, and when the ship sank the
boat lad got clear about an eighth of a
mile. In an instant, and at about 4 AS
p. m, the ship went down, carrying
every soul on board with her.
Capt. Luce found himself on the sur
face after brief struggle, holding his
little boy in his arms. The next mo-
ment he was impelled downward to a
great depth, and before he reached the
surface second time he had nearly
persisted and had lost hold of his child.
When he came on top once more an aw-
full scene met his eyes-over 200 men,
women and children struggling together
amid pieces of wreck of every kind,
calling on each other for help and i'm
ploring God to assist them. The Cap
tain was in the act of trying to save his
child when portion of the paddle came
rushing up edgewise, just grazing his
head, and falling with its whole weight
On the head of his darling boy. The
next moment he beheld him floating
ifeless on the water. He succeeded in
getting on to the paddle. box in compa
ny with eleven others. One, however i
loon left for another piece, finding that s
he paddle-box could not support SO I
many, and others remained until they {
we're removed, one after another by s
ieath. The temperature of the water S
vas As degrees, and the sea frequently I
,roke over them. When morning came
lot living soul was to be seen except
he seven men on the paddle-box, one of c
whom was Capt. Luce. As day wore r
IN they suffered severely for want of /
vater to drink. The day continued fog G