The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-10
HORRORS OF THE Sea.
Heartrending Scenes at the Sinking Of
the Emily B. SOuder.
FIFTY LIVES SUPPOSED TO BE LOST.
The Terrible Story Told by the Two
Only Known Survivors,

The particulars Of the loss Of the ir-fnted steamer
Emily b. Souder were furnished yesterday by two of
the the sole survivors, far known, of the
wreck. who arrived at this port about noon on the
steamer Atlas, from Kingston Jam. They told
heir story on the deck ct the foot of Christopher
street. in the very clothes in which they had sue
seeded in efecting their miraculous escape from a
watery grave. Theodore Stenhardt. ono of these
vivors was quartermaster of the Souder and Alfred
+. Anderson. the other. swedo by BIRTH sea-
man.
THE SHIP LEAKING.
sOn Sunday afternoon, December g." said STEM
hardt, I'VE left New York, and nothing
traordnary occurred until the Emily b. Souder
was opposite Cape Hatteras. On Tuesday
morning we encountered rough. heavy sea.
while the wind blew hard from the southeast.
About eight o'clock found the ship leaking. The
pumps were manned Every officer and every sailor
was at his post of duty but Notwithstanding almost
superhuman efforts the water gained on us, first
slowly and at last rapidly. At five O'Clock in the
afternoon the melancholy spread that the fires
had gone out. but discouraged. We began
to throw the cargo and baggage overheard. passen-
gers as we'll crew engaging in tightening the vessel
as much possible. But the water gained upon us,
and soon made existence below decks impossible.
THE FIRST BOAT cAPsIzED.
"Nothing left now but to look to our lifeboats
The command to unloosen them was quickly COM
municated to the crew, and of the boats having
been launched placed under command OF the
hrst mate Including the latter there ten per-
sons in the boat among whom four lady pas
sengers. Every one provided with life pre-.
server, some even having two. The boat had only
gone few yards from the Souder when she capsized
and men and women screaming in the water for
the help which could render
LAUNCHING MORE BOATS.
1.-THE steamer was sinking steadily, and trcmen-
dous efforts being made to launch tho second
boat. All Of then the vessel helped to get this
boat clear, and finally succeeded in placing ten
persons in it, As of the officers would leave tho
vessel while a single plank remained of her Of
the took command of the boat Fortunately
she got clear of the wreck. but what became Of her
afterward has yet to be known.
THE STEAMER GOES DOWN.
''The purser of the Souder called upon to
take charge Of the third lifeboat. in which ten
remain on the sinking vessel with his commanding
officer All this time it was evident to those the
left to make whatever preparations could be devised
to save life. Anderson and myself were fastening
elderly gentleman of about fifty years there. and
induced him to join While trying to make the
'booby' hatch float tremendous sea came along and
carried it out upon the waves: At that moment the
captain endesvoring to make raft for himself,
and that was the last of him.
EVERYBODY FOR HIMSELF.
Everybody had now to look out for himself, and
while the hatch the ship sink beside
down the liferaft. which Fortunately had Leen cut
loose from the steamer came alongside of the BOBBY
hatch. and though It was in miserable condition
Anderson and myself sprang upon it. We urged the
old gentleman who was on the BOBBY hatch with
to come on the liferaft. We entreated him to join
us, but he seemed paralyzcd with fear and did not
stir. Poor fellow! He must have gone down
, after:
hoping against hope. but still with fun faith in
speedy rescue: For more than forty.eigh hours
ts perod cs be msned
cribed. We were almost exhausted from exposure.
hunger and thirst. but in this extremity we found
tossing about on the waves some canned oysters
which had foated from the Soudcr and which gave
great relief
PICKED UP AT LAST
'On the third day we were sighted by the schooner
Herbert Devereau, from Boston for Kingston,
night we were on the feraft was exceedingly dark.
We could not anything and lost track Of
the wreck debris that surrounded us in the early
part OF the evening. While on the raft suffered
severely. HALF of our bodies being i'll the warm water
ofthe Gulf Stream constantly kept in sort of
warm glow while the other half, exposed to the cold
winds, felt the effects OF tho weather most
terribly. When the Devereau came IN sight she hove
board Of her by the warm hearted crew in their haste
to succor us. The raft was subsequently taken
on board the schooner also The peversaa has that
schooner before could lower limbs, SO
terribly had they been weakened by exposure. Dur
ing fourteen days remained on the Devereau.
where we were most Hospitality cared for until we
arrived at Kingston. Jam. We were sent back to
this port by the American Consul ut that place"
ANDERsoNs ACCOUNT OF
The seaman Anderson stated that the feraft on
which they saved thems ,lves swept of the Souder
just she sinking. They knew nothing what
about those who had left the vessel in the boats
except that they OF the boats turn they
feared that all tho rest had persisted about forty
OF the crew and ten passengers. They were the
last ON board, and remained there till the Souder
was sinking. The hurricane one of the most
fearful record. The heartrcnding sight con-
nected with the catastrophe he said. was the up
setting of the boat under command of the first
Tho shricks and ptcous cries of the women almost
drowned the roar OF the tempest and what was
worse. there was no human help available TO
thein in their terrible position. The boats of the
Emily d. Souder considered In good condition;
but no ordinary fcboat could withstand such
Anderson says the liicraft in bad condition, con-
stantly leaking and turning
1. THE OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION.
The United states local inspectors Of steamships
Will commence taking testimony regarding the
loss OF the Souder within few days 1t is reported
that evidence will be forthcoming to show that the
vessel In question almost loaded down to the
waters edge and had hardly any tree board left and
shat her gangwsys were filed up with timber and
other freight.