The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-09-11


of appalling and narrowing scenes. whicl
took place previous to and after the found
ering of the steamship.
MIR. OWENS EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. Owen, who is an intelligent and edu
Gated gentleman, about thirty years of age
made the following statement from his note:
written since landing: con Saturday, ahou,
| =. ~, Captain Van Size said to the first
officer Mr. Harris. we are going to have
a heavy blow: the barometer is flllin. rap
idly: | dread the hurricane The deck
load, consisting of ears for Mexico, casks OF
oil, acids, and vegetables, was cast over
board. The cyclone struck us on the port
bow at ! +. NJ, on Saturday, accompanied
with terrific rain, almost throwing the shiI
on her beam ends. 1t was very difficult tt
move about without clinging to support
Everything i'll the cabin was thrown from
port to starhoard. The wind was northeast
and the vessel was steering south hy east
During the evening water poured through
the windows, and the main saloon and state
rooms were filled with water The paSSen-
gers cheered and encouraged each other
and all manifested great coolneSS. The
walters We're very attentive. General y. T.
y. Torbert was remarkably attentive, and
did much by his words of encouragement tl
cheer ana support all the passengers.
On Sunday ut l A. NJ, the engine-roonl
was dry. The drag, too small to render any
assistance, was put out, but became rever
sed and useless. At . \. NJ, Il heavy sea
eNtinguiShed the fires and stopped the en-
CINE. The dummy engine was put to work
and continued until the steamer went down
CHEERFUL PASSENGERS.
The passengers, however, at meals were
in good cheer, and though the rains drove
them from the deck they seemed to enjoy
the passage. On Saturday ut daybreak
fore and att sails We're set, as the wind was
then blowing fresh from southeast. At
o'clock Z. NJ. on saturday. the captain was
heard to remark To Mr.. Harris. his first
officer, g have just noticed that the bar
ometer is falling rapidly. We are going to
have hurricane. Orders We're then given
to cut mp and throw the car overheard, and
also the barrels of oil, cases of acid and
cases of vegetables on deck. The real blast
of the cyclone struck us on the port bow at
about 30 +. NJ. and listed the ship almost
on her beam ends. From this time it be-
came next to impossible to walk about with
out clinging to chairs, tables and other sta
tionery furniture of the cabin, and as all
movable objects in the saloon We're quickly
thrown from port to starboard, walking was
exceedingly dangerous. The wind was ut
steering south by east.
FLOODING THE CABIN.
During the evening three skyllghts in
the main saloon We're carried away and the
waves poured considerable water into the
saloon and state rooms, setting all adritt.
by midnight the passengers We're generally
saloon conversing with and assisting each
vet ha
many were the exchanges of wit and humor
between them all. The servants, as they
passed around them, added to the good feel
ing. Major General A. 7. 4. Torbert, of
the United States Army, had been washed
out of his state room Go. ), which was
the first on the port bow, early Saturday
evening. He then came to me in the saloon
room No. p.
GALLANT TORBERT.
He had been thrown against table in
the afternoon and had cut his right cheek,
which troubled him considerably, as it bled
freely, but he was in his best and kindest
hulnor, speaking II cheering word here, as
siSting a man there and attending to the
women and children everywhere. He lay
Oh the saloon floor tor part of the night,
but was flooded out, and then came and
aid with me, bringing his waterproof
which we threw over us to protect us from
the water dripping in from the top and
sides. At l o'clock r. NJ. the engine room
was dry. The drag was put on, but it re-
verSed and was useless. 1t was not gotten
ready until this time and was 100 small for
service, even if in proper order. At p. NJ.
he ship took heavy sea and the water put
he fires out, Immediately stopping the en-
zines.
PASSING THE BUCKETS.
The donkey engine then started and was
going when the ship sank. The purser
anne hurriedly below, calling for General
rorbert and said that the captain had sent
lm to tell the passengers to come and as
list the crew or the vessel would 90 down.
We Immediately got up. l Went to the
leck and to the floor of the engine room,
where | assisted 10 pass the buckets for an
lour Captain Van Slice was i'll line near
he top passing water while | was there.
1t WAS of no use. The sea WIS continually
breaking over the vessel and coming down
II large quantities between decks. The
donkey engine was working, Dut no 10
my purpose. After this | went to the ST.
Don and told General Torbert that we We're
,oing to pieces and fast filling, and nothing
elnained but for US to get life preServers
Ipon the women. General Torbert'S face
lurt him SO that he did not 20 to pass the
buckets.
NO EXCITEMENT.
There was no such thing as excitement on
,oard-even the children We're quiet and
reasonable. Each assisted the other in ar
angling life preServcrS, and General Tor
,ert was like Il sunbeam, laughing and
oking with all while he assisted them
The storm at this time was most terrific.
such waves, wind and rain can never be
described The ship listed to her beam ends
II every wave, and it was just possible to
rawl from one place to the other. The
torn was SO thick that we could not see
me hundred yards ahead, and the roar of
he wind and beating OF the rain was like
he rattle of muSketry. General Torhert
nd myself We're lying in my berth talking
md quietly awaiting the worst, when, at
> minutes past o'clock \. NJ, Il sea broke
nto the engine room and through the sa-
Don, making crash like Il battery of ar
illery and striking terror for an instant
nto every one, dashing saloon passengers,
ableS, doors and the loose furniture to-
either and into water knee deep.
AN ARGUMENT ABOUT LIFE.
The General came to me Immediately |
tter this with Master Wallendge, about Q |
ears old, and said, Romeo, you and l
must take this little boy and care for him
between u.s. | allowed that he had but
fifteen minutes to live, and argued that it
would be mercy to let the little fellow go
l"wn with the ship, but the general kindly |
insisted, and said, 1" cannot leave this lit
lie fellow behind you and | must save |
lin. Take him until | come back" The
eXt minute the Sch came into the saloon |
more territically than ever, filling it waist |
eep in wafer and smashing the most Of the
ort side. The little fellow and myself
we're rolled over among the chairs and |
;lbles and | lost him, but lie was picked up |
nd brought to his father. | called to Gen. |
'orbert 10 come to the deck with me. He |
aid, &C will go aft and meet you above"
never saw General Torpert again alive.
BIDDING EACH OTHER GOODBYE.
The passengers now crowded into the So
ial hall. which was ut the top of the saloon |
tepS. Here they said farewell to each |
ther We adjusted their life preServerS
nl extended sympathy one to the other
<cvcr before, perhaps, WAS there :. set of
passengers 50 quiet and UnnKciied under |
circumstances 50 appalling MIR. Alexander |
Nallendge brought his little boy to me and |
aid, "Mr. Owen, l will give you 81, 900 in |
old if you will take my son and get him to |
and" | said no, | did not expect to live |
i've minutes after the ship Went down. | |
old him it would be Il mercy to himself and
lis son to 80 down AS quick Us possible. | |
old him | could see nothing to hope for in |
storm like this. l said, . Let us look ut ii |
$ if our characters Oh the Worlh's stage !
we're ahGAt ended.''
GIRLS REQUEST.
Miss Sadie Fay asked me in her sweetest
manner to take care of her, but said to
Ter and to the others that there was nothing
. be done but to stick to the ship until we
we're washed from her, and then to cling to |
he fragments as long as possible, and this
Ian was carried out by every passenger.
he captain w;Ia soon just before the sea
al, a., Il, 4