Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-27
SWEPT BY WINDS AT SEA.
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE or THE
WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

Fires Out-Her Second Oficer Washed
Overheard and Lost-rhe Vessel and
Cargo Badly Damaged - Thrilling
Scenes on the CITY of savannah--W reck
of the Bark Arago-Fears of Another
storm.
The first loss Of life in Monday nights
terrific storm was reported yesterday.
The steamship VIM. Lawrence, Of Balti-
more, arrived in port in the forenoon, "a
hours overdue. She WAS known to have
experienced very rough weather, but
when she came in sight her colors flying
at han-mast told plainly that she had
come ont Of the gale with less souls on
board than when she sailed out Of the
Patapsco. At : O'Clock on the morning
before her arrival, while the gale was rag
ing. Robert Shauer, the second officer OF
the ship. was swept overheard by heavy
sea and lost
OF the many trips that the Lawrence
has made between Baltimore and Savan-
nah TINS last one was, with
perhaps one exception, the toughest,
The steamer left Baltimore Saturday
afternoon and pass d Cape Henry and
went out in the ocean early Sunday morn
Ing. The day was tine, the wind blow
was passed about shutdown, and the Cap
tain hoped TO sight the liahtship off the
mouth OF The Savannah by the next night.
Monday was a beautiful day, and not
Until after dark were there any signs of
brewing storm. Earlv in the night the
weather grew squally, the wind blew
fresher from the southeast, and towards
midnight 1t suddenly began to blow
harder, and in short while y
D NfkTr ~. "a
O'Clock Tuesday morning the swell was
so heavy and the gale go fierce from the
southeast that the Captain hauled his
ship of shore and headed her
OUT TO SEA.
Her rolling waKened the passengers
who hurried out OF their state-rooms into
the saloon. By 4o'clock the storm was a
perfect hurricane. There were only
eleven passengers on board, six Of whom
were ladies'. They were thrown from side
to side by the pitching OF the vessel, and
their fright and confusion were indie
scrI liable.
The waves struck against tho ship con-
stantly, and the spray dashed into the sa-
loon IN showers Occasionally heavy
sea would roll over the vessel and flood
the decks Il was next TO impossible 10
stand on the upper deck. One boat was
blown away and another turned bottom
fully 40feet high swept over the steamer
and stove In the front Of the pilot house
Thirty feet OF the railing and network was
torn away. All Of this time the Lawrence
was running
INTO THE STORM.
Most OF the time the decks were sub
merged with water, and between decks
where a large part of the cargo and all OF
the trunks were stored, the wnter was
level with the bulwarks. For three hours
longer there was little change. unless to
the experienced ewes of the officers, who
were working nobly and making every Of
fort TO save the ship and the passengers
Just before daybresk she shipped heavy
sea over the hurricane deck, which wet
everything and for a moment seemed to
have foundered the vessel.
Ate O'Clock the wind veered and there
was a brief hull in the storm but soon the
hurricane struck the steamer again, com
ing then from the northwest. About
O'Clock Robert Shauer, the second officer,
seized an az to cut away the main gang
way on the leeward side. The attempt
was exceedingly DANGEROUS, but the
safety Of the ship dem srded il. Standing
waist deep in water on the main deck h.
cnt the fastening away, and just as tn,
gangway fell open tremendous
SEA RUSHED THROUGH,
and he VAS swept out. 1t was impossi-
bic to lower boat, and he disappeared
asteTn the next moment.
Snauer's home was in Baltimore, where
he bad a wife and four children. de has
heen with the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company. of Baltimore
for several years. Since 1878 he has been
running between this port and Baltimore.
He was a good officer and we'll spoken OF
by his superiOrs.
The seas dashing in between decks
washed out large part Of the cargo that
was stored there, together with all Of the
trunks Of the passengers. Being relieved
of this and The water the sIip labored
less. To further tighten her the rest OF
the cargo on the main deck was thrown
over. The water bad been gradually rising
in the hold, and by the time the wind fell
there were feet OF water under the main
deck and among the cargo. 1t ose in the
fire room until it reached
THE RED HOT GOALS.
The passengers we're not aware Of this
danger. Ii the fires were put q before
the gale subsidized the ship would almost
certainly nave found red and gone down.
for no sails could have been set in the hur-
ricane, and without ste m or sails the
steamer would have become unmanage-
able. at was good luck that The storm
ceased as soon as II did"
said Capt. Foster, speaking Of
It yesterday. '''rhe donkey engine was
get TO work pumping. but the fires were
not rekindled until s O'Clock at night.
During the afternoon the Lawrence was
spoken By the City OF Savannah, but de-
cined assistance. At midnight she came
over the bar, and got up TO her dock be-
tween 5 and 9 O'Clock.
A large portion OF the cargo was dis
charged during the day, and piled up on
the wharf. II consisted OF general mer
chandise. The damage cannot be esti-
mated until after everything is out Of the
holds.
THE LOSS HEAVY.
The loss will undoubtedly be heavy, but
a considerable part Of the cargo was in
sured. All that is uninsured will be a
loss 20 the oonsignee. Yesterday after
noon the hurricane deck OF the ship was
covered with carpets and clothing belong
ing TO the crew. Dozens Of mattre SEES
hung over the rails, and everywhere there
WAS something drying in the sun.
The passengers were in sorry plight
upon their arrival-the ladies particularly
so. All Of their baggage aud personal
effects we're gone, except few small
bundles which some had carried into
their staterOoms. Every article OF cloth
ing that was left was wet, for the water
stood % inches deep In the staterooms AZ
times. Two Of the ladies, who were sick