The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-01
FOR A SEAS0NABLE SUIT
PLEAsURE-SEEKERs DROWNED.
Capsizing Of the Schooner Yacht Sarah Craig
and Loss of Seven Lives.

NEW York, July 3l.-A large schooner yacht
named the Sarah Craig, which was bringing y
party of sixteen ladies and gentlemen from Phil
adelpbia to New York, was swamped in the terrific
gale off Sandy Hook, last night According to the
latest reports six ladies and one young man were
drowned. The schooner yacht was seen off
Sandy Hook trying to beat to shore She was
sailing almost under bare poles, and leaped
from wave to wave as the winds struck her,
with force that was almost phenomenal. From
Sandy Hook lighthouse 1t was seen that several
persons were on the deck, but no signs of con-
fusion could be observed. Her course was d-
rectly for the shore. as though it was the inten-
tion of her sailing master to beach her. The
yacht neared the government dock at the Hook,
when gust of wind, which had the force of a
tornado, came, and the vessel seemed to be en-
tirely lifted from the water. She did not right
herself quickly enough, the water poured
into the cabin, and she overturned. AL
though the sea was exceedingly high,
boats were put off for tee wreck, but it
could not be reached Finally q tug appeared
and then it was discovered that nine of the pleas
ure party which had made use of the yacht were
clinging TO tho rigging. They were promptly
rescued and brought ashore. The names of the
drowned are:
Mrs. L. Fl. Stevens, her daughters, Miss L.
Stevens and Mrs. Atkin; the Misses Emma and
Bessie Merritt; Miss E. Maud Rettew and Mr..
Chester Clark. Messrs. Il. w. Gordon, Alfred
Potter. Frank Hall and w. s. Buckley. Capt. e.
Rutland, Mate G. Furguson, Steward L. Bowman,
and seamen Sam Jones and w. Paris, were
saved
Mira Stevens's body has been recovered, and
more will be got up shortly It said that
the yacht was running toward the inside
of the Hook to escape the squall, and the
ladies had all gone into the cabin TO avoid the
rain. Some of them feeling nervous, the sailing
master went below to reassure them, and just
as he reached the deck again, the squall struck
the yacht and she went over No one had time
to escape from the cabin.
The pleasure party of the ill-fated Craig left
Philadelphia on Tuesday, the 9th, for an eleven
days run along the Atlantic coast as far as New
port Mr. It. M. Stevens. his wife, two laugh
ters and few of their friends arranged for the
trip, but Mr.. Stevens, who is the manager of the
''nion Mutual Aid Association, was una
BILE to get off at the last moment.
on account of an unexpected press of
business The party was to have visited Cape
May, Atlantic City, Newport, and perhaps other
places further up the coast, and would have re-
turned to Philadelphia to-day week. Miss ID Ste
vens was the book. keeper in her fathers Office,
and Mrs. Cora Atkin, her sister, was the wife of
the late treasurer of McCaulrs Opera house in
this city and now the manager of the Whining
ton, Del, Opera-house The Craig was
Hlreu oy tHo party upon representations
of friends that she was stanch craft and her
| master a thorough sailor The party left here
in very high spirits, and when last heard from
were at Atlantic City, and were having a very
pleasant trip. The Misses Merritt lived on North
Twentieth street, and were in comfortable cir
cumstances, their father having left them some
property when he died, some time ago. Miss
Maud Rettew was young lady friend of the Mer-
rtts. Young Chester Clark was telegraph ope-
rator.
The following bodies of victiNs of the Craig
disaster have been recovered Mrs. 4. H. Stew
ems, Miss NJ Stevens. Mrs Atkin. Miss Maud
Rettew, Chester Clarke, and the Misses Merritt
Much credit is due to Captain Gully, of the tug
H. T. Haviland for diving down into the cabin
to recover the bodies. Another search will soon
be made for the missing. The name of the tug
that rescued the saved is William Cramp