The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-08-08

on BOARD STEAMER "ALL1AScA,"
on sergpe Light House. twenty-four hours from
PERNANBuco,
Lat. 100 y S., Long. $50 SOY w,
July 9th, 1889, 10 a. M.
OUR PRECIOUS LOVED ONES We are
saved by Gods mercy! To Him be all
praise! Let US all serve Him with re.
newed zeal!
No doubt you have all seen the newspa-
per account of our accident last night. I
can easily imagine how, at this dull season,
the reporters will seize short cablegram
and enlarge it at will. Though hardly fitted
do so now, yet seize the first opportunity
of telling you what can of what has hap
pened to US. The mere statement of what
has been our ex rerience can give you no
adequate idea OF our feeling. May none
of you ever learn what that is!
Last night about ten o'clock the ALI.
anca was discoyered on fire. The passen-
gers were put out in the life boats, and
kept out until about a. N. The fire was
then considered under control. It. how
ever, is not entirely out yet, but nearly So.
All the passengers are saved, with
scarcely an accident The fire is supposed
to have originated in some damp cotton
packed in Pernembuco. Cotton and coal
were burning at the same time. 1t was
thought that the boat would be lost, but
now, fortunately, all is considered safe.
Perhaps your earthquake experience will
help you to conceive of what we have felt
It was nothing to our last nights episode,
but yet we thought of it. This morning
every thing is in confusion, and each one
is telling his experience. AS usual, each
thinks his the worst. I could not begin
to tell you one-tenth; and 30 I will give
you our story. It is really the worst.
Last night we happened to sit up later
than usual. About ten of us were talking
In Social Hail. A gentleman ran in and
called Mr.. Lander out. AS he was quite
excited, the other gentlemen soon fol.
lowed to find out the trouble. The ladies
were left to imagine what was the matter.
One thought she heard the word flight"
and we concluded that there was fight
in the card room. The men began going
to their rooms and hurrying out, but
none would say what was the matter, and
some would say "It's all over" We
were beginning to settle down to the
belief that it was ''gentlemanly" en-
counter, and that no one wanted to tell
who was in it. But alas! The steward
entered and said, "Ladies, put on your
life-preservers. The boats or fire." With
out a word we separated. T don't re-
member hearing even an exclamation.
By the time reached my room Mr.. Lam
der was there, aud said there was plenty
of time. He and I were just as calm ard
cool as you ever saw US. I woke Laura
[the babe three years old] up, saying,
"Let's dress and 60 ashore on little
boat" She always enjoyed that, and so
she didn't dissent in the least. dressed
her warmly in her sailor suit and cloak;
and she sat quietly while prepared for
leaving the Alliance, expecting to bid it q
final adieu. Fortunately was not un-
dressed, and had on my grey flannel. [
packed our first treasures in our pockets,
snd pinned one of papa's letters in each of
our bosoms, and put on Laura a card (the
Topic Card) giving her name, home ad-
dress, and stating the accident. I assure
you T did it more easily than can now
think of it. Theu I packed the hand bag,
valise, lunch basket and steamer trunk,
expecting the latter to be thrown over
perhaps.
By this time we were called on deck.
The Americans were sent to one side,
and the Brazilians to the other. Ladies
and children were first assigned to boats.
Our missionary ladies kept together, and
were stationed at boat 6, East side, oppo.
site smoke.stock. It was the last boat
lowered, and re waited a long time, but
had seats. Tie fire drill, as said lin a
previous letterl Vas very poor; and we
saw the need of thorough drill. They
were over an hour lowering the life boats.
Fortunately the fire was below, and the
deck was safe. We could only see the
smoke. The ship had run towards shore.
as long as possible; but, for fear of an
explosion, the engine fires were put out.
The night was calm, slight wind from
the East; but the fire was on the West.
The moon was bright, and the heavens
clear.
Various methods were tried for getting
the ladies on the life boats. Some went
down rope ladders, some on chairs swung
down; but none were successful, as they
were slow and the waves were strong, and
the small boats could not be held still.
It was decided to try another plan with
our boat. We wore put in while it hung
just outside the upper railing. As all the
ladies' were on and the boat not too full,
Mr.. Mattison and Mr.. Lander we're al
lowed to go with US. felt that we were
all right. But no Our ropes did not
work together. It was intended to lower
us gently into the water. The taft
davit," though made of heavy iron bent
nearly double, the ''fore tackle would
not work the boat stood nearly on end /;
the water rushed in; the ladies screamed; !;
the children cried; We could scarcely
hold in. The quartermaster called out,
"Cut the ropes,' meaning the fore.rope,
"Rere's the hatchet." Mr.. Mattison
was at it, but didn't take the hatchet.
Mr.. Lander grasped it and caught the
rope. It must be cut, or all would go
over. Just then the rope was cut from
above (Mr. Lander had the wrong one) /;
the boat fell with a terrible slash and
slush; Mr.. Lander lost his hold as the
boat lurched from under him; and ne
fell up to his waist pockets into the wa
ter, right between the boat and the sEi,
in imminent peril of being crushed 10
pieces between them. Oh! you can't i'm
agine my feelings. He caught our boats
side and tried to get in, but his life pre-
server caught under the gunwale of the
boat. Mr.. Mattison, Miss Howell and I
tried to pull him in, but he seemed fas-
tened. I had Laura in my lap, too. A
man (the second cook) swung down on