Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-11
THE CMATTAHO0CuEE IN PORT.
Her Frfghtfui Encounter with the
Southern Rtorm-Srifting
for Two Days.
[By telegraph % the Dispatch.l

NEW YoRK. April l0-The steamer Chatta-
hoochie arrived from Sevannah to-day. The YES
sel was three days overdue and camO up 10 her
pier in a battered condition. one hundred and
thirty.nge passengers quickly quitted Inc yes
rel glad to once moro roach terra yTDi1. WhAe
OF Body Island saturday morning. tWenty-iour
hours after leaving Savannah, The Chaushoochle
en- ountered tho heavy gale which proved 80 dis
astrous in southern ports. The haii-storn was
met and the vessel was at one time covered WIN
pieces OF ice TO the depth OF two feet The gale
ragged all day with increasing violence.
On SUNDAY morning at 500, while the passen-
gers we're rocking in their bsrths. "A giant wave
broke over the deck, carrying away socuon OF
the bulyarks and smashing In the side Of the
saloon. Another and another wave followed,
flooding the saloon and the long ter OF sleeping
berths. The passengers awoke panic-srlcken
TO find themselves In several feet OF wafer ana
more pouring In. Women and men rushed rom
tho state-rooms crying. Many ran around like
maniacs. Others made rush for the llte-pre-
servers and tried % make their way on
deck. Captain Daggett and his o1icers
tried % calm the passengers, but with
sman success. For two days many Of
the passengers were on their knees In prayer.
The Captain stopped tho engines sunday ana the
vessel was allowed TO drift for forty-eight hours.
He used all the oil on board In an enort 70 break
the coming OF waVos. IL was not until Monday at
10 O'Clock that the engines we're again started.
The ship had driited 200 miles out OF Der course
The vessel has several holes in her Dow ana q
part OF tho bridge Is carried away. Inc port
side from stern TO stern is eplntored and
smashed. Great damage wss done below Five
OF tho state-rOoms arc completely cemohshen.
Nearly all OF the crockery and glassware was
smashed and six big mirrors were ruined. Inc
waves were so high as to reach up 70 and break
tho thick glass yentilators on tho upper deck aud
pour down the smOke-stack. Captain DaggetI
saws il WAS the worst gnle he ever experienced,
ard that during the whole two days his
vessel was Ia the utmost peril. His officers
and crew worked 70 repair tne damage done
and TO protect the Passengers. There were
80 cabin and 80 9steerage-passengers, 80 OF whom
were women. They we're in a badly exhausted
condition when landed. many being unable TO
walk. One lady was UNCONSCIOUS and was taken
away in a cab. The Chattehoochle was 10 nave
sailed again for Savannah to-morrc|, but VIII
have TO get into dock for repairs and the City OF
Savannah will take her place. After the gale the
ChattaLoochie passed dismasied brig aud
bark, both In distress. Late Monday night she
came across lightship adrift She steamed
around tho latter four times and offered assist
ance, but Il was refused
EXPERIENCE OF THE IIOoUoIs.
When the CLYDE steamship Iroquois reached
her pier under Brooklyn bridge at midnight last
night she bore evidences OF the terrible expert
ence she had passed through on her voyage
from Charleston. Sho was two days over
due, aud the wonder Ia that she was not
longer delayed: At o'clock last Fri
day morning she left Charleston under de-
ligntful auspices for a pleasant voyage aud oY-
erything went we'll til Saturday noon. wnen she
was on Cape Hstteras, There the steamship
experienced a change OF weather The ssles
which before had been clear. became overcast
with clouds and ths wind increased IN velocity.
and when about forty-nye miles southeast ~
Bodies Island the most severe weather was
experienced. The wind blew from nOrth-nortn-
cast and the vessel had 70 heaye TO.
The gale continued through Sunday. and az
about noon Of that day great sea came ABOARD,
smashed In tgelve feet OF the sisrooard side or
the social hail, flooded the roor OF the ss-
katnw An craQtal general havoc klguf
OF the passengers were injured. hsrry
Whiting, Of Wsbster. Mass, was one OF
the passengers on board OF the lroquois.
He was seen this morning and said: "At ABOUT
O'Clock on the moruing OF saturday we were
Just about 10 begin breakfast when heavy sea
struck us 10 stsrboard, the shock Of which threw
every one OF us 20 the Door OF the cabin. There
we lay thrown about for nearly ten minutes,
whom we regGined our feet Two ladies had been
knocked senseless or had tainted. for they could
not be gotten back for quite awhile"
A. NJ. keogh, OF Charleston, who IS connected
with the Charleston Academy OF Music. Was one
OF those who received wounds. His head was
badly cut, and he lost much blood In conse-
quence. Several ladies received very bad
bruises. Ono stout gentleman got very bad cut
ia the temple. The chief oficer had his hands cut
while one OF tho stewards received very severe
bruiss on his night arm Wafer rushed into the
saloon and stood knee-deep. There was panic
and many ran for life-preservers. The officers,
with excellent presence OF mind, succeeded in
staying tho panic that was in imminent danger
OF rising ana soon the saloon was Que large hos
pitAl- On Monday the ship was for the second
time struck by seas. This time Is con-
nned itself 20 the forehatch and forecsstle.
the latter being flooded. Several sailors were
thrown 10 the floor by thls sea and very badly
bruised. To make matters worse the steering
gear became ous OF order at noon on sunday
ana II was hard matter 10 keep the ships head
20 the sea Near the close OF the rough and pro-
longed passage the passengers adopted resolu-
tons com slimontary 70 the captain and crew for
uieir bravery.