Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1892-10-20
LOST AT SEA.
The steamship Bokhara Lost In a Typhoon
desperate struggle with the Storm
OnIy = Few ON Hoard Saved.

inc ntcAhhsuip bohuAFa Lest IA ~ tPhDoA
desperate struggle with the Storm
Only Few ON Hoard Saved.
HoNG KoNo, Oct IS. Tho worst fears
regarding the peninsular & Oriental
steamer Bolkhara, reported Saturday as
being several days overdue at this port
from Shanghai, have been confirmed.
The vessel has been found wrecked and
all but twenty-three persons on 1t have
perished.
Some time after the steamer left
Shanghai the barometer began TO fall,
and the vessel was made snug. In a
few hours the wind was blowing a ter
rife gale. The steamer was 10 the
westward of Formosa, where typhoons
are frequent, and in the comparatively
narrow waterway did not have safe sea
room. Efforts were made to lay her
head on, but with the wind shifting
about this was impossible, A terribly
high cross sea was running and the
steamer was pitched about Her
hatohes were closely battened down,
but the seas soon tore the tarpaulins
OFF and then the matches themselves
were lifted and carried overheard.
Spare sails were then lashed over the
openings, but these were Of little SER
vice and the water began 70 gain on the
pumps, which were working at their
utmost capacity
CONSERVATION prevailed among the
passengers, none of whom were allowed
on deck. Those in the cabin, though
they realized their danger, were far
more calm than the steerage passen-
gers Among the latter pandemonium
Prevailed. They were mostly Chinese
and had 1t not been for the fact that
they were locked below, many OF them
would have thrown themselves into the
sea Soon the coal passers and fremea
were drowned out by the water ris-
ing in the fire room and the fires extin
guished The dinkey boiler was kept GO
ing, however, and the pumps continued
to work, keeping the water from gain
ing as rapidly as II otherwise would
have done The vessel became un-
manageable and ii was impossible to
set any canvas. Storm stay sails had
been set to steady the steamer at the
beginning of the gale but they had
been blown from the bolt ropes and
carried off. Even some of the furled
sails We're blown from the gaskets
IIawsers were thrown out TO the wind
but she broached to and was soon
rolling fearfully in the cross sea that
was pounding her and often making
clean sweeps over her
Suddenly above the bowling of the
wind a dull booming was heard and 1
those on board knew that the noise
they heard was the sound of the /
gigantic rollers crashing upon the t
rocks. Soon through the binding rain /
land was seen close aboard and in
few minutes the ship struck.
Every body was ordered on deck, the |
passengers had put on life-preservers,
but these were OF little use, as many Of
the people were swept overheard and
drowned by seas breaking over them.
II was impossible to lower the boats.
Those on the windward side of the /
steamer were smashed TO pieces soon
after she stranded while those on tho I
lee side could not be approached be-
cause of the seas that were sweeping
the steamers decks
All hands huddled under the leo OF
the deck houses for what little shelter
they afforded, but every time sea
5urged over the vessel their number
grew less, some Of them being carried
away.
The twenty-three who were saved
and who were the captain and part OF
the officers and crew managed by al.
most superhuman efforts to hold on nm.
til the storm subsidized Then they were
taken off in an exhausted condition. 1t
IS probable that all the rescued win be
brought to Hong Kong tomorrow The
steamer Ancona has been sent 70 the
wreck.
The number Of passengers is not
Known but certainly run up into the