The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-18
PRICE ONE GENE
WRECK OF THE BOKAARA
The Ill Fated Vessel 0vertakeu
by Terrific Cyclone,
OVER a HUNDRED LIVES LOST,

Passengers Deluged by Monster
Waves and Many Washed Over.
board-oniy Twenty.three Persons
Saved from the Fury OF the Gale.
HoSG KoSG, Oct, 1S,-Tn!elligence has
been received here confirming the worst
fears about the Pen:nsGlar and Orierta!
Steam Navigation company's steamer
Bokhara, which sailed from Shanghai
on Oct. 8 for Hong Kong, and should
have arrived here on Oct. 10 at the
latest. The steamer Bombay and the
British cruiser Porpoise were sent to
search for her, and news has been re-
ceived that the Bokhara was found
total wreck on Sand island, one of the
Pheng-Hoo or Pescadores group. Only
twenty-three persons on board We're
saved, the lost including the commander
Of the steamer and the greater part of
her officers and crew. The number of
passengers she had on board is not yet
known, but there were over hundred
Lost. She carried the mails, and these
without doubt are lost.
Some time after the Bokhara left
Shanghai the barometer began to fall,
and the vessel was made ready to ride
out the gale that was known to be APP
preaching. In II few hours the wind
was blowing terrific gale.
Deluged by Monster Waves.
The sea was running very high and
efforts were made to lay the steamer
head on, but this was impossible. Her
matches were closely battened down. but
the seas that boarded her tore the tar
Tlunlinc nff nd tha hatahaa fhar1n-
selves We're lifted and carried overheard.
Spare sails were then lashed over the
openings, but these were of little service
In preventing the seas from entering the
hold, and soon tons of water had entered
the steamer Water began to pour into
the fire room, and though every effort
was made to keep it out it began to gain
on the pumps, which were working ut
their utmost capacity.
CONSERVATION prevailed among the
passengers. None of them was allowed
on deck. Those in the cabin, though
ehey realized their danger were more
calm than the Storage passengers.
Among the latter panic reigned. They
were mostly Chinese, and had it not
been for the fact that they were locked
below many of them would undoubtedly
have thrown themselves into the sea-
The coal passers and firemen were
soon driven out by the water rising in
the fire room, and a lew minutes later
the fires were extinguished. When the
fires were out the vessel became unman-
ageable. 1t was impossible to set any
canvas. Storm staysails had been set to
steady the steamer at the beginning of
gale, but they had been blown away,
Even some of the furled sails were blown
from their gaskets and lost. Hawsers
were thrown cut to keep the vessels
head to the wind, but she broached to
and was soon rolling in the cross sea.
Passengers Washed Overheard.
At last the booming of surf was heard,
and those on board knew they were
drifting on lee shore. Soon land was
seen, and in a few minutes the steamer
struck. Everybody was ordered on deck.
The passengers had put on life pre-
servers, but these were OF little use, as
many Of the people were swept over
board and drowned by tho seas breaking
over them. 1t was impossible to lower
the boats. Those on the windward side
Of the steamer were smashed to pieces
soon after she stranded.
The twenty-three persons who were
saved MANAGED by almost superhuman
Efforts to hold on until the storm sub
sided, when they were taken off iii an
exhausted condition.
The cargo of the vessel was very val
uRble. 1t included large amount Of
specie and large consignment of silk.