The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-10-18
TO WATERY GRAVES.
Fearful Loss of Life BY the Found
ering of a Steamer.
TYPHOON IN THE CHINA SEA.
or All the Crew and Passengers Only
Thiriy-four Are Known to Have Iseen
saved-Terrible Work OF the Deadly
Typhoon I'm the Chinese Sea.

HONG KoNa, Oct. 1s.-Intelligence has
been received here confirming the worst
fears entertained regarding the Peninsula
and Oriental Steam Navigation Com
pany's steamer Bokhara, reported Satur-
day as being several days overdue at this
port from Shanghai. The Bokhara sailed
from Shanghai Oct. for Hong Kong,
and should have arrived here Oct. IL at
the latest. II was known that a typhoon
had swept over the China Sea, and the
agents of the steamer thought that her
machinery had become disabled in the
gale and that she was proceeding under
sail. The steamer Bombay and the
British cruiser Porpoise were sent 10
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, lying in
the Channel OF Fo Kien, between the is
land OF Formosa and the Chinese main
land. Only "a persons on board the
Bokhara were 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. She carried the malls,
and these without doubt are lost.
Is has been learned that some time after
the Box hara left Shanghai the barometer
began to fall, and the vessel was made
ready to ride out the gale that was known
TO be approaching. In few hours, the
wind, which had been blowing quite
fresh, had increased in violence and soon
was blowing terrific gale. The steamer
was to the westward of Formosa, where
typhoons are OF frequent occurrence, and
in the comparatively narrow pathway
she did not have safe sea room. The sea
was running tremendously high, and
A. L.. l. .&~...
on, but with the wind shifting about the
compass, a peculiarity OF typhoons, this
was impossible.
Soon a terrible high cross sea was
running and the steamer was pitched
about liketan empty bottle. Her matches
were closely battened down, but the seas
that boarded her tore the tarpaulins of.
and soon the matches themselves were
lifted and carried overbo ard. 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 ev1ry effort was made TO
keep IL out 1t began to gain on the
pumps, which Nerc working at their
utmost capacity.
CONSERVATION prevailed among the
passengers. None OF them were allowed
on deck. Those in the cabin, though
they fully realized their danger, were far
more calm than the storage passengers.
Among the latter pandemonium reigned.
They were mostly Chinese, and had II
not been for the fact that they were
locked below, many OF them would un-
doubtedly have thrown themselves into
the sea. Soon the coal passers and fire.
men were drowned out by the water ris-
ing In the fire room, and few MINUTES
later the fires were extinguished. The
donkey boiler on the main deck was kept
going, however. and the pumps con-
tinued to work, keeping the water from
gaining as rapidly as 1t otherwise would
have done.
Once the fires were out, the vessel be-
came unmanageable. It was impossible
to set any canvas. Storm staysails bad
been sss to steady the steamer at the be-
OF the gale, but they had been
blown fromlthe bolt ropes and carried of.
The situation OF tho ship was now most
Hawsers were thrown out TO
keep the vessel head up to the wind, but
she broached to and was soon rolling and
pitching fearfuliy in the cross sea that
was pounding her, aud very often max
ing clean breaches over her.
Suddenly, above the bowling and
shrieking of the wind, dull booming
was heard, and those on board knew they
were drifting on lee shore, and that the
noise they heard was the sound Of the
gigantic rollers crashing upon land.
Soon through the binding rain land was
seen close aboard, and in a few minutes
the steamer struck. Everybody was ord
cred 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 the seas
breaking over them.
1t was Impossible to lower the boats.
Those on the wipdward side OF the steam
Or were smashed to pieces soon after she
stranded, while those on the lee side
could not be approached because 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 n sea surged
over the vessel their number grew less,
some of them having been carried away.
The 81 who were saved managed by al
most superhuman efforts TO hold on until
the storm subsidized. Then they were
taken of in an exhausted condition.
The Bokhara was a three -mastcd iron
screw steamer OF 1855 gross tons. She
was built at Greenock In 1873 by Laird q
Co., and hailed from that port. Her
cargo was very valuable. 1t comprised n
large amount OF specie and large con-
Bignment OF silk.