Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-10-19
LOST In A TYPHOON.
Fate of the Oriental Steamer BOkhars
on Sand Island-Only Twenty
three saved

HoNG KoNG, Oct. 17.-IntelHgence has
just been received here confirming the
worst fears entertained regarding the
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Naviga-
ton Company's steamer Bokhara, re-
ported as being several days overdue at
this port from Shanghai. The Bokhara
sailed from Shanghai October s for
Hong Kong, and should have arrived
here October II, at the latest. 1t 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 Por-
poise were sent to search for her, and
news has been received that the Box
hara was found a total wreck on Sand
Island, one of the Pheng-Hoo or Pesca-
dores group, lying in the channel of
Foo-Kien, between the Island of For
mosa and the Chinese mainland. Only
twenty-three 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
the mails, and these without doubt are
lost.
It has been learned that some time
after the Bokhara left Shanghai, the
barometer began to fall, and the vessel
made snug below and aloft to ride out
the gale that was known to be approach
ing. In few hours the wind, which
had been blowing quite fresh, had in
creased in violence, and soon was blow
ing terrific gale. The steamer was to
the westward of Formosa, where ty-
phoons are of frequent occurrence, and
in the comparatively narrow waterway
she did not have safe sea-room. The
sea was running tremendously high, and
efforts were made to lay the steamer
head on; but with the wind shifting
about the compass, popularity of
typhoons, this was impossible. Soon a
terribly high cross sea was running, and
the steamer was pitched about like an
empty bottle. Her matches were close
ly battened down, but the seas that
boarded her soon tore the tarpaulins off,
and soon the matches themselves were
lifted and carried overheard. Spare
sails were then dashed over the open
ings, but these were of little service in
preventing the seas from entering the
hold, Eand tons of water had en-
tered 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 at their utmost capacity.
CONSERVATION prevailed among the
passengers. None of them was allowed
on deck. Those in the cabin, though
they fully realized their danger, were
far more calm than the steerage pass
engers. Among the latter pandemoni-
UNI reigned. They were mostly Chi
nese, and had it not been for the fact
that they were locked below, many of
them would undoubtedly have thrown
themselves into the sea.
Soon the coal passers and fremen
were drowned out by water rising in
the fire-room. and a few minutes later
the fires were extinguished. The don
key boiler on the main deck was kept
going, however, and the pumps contin-
ued to work, keeping the water from
gaining as rapidly as it otherwise would
have done. Once the fires were out,
the vessel became unmanageable. 1t
was impossible to set any canvas.
Storm stavsails 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 calls were blown from
their gaskets and lost.
The situation of the ship was now
most precarious. Hawsers we're thrown
out to keep the vessel head up to the
wind, but she preached to, and was
soon rolling and pitching fearfully in
the cross sea, that was pounding her
and very often making clean breaches
over her.
Suddenly, above the bowling and
Sh rIo lii Of ha l,,11
was heard, and those on board knew
they were drifting on a lee shore, and
that the noise they heard was the
sound of the gigantic rollers crashing
upon land. Soon through the blindi ng
rain land was seen close aboard, and in
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
overheard and drowned by the seas
breaking over them. It was impossible
to lower the boats. Those on the wind
ward side of the steamer were smashed
to pieces soon after she stranded, while
those on the lee side could not be ap-
preached because Of the seas that were
sweeping the steamers decks. All
hands huddled under the lee of the
U0Ck houses LOT W0aC llCLl0 S06lCor Jnoy
afforded, but every time a sea surged
over the vessel their number grew less,
some of them having been carried
away.
The twenty-three who were saved
managed by almost superhuman efforts
to hold on until the storm subsidized.
Then they were taken off in an ex-
hausted condition. The steamer An
coma has been sent to the wreck.
The Bokhara was a three-masted,
iron screw steamer of 1885 gross tons.
She was built at Greenock IN 1873 by
Card q Co. Her engines of 500 horse
power, were Of the compound inverted
type.
The post-office authorities have tele-
graphed to the postmaster nearest the
scene of the wreck Of the Bokhara ask.
ing for the names of those saved from
the wreck and the names of those lost.
A reply is not Expected until tomorrow
The cargo of the Bokhara was very
1t comprised large amount
of specie and large consignment of
silks.
DROPPED DEAD ON THE STREET.