The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1892-10-25
THE PREMIER ooLLIsIoN.


A Visit From One of The survfyors---ElIa
HIgginson's Account---some sug-
gestions.
Mr.. w. II. Philips, of Louisville, KY,
who was one of the passengers on the
Premier at the time of the collision with
the Willamette, is in the city. Five
persons were killed, Ii badly wounded,
and one drowned, in the collision. Mr..
Philips was injured badly, but is recov-
ering. The best description of the dis
aster which we have seen was written
by Ella Higginson. She says that all
her life she has had desire to be in an
accident, preferably a water accident,
because the waves always curl up SO
soft and caressing that it seemed to me
it would be good to lie down beneath
them and rest. swell, I have had my
desire, and am bound to confess that
when stood on the guard of the Prem
ier with the whole side of a bedstead in
one hand, a pillow, yes a feather pillow,
in the other, my cloak under my arm,
and a life-preserver around my waist,
and realized that in moment I might
be struggling with those same waves for
my life, there was nothing soft or cares
sing in their appearance was flung
on the floor several feet from my chair,
and men, women and pieces of furniture
were swept violently past me. 1 heard
groans and means of anguish, and low
murmers of prayer, but not one scream.
Not for an instant did lose my presence
of mind.
Before 1 got to my feet 1 remembered
my conversation with Mrs. Wynkoop,
and ran to four different staterooms to
get a life-preserver, but every door was
locked. Then 1 ran out on the rear
guard, and found men climbing down
from the upper deck, and up from the
lower. They all swarmed around me,
and all shouted at once, Now, madam,
keep cooll Don't get exciredP In two
seconds realized that the futter OF
petticoat had the effect on every man of
| jerking his mouth open and forcing out
the words: Keep cooll Don't get ex-
cited!' Exasperated, 1 exclaimed: 4
am cool! But in the meantime, we may
as well be thinking of life-preservers.
We needn't be too cool for thati' Life
preservers!' wildly CALCULATED a man.
why, madam, we are on Puget sound
A boat can't sink on Puget soundi'
'Even in that awful moment was
struck with the grim humor of his reply.
What an advertisement for Puget sound !!
Then lady said with solemnity that
| - 70 Iz;- of
whenever think of it: Young man,
don't you tell US that if it amt SO =
Wild excitement there was, of course,
but no panic, no selfshness, no -hyster-
les. L want TO pay special tribute to all
the men with whom I came in contact,
no pun intended for their consideration
and most of all to Rev. Brown, of New
Whatcom. 1 shall never forget the
firm, reassuring grip with which he took
my hand and assisted me through the
debris and wreck to the bow of the Will
lamette, not once letting go my hand or
forgetting me-" Ella tells of two men
who were badly injured while in the
smoking car playing cards. One of
these was Mr.. Phillips. The scenes at
times on both vessels were appalling
when dead, dying and wounded were
lifted from one place to another; and if
you desire very shifting panorama of
varied emotions and sensations, from
the most heart breaking pathos to the
grimest humor, Ella recommends col
lision at sea. In this suggestion THE
CHRONICLE fully concurs: 81 want to
lift up my voice for better laws concern
ing life-preservers. 1 want them out in
plain sight, easy of access-I don't want
them under berths in staterooms with
the doors locked, 1 want them labeled.
They may not be pretty ornaments for
finely furnished cabins, but let me tell
you, Mr.. Law Makers, that after you
have been in shipwreck, they will be
beautiful in your eyes under any and
every circumstance. Another thing.
Make a law that the name of each pas
senger shall be taken. The man who
jumped overheard is unknown, and
may always be. We don't want to vote
but take our advice sometimes on a new
law"