South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-01-20

TO God l considered my self a ve-
~ fortunate man, for in all my ex-
tensive travels by land and sea l had
never been in any accident OF a Sc
rious nature. / thought Of how
my wife and children had escs ped
the cholera, and the quarantine at
New York. The steamer that sail
ed before theirs, and the one that
followed after, both had cholera
aboard and were detained IN quar-
sntine, while the one that bore my
loved ones, being q swifter sailer,
reached New York and landed her
passengers before either OF the 9TH
er two had arrived.
"While engaged with these CRATE
full thoughts was startled by ter
rife crash and shock, as il the yes
sci had been driven on rock. I
did not ut hrst feel much anxiety
perhaps I was too i'll 20 think much
about it. But my son jumped
from his bertL aad rushed on deck.
He was back again in a few mo-
ments, enchanting that the shaft
was broken and the vessel sinking.
/ did not at frat believe it could be
so bad, but concluded to dress and
60 on dock. The report was only
too true. The captain told the af-
frighted passengers, who had rush
ed on deck, that there was no dam
ger, and some of the second cabin
passengers returned to their berths,
only to be driven out again by the
inrushing water, leaving everything
behind them.
"The officers and crew did all
they could to save the vessel. But
it was soon found that the pumps
were useless, for the water poured
into the ship too rapidly to be con-
trolled. There was nothing more
in the power of man to do. We
were utterly, absolutely helpless.
We could only stand still on the
poor, drifting, sinking, ship aud
look into our watery graves. All
this time, unknown to the passen-
gers, the officers were making pre-
parations for the last resort. The
life-boats wore all put in readiness,
provisions prepared, life-preservers
In hand, the officers armed with
revolyers to enforce their orders,
and the question was evidently be-
ing debated in their minds whether
to launch the boats at once, or wait.
The sea was SO heavy that the boats
could hardly have lived in it. Two
OF the passengers had loaded revol-
vera ready to blow ous their brains
If the vessel should 60 down, pre-
ferring death by bl!lets to death
by drowning. At noon the captain
told US he thought be had the wa
ter under control, and was In hopes
OF drifting in the way OF come pass
ing vessel. The ship's bow was
now high in the air. while the stern
seemed to settle more and more.
The sea was very rough, and the
ship rol Ell from side to side with
fearful lurches. IL she had pitched
violently but once, the bnlkheads
must have burst. and the end come.
The captain tried to keep up hope
By telling us we should probably
drift in the way OF ship by three
o'clock that Saturday afternoon
bat hight c., sci upon MS with
out s;ga Of 8 sail.
THAT was an awfnl night, the
darkest in oil our lives Seven
hundred mon, women aud children
Visiting for the doom that was set
ting upon us. No one d red to
sleep. We were all together in the
saloon OF the fret cabin Jews.
Professionals Catholics ard skeptics
although | doubt if at that time
there were any skeptics among us.
The agony and suspense were too
great for words. With blanched
faces and trembling hearts the pas
sengers looked at each other, as IL
trying to read what no one dared to
speak. Rockets famed into the
sky, bat there was no answer. We
were drifting out Of the track Of
the great steamers. Every hour
seemed to increase the danger OF
our situation.
SUNDAY morning dawned, With
out help or hope. Up to that time
no suggestion Of religious services
had been made. To havo done
shat would almost certainly have
produced q panic. In the awful
suspense and dread that prevailed,
q word about religion would have
suggested the most tsrribls things
to the poor souls. Tt was necessary
to divert their maids, II possible, or
they would break under The strain.
Bot as that second night came en-,
We held . pTaysr-meeting, with tho
Of tho captain. livery
body attended, and I think every
body prayed, skeptics and ali.
Surely the cries Of the dear little
children we're heard in heaven.
With one arm clasping a pillar TO
steady myself on the reeling vessel,
tried TO read the Ninety-first
Psalm, and We prayed that God
would still the raging Of she soa
and bring us to our desired haven.
it vas a new psalm to me from
hat hour The eleventh verse
touched me very deeply. II was