The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13
over her and the water that had been shipped

Eibe. I am utterly wretched, for I became
separated from them, and hardly dare hope
that they have BEEN saved. I have been
abroad to visit relatives in Germany,
and during the last four months was
accompanied by my wife and boy. We left
Bremen on the Elbe for home. was asleep
in our stateroom when noise like a gun
shot woke me. jumped out of bed and
spoke to my wife, who had been aroused
as suddenly. I asked her what she thought
pay little attention to 1t. was not
greatly alarmed, although heard scufding
teet and hoarse shouts on deck. 1 hurried
into some of my clothes, however, and went
to the upper deck. Men, women and chill
dren were running about madly, the women
screaming with terror and every man get
ing in the others way. The darkness
increased the confusion and fright.
Suddenly I heard shrill despairing cries
from the women: There are no more boats!
then saw the men at the davits. l noticed
that the ropes were frozen 30 hard or were 80
tangled or something of the sort that the
sailors had to chop them frantically to get
The boats clear. Meanwhile the steamer
was settling perceptibly. 1 took my
boy into my arms and got into
when somebody shouted: All women and
children go on the other side Of the ship I
believe the Captain gave the order. My wife
started to run across the deck, and that Is
the last saw Of her. I clung to my boy,
but some men seized us and dragged us out
Of the boat, and my place was taken by one
of the crew. This boat got clear OF the
steamer. Before the men at the oars could
get full command of her big wave almost
dashed her against the steamers big fore
mast, which had gone by the board at the
time of the collision. It was almost m1rcu-,
lous that the boat was not swamped. An
other boat was got out. took my boy
into 1t and supposed that he had remained
by my side, but Just as the boat was lowered
I found that he had disappeared. He had
been torn away in the rush and scramble for
places. I tried to get back, but the boat
went down with jump and the moment we
reached the water the sailors pushed OH"
Miss Buecker, the only woman saved, said
In an interview: 81 was. In bed when the
steamers struck. T was aroused by great
crash, followed by shouts and the trampHng OF
feet on deck. Itwas dark when reached the
top, OF the stairs leading to the deck.
found that two of the lifeboats were being
lowered and, ran to one Of them. The
steamer was sinking gradually. One side
was already low in the water. Some men
showed me into the boat, which was then
lowered. We had hardly reached the water
before the boat upset and all were thrown
out. AS that part Of the Elbe was partly
submerged. most Of the others managed
to get back on the steamer. I went
under and when I came up clutched the
bow of the capsized lifeboat. clung to It
desperately until another lifeboat that had
been launched picked me up. We suffered
terribly until the Wild Flower rescued US.
lost all my Clothes but saved my money
and watch, which I had In the belt around
my waist"
Following is list of the American passen-
gers on the Elbe in the first and second
cabins when the Ill fated vessel sailed from
Bremen. First cabin: Mrs. Hermine Sam
ders, Falmouth, Mass; Mrs. Anton Fischer,
Washington; John B. Vineke, Saint Charles,
NJ. C. Connors, South Dakota; Ernst
Heeren, New York. Second class: Mrs.
Louise Kuehn, New York; Jacob Frank, Buff
falo; Mrs. Sophie Rhodes, Washington; Eu'
gene Rhodes, Washington; Carl Hofmannj
Grand Island. Neb; Anna Holman, Grand
Island, Neb. u. Hofmann, Grand Island, Neb.i
Adolf 'Islaub, New York; Ernst Maseburg,
Louisiana; Kurt Kleinschmidt, Helena, Mon
tana; John Gerlicher, Wtnona, Mimi; Jan
vevera, Cleveland, Ohio; MIR. Lockhart, Ne"
York.
Dispatches from Germany say that Bremen
Is In state of CONSERVATION and the whole
country Is excited by the news OF the wreck.
The passengers came from all parts OF the
Empire.
fortunately, the tide of immigration from
Germany Is now at an ebb, and the cabin
passenger traffic, as 1t generally 1t is at
this season, is somewhat dull. The
loss of life might have been double
u the accident had occurred in May,
when the influx of German immi-
grants is strongest. The Elbe might have
carried 120 first cabin passengers, 130 second
cabin passengers, and 1000 steerage passen'
gers. In the busy season she has crew, IN.
cluding walters, Of about 1S0 men and women.
Captain Kurt Won Goeesel, the commander
Of the Elbe, who went down with his ship,
was born in Ratibor, Prussian Silesis, forty
three years ago. He was splendid speci.
men of the Teutonic sailorman. He was six
feet two inches tall, was broad-chested,
erect, blue-eyed and blond-bearded. he had
the reputation of being one of the most careful
shippers in the North German Lloyd service,
He had received more premiums than any
other commander of the line for hissw1ft and
economical voyages. Captain Won Goesse
on several occasions stood upon the bridga
for thirty-six hours at stretch, and each
time his pet cat. Peter, remained with him In
the roughest weather. Every one who has
made trip upon the Elbe In recent years
knew Peter as the Captains pet.
The Elbe was probably the slowest OF the
big North German Lloyd feet plying between
New York and Southampton and Bremen.
She was built in 1881, and was the first o.!
what Is called the express steamers Of the
line. She started on her maiden trip from
Bremen on June 26, 1881. She usually covered
the distance between Southampton and
Sandy Hook in somewhat more than eight
days. She was four-masted vessel and
originally had barkentine rig; that Is, she
orls har ri
changed for economical reasons, and she had
none but fore and aft sails, like the big yes
sells of the record-breaking lines. She meas.
ured 4510 tons, was 420 feet long, As feet
beam, 36.5 feet deep. She was propelled
/ by q single screw. Her engines, OF the
compound type, with cylinders of 2s and
64 inches and q piston-stroke OF 80
inches, were Of $500 horse power. She was,
compared with the Campania and Lucania
modern merchant Ship. but she had as good
passenger accommodations probably as tht
BEST of the greyhounds. She was considered
q first-class passenger boat, and in the season
always had large cabin list It is surmised
that the cargo of the Elbe was not worth less
than $500. 1000. 1t consisted chiefly of silks
woolens, linens, and cottons.
Since the Elbe was launched, in 1881, thert
has never been q big liner sunk with 30 many
| SOULS. somewhat more tuah lolIy So,ls
ago the steamship City Of Glasgow
which sailed from Liverpool fol
Philadelphia, foundered, presumably IN
storm, with 4S0 persons aboard
She never was spoken after she left Liver
pool, on March 5, 1854. The steam
ship Pacific of the Collins line, which left
Liverpool on January %, 1856, with 1856 pas
sengers, was never heard from. The steam
ships President and Pacific Ocean met 6
similar fate. Within the last six years thu
big old freighter Erin Of the Nationa
line and the fine new modern twin-screw
freighter Naronic Of the White Star line, each