The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-31

fuerth; Mrs. Sophia Rhodes Washington.
Eugene Rhodes, Washington; Carl Hoff-
mann, Grand Island, Neb.; Mrs. Anna
Hoffman, Grand Island, Neb.; Henry
HOFFMAN, Grand Island, Neb.; Edward
Moskovie, Eperjes: Esteria Goldner, Ep-
cries; Mrs. Lockhart, New York: Au-
gust Sander, Essen; Peter Pomierskl,
Kasanitz; Miss Clara Weingartner, Fleh-
ingen; Mrs Andrew Brlebach, Amster-
Andrew Nattier Krane. Amsterdam;
julius Rosenbaum, Berlin: Adolph Islaub.
Kurt Klenschnidt, Helena Mont: Carl
Nussbaum, Berlin; John Gerlicher, WI
Rudolph Nolte, Leipsic; DR.. Dittrich,
Leipsic; J. II. Hahn, Leipslc; jan Vevera,
leipsic; kvetoo Nor, Leipsic: Frank Mis-
kolez, Leipsic.
Rescued by the Wildflower
London, Jan. 30.-The boat carrying
the twenty-one persons who were
landed at Lowestoft put off in such
haste from the sinking steamer that
nobody in 1t noticed what became of
the other boat. The survivors believe,
however, that she got away safely
They say that they tossed about in the
heavy seas for several hours before
they sighted the Wildhower. The lit
tie smack bore down on them at once
and took them aboard. They We're ex-
hausted from excitement and exposure
Several of them We're in a state of col
lapse a,Ii had to be carried and dragged
from one boat to the other Miss Anna
Burecker, the only woman In the party
was Frustrated as soon as they got
clear of the Elbe. She lay in the bot
tom of the boat for five hours with the
seas breaking over her and the water
I,,t I.,I ..I,t ID ,.i,, I,,,,
body. Although her physical strength
was gone, she showed true pluck, how
ever, and did not utter word of com
plant and repeatedly urged her com
paniOns not to mind her but look after
themselves.
Hofmanns leg was hurt severely,
while he was changing boats. The sur
vlvors cannot say too much in praise
of the Wildtower's crew, who gave
them every possible attention.
Upon landing, the survivors We're
taken in charge by b. S, Bradbeer. the
German consul at LOweStoft, who sent
some to the sailors home and others
to the Suffolk hotel. Miss Burecker
who took passage only to Southampton.
will probably be able to go to London
in a day or two.
The North German Lloyd steamer
Elbe was built in Glasgow in the ship
yards of John Elder & Co. in 1881. She
was 44O feet long. 40 feet beam. and
So fest inches in depth of hold. Her
gross tonnage was 4,jlO: her registered
tUnnags 2Sl0,' and her horsepower
$500. She was a four masted screw
steamer with six compartments. Her
officers and crew numbered 10 persons.
and sac had accommodation for 1870
first class, 120 second class, and 1000
steerage passengers.
Carl lloffman's Experience.
Carl Hofmann, who came ashore in
the Wildhower, said in an interview
My home is in Grand Island, Ne
braska. | had my wife and boy of
with me on the Elbe. We left Bremen
for home ON Tuesday. l was asleep in
cur state room when noise like a
gunshot woke me. jumped out of bed
and spoke to my wife, who had been
aroused as suddenly. | asked her what
she thought the trouble was, but she
seemed to pay little attention to it.
] was not greatly alarmed. although
heard shuiIling of feet and hoarse
shouts on deck.
81 hurried into a few of my clothes,
however. and went to the upper deck
/ saw anly too clearly then what had
happened. | rushed below and helped
my wife and boy throw on few clothes
and we went on deck together The
| excitement and confusion cannot be
described Everybody seemed to have
! lost his head: the scene was distressing
| beyond anything else | ever saw. Men,
women and children were running
| about madly, the women screaming
| with terror and every man getting in
the others way. The darkness increased
/ the confusion and fright.
No More Boats.
/ Suddenly ] heard shrill, despalring
| cries from the women: There are no
more boats | then saw the men at the
/ davts. I noticed that the ropes were
frozen so hard or were so tangled or
something of the sort that the sailors
had to chop them frantically to get
the boats clear. The sailors were doing
/ their best, however, and worked with
! might and main. They finally got out
the aft quarter boat on the port side.
I could see that 1t was full of people,
but the sailors could not lower it,
Meanwhile the steamer was settling
perceptibly. | took my boy in my arms
and got into the second boat. Ny wife
was close behind me when somebody
shouted: AN women and children go
on the other side of the ship believe
the captain gave the order. My wife
-.
that is the last | saw of her | 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. Another
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, ] found that he had disap-
peared. He had been torn away In the
rush and scramble for place. | tried to
get back but the boat went down with
a jump and the moment we reached
the water the sailors pushed OFF"
Miss Burcckcr's Story.
Miss Bureckers version of the disas-
ter was as follows: 81 was In bed when
the steamers struck. / was aroused by
a great crash, followed by shouts and
tramplng Of feet ON deck. 1t was dark
when / reached the top of the stairs
leading to the deck. | found that two
of the life boats weri being lowered and
ran to one of them. The steamer was
sinking gradually. One side was al.
ready low in the water, Some mer
showed me into the boat, which was
then lowered. We had hardly reached
the water before the boat upset and al
were thrown out. As that part of thu
Elbe was partly submerged. most OF
the others managed to get back on the
steamer ] went under and when
came up clutched the bow of the cap
| sized life hnai | CLING To Il dnsnnrh [ o.