New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-01

photographed by Magnus OF HoDokeh)
bv the Crathie burned blue and red lights. Sim
liar signals We're returned by the Crathie, MS
belief being that no assistance was required
on either side. The Crathies officers say that
the ship with which the Crathie was in COLLISION
was large steamer with two tunnels
Eugen Schlegel. second-cabin passenger on
the Elbe gives this account Of his experience:
when was awakened by the crash jumped
from my berth and found myself knee deep In
water 1t took me ten minutes to find my SIS
ter When the women and children were or
dered to the starboard side Of the boat led my
sister across. The women were crowded to-
gether near the rail. shrieking and crying. The
crew seemed to be working with perfect disci-
pne. | saw boat filed with passengers
and believe IL cleared the ship left my sister
TO go back TO the port side, and l did not see
her again. 1t was a terrific rush for life
DENOUNCING THE FOG STORY
The surviving officers of the Elbe denounce
the fog story Of the Crathies officers as pure
invention. The English pilot, Greenham, said:
1T is a black lie. There was no fog. 1t was
quite clear, and the lights OF several smacks
were visible four or five miles Off" The
Elbe seamen made similar statements
Skipper Shoevling, of the Yarmouth trawer
Flora which returned TO port this afternoon
says that at O'Clock yesterday morning he was
near the place where the collision occurred. He
saw rockets fired from large steamship, and
noticed that its lights and those of a small
the time tha; there collision. but as the
Flora's gear was down he could not approach
the vessels The signals ceased in few min
utes At daybreak he sew in the distance
steamship flying signals Of distress and making
rapidy for the Dutch coast. He thinks she must
have been the Crathie.
Miss Boecker has talked to reporters dozen
times to-day. despite the nervous reaction fos-~
lowing her experience yesterday. She says that
she is an orphan. 20 years old. had been visiting
relatives I'm Bremen. and was returning Via
southampton to Portsmouth. where she earns
her living as a ady's companion. She says:
As the trip was so short / did not undress.
but lay down In my berth with my clothes on
| was sleeping lightly when the crash came.
Somebody was at my door almost Immediately
calling to me that must get ready 10 leaVe the
shin put on my hat and jacket. took my
watch and money in my belt. ana joined the
other cabin passengers VINO We're rushihs ioi '"e
deck.
THEY SAW THE ELBE GO DOWN.
could see that the ship was sinking.
ufeboat near me was being got ready. and two
men who had helped me in the crowd put me IN
it, AS soon as the boat reached the water II
began To fiji. / did not potice any waves wash
ing over and believe the water came from
the plughole in the bottom. but do not know.
As the boat sank the other persons in it grasped
the side OF the ship. which had settled almost
To a level with the water They clambered up
to the deck. but ! could only cling to the Elbes
rail After two or three minutes another Hfe-
boat was launched. | worked my way along the
side of the ship and grasped one OF the oars
4 sailor pulled me in with great difficulty and
laid me ir the bottom OF the boat. had been
in the water about ten minutes and was almost
paralyZed | did not anybody else in the
water. and the roaring of the wind and waves
prevented my hearing the cries of the perlshing:
As | was fiat on the bottom of the boat, could
not see the Elbe go down. but the men in the
boat told me when the end came. The waves
swept over the gunwale of the boat continually.
the men could not stop bailng for minute.
There rest for them from the time We
eft the steamship until we boarded the Wild
flower.
THE SURVIVORS REACH LONDON.
The surviving officers and seamen Of the
EIbe left Lowestoft this evening and arrived
here at . o'clock Il. S. Brs dbeer. the German
Consul at Iowestoft put them on the train.
and the company's agent and the German Con-
sui in London met them when they arrived.
The consul expressed to them the Governments
regret and his own sorrow. The party went
to "A hotel for the night For the last twenty
four hours the survivors of the crew nave
been watched closely 10 prevent their iiah"s
unofficial statements. III,
II is understood that the German Consul VIII
open the inquiry here tomorrow The agents
Of the owners and The insurance cohPamieSs TnS
and the officials OF .he Admiralty ana Board
of Trade will be present The inquiry VIII last
eight days =. A.. ,..
which they had torn in the nnai strussie LOT
life and wore suits given them by Consul Brad
beer Pilot Greenhams hand Is badly frost-
bitten. , IT., - 40,
snot where the Elbe lies arrived at Lowestoft
mis- afternoon. Not one reported seeing any signs
of the wreck or the passengers Their reports
banished the last hopes OF finding the second life
boat 4 smack returning shortly before mid
night brought A boats rudder and logline. but
there was nothing TO indicate what boat they
were FROM The customs officers at all ports
along the south and east coast are on the alert
TO hail and question the shippers OF all incoming
craft and the coastguard patrol the shore for
miles In the search for wreckage and dead bodies
The wind and tide would now bring fotam to
points south of Lowes:oft.
A dispatch from Bremen says the Elbe had on
boa rd 324 persons. of whom l49 were officers and
crew, so cabin passengers and l25 steerage pas
sengers. OF the passengers eighteen were chill.
dren.
THE FINAL RUSH FOR SAFETY.
Mr.. Vevera said to-day:
1t was every man for himself and his safety
in the final rush. The passengers saved were
few enough in comparison with the NUMBER
OF sean.en. They wanted to keep me out or
the boat. but jumped down on their heaoss
otherwise l should not be alive.
l shall never forget the sight OF those poor
creatures with the iIfebelts. bobbing up ana
down In the water. 1t will be picture peiore
my eyes long as / live And the people Oh
deck There was poor woman VINO ciuns
to her boy sobbing and praying Tor rescue:
The noise was terrific. can hear IL YET anu
can see the groups Of despairing men anu
women who hung over the raii 40 VIC "e'e
swept away.
THE Daily Graphic" will remark Tomorrow
the divergence Of the accounts as to the con-
duct OF the crew. especially as shown In Pilot
Greenham's tribute 70 the ships discipline. ana
-- 1890 - ----- ---- .------- ------