Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-11

FACED DEATH FOR HOURS.
Experience of the Passengers AMI
Crew of the Alvena.

Experience OF the Passengers and
Crew of the Alvena.
A story comes from Norfolk as thrilling
as any of Clark Russelrs. The Atlas liner
Alvena, Capt Dow. put in there yesterday
in distress, having sprung a leak 200 miles
southeast of Hatteras on Sunday morning
in the midst of a bowling gale. The pas
sengers We're awakened by the engines
stepping and the captain reported a leak in
the after bulkhead, and that the water
vas gaining rapidly, and the case was con-
sidered hopeless.
The passengers sat, with life preservers
in front of them at the saloon table for
tw enty-eight hours, the life boats were pro-
visioned and swung loose at the davits. All
pumps kept three streams working. Small
holes were bored through the bdlkhead to
the engine room to let the water in where
the engineer could put other pumps at
work. This and jettisoning 300 tons of the
cargo. consisting of coffee, sugar and honey,
saved the ship Capt. Dow was brave and
CeoI.
The crew consisted of four sailors, and
but for the shipwrecked crew of the
schooner Frari- Pratt Lee, who were taken
on board at Kingston, and two stowaways
| fc und on the Alvena. the ship would have
| sunk before she could have been lightened
enough to save her.
Among the passengers on the Alvena was
Mr.. John H. Fowler of Baltimore. presi-
dent of Navassa Phosphate Company. Mr..
Fowler is on his way to Baltimore from
NavaSSa Island, where he has been on bust
| ness, and he tells thrilling story of his ex-
perience on the leaking ship. The steamer
| left Kingston on the Sd instant, and since
Sunday night, when the leak occurred in
| the midst of gale, she has been in immi-
nent danger of sinking.
MIR. FOwler's Story.
IT retired Sunday night" said Mr.. Fowler,
| ard awoke about 1 a. m. to find the engines
| at standstill. The vessel was pitching
about in heavy sea, and huge waves were
washing over the decks. The engines soon
| started. however. and did not worry until
| the next morning, when Capt: Dow was alb
sent from his seat at the table. After
| breakfast 1 sought him in his cabin and
| was told that a leak too serious to be
| mended had sprung, and that water was
making in the hold very fast. All the
pumps We're at work. but the stern of the
| ship was rapidly settling, and 1T was found
| Lecessary to jettison the cargo in that part
| of the vessel. This was difficult task, as
! the storm was still raging and the matches
could not be kept open for any length of
| time.
| AT least 100000 worth of coffee rum,
sugar and spices was thrown overheard.
| On Monday the captain told US frankly
| that he did not know whether we would
| ever see land again, and from that time
until We anchored inside the capes last
night nobody slept a wink. There We're
| thirteen first-class passengers, including
several ladies, but there was no panic or
excitement The bravery shown by the
passengers held a prayer meeting in the
| cabin. We had then almost given up hope.
The high waves threatened to break into
| the cabin at any moment, and the stern
| of the boat was still settling. By jettison-
| ing more cargo in the stern hold, however,
the boat was kept in the water. If she
| had ever tilted in the storm nothing could
| have saved us