New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-31
STORY OF THE DISASTER.
PANIC REIGNED ON THE DECKS OF
THE ELBE.
THE STEAMER WHICH STRUCK HER WAS GOING
AT UNCHECKED SPEED IN THE DARK
NEss-THRILLING NARRATIVES OF
THE SURVIVORS.

THE SURVIVORS.
| London. Jan. 3O.-The North German Lloyd
steamship Elbe bound from Bremen for New
York. sunk in a collision with small
steamer fifty miles Off Lowestoft early this
morning She carried 400 people. Only twenty
one survivors have been landed. but few
others may still be afoat In Of the ships
small boats. At 10 o'clock this evening the
number OF lives lost given out as $50.
The survivors of the wreck were landed at
Lowestoft by the fishing smack Wild Flower
at $40 o'clock this evening. All Of them were
In a pitiable condition. The passengers were
but half clothed Their few garments were
frozen stiff. their hair was coated with ice.
and anxiety and effort had exhausted them
completely. The officers and sailors were fully
dressed but their clothes had been drenched
and frozen and they had been almost paralyzed
with cold and fatigue. They had been ashore
three hours before they had recovered suf-
ficiently to tell the story oe the wreck. Their
accounts agreed upon the following points:
The Elbe left Bremen Tuesday afternoon.
The few hours of the voyage before the disas-
ter were uneventful. At o'clock this morning
the wind was blowing hard and tremendous
sea was running. The morning was unusually
dark Numerous lights were seen In all direc-
tions, showing that many vessels were nearby.
The captain ordered. therefore. that rockets
should be sent up at regular intervals to warn
the craft to keep out of the Elbe's course.
A CRASH IN THE DARKNESS.
II was near to o'clock and the Elbe was
some fifty miles off Lowestoft. coast OF Suffolk.
when the lookout man sighted a steamer OF about
l50O tons approaching. He gave the word and.
as precaution, the number OF rockets was
doubled, and they were sent up at short intervals
The warning was without effect. The steamer
came on with unchecked speed. and before the
EIbe could change her course or reduce her speed
notably there was the terrific crash OF the COL
lison.
The Elbe was hit abaft her engine-room. When
the smaller steamer wrenched away an enormous
hole was left in the Elbe's side. The water
poured through and down into the engine-room
in cataract The room filed almost instantly.
The engines were still and the big hulk began TO
settle.
The passengers were in bed. The bitter cof
and rough sea had prevented any early risins
and none except the officers and crew on duty
was on deck when the ship was struck. The
shock and crash reused everybody. The steerage
was in n panic In a moment. ana men, women
and children. half dressed or In their night
clothes came CTOWulHB uP thS SSAAb~'~-- ''~'
They had heard the sound Of rushing water as
the other steamer backed off. and had felt the
Elbe lurch and settle They had grasped the
fact that 1t was then life or death with them, and
almost TO a man had succumbed to their terror.
They clung together in groups, facing the cold
and storm. and cried aloud for help or prayed on
their knees for deverance.
THE LIFEBOATS LAUNCHED.
The officers and crew were calm. For few
moments they went among the terror-stricken
groups trying to quiet them and encouraging
them to hope that the vessel might be saved. It
was soon apparent, however, that the Elbe was
settling steadily. The officers convinced
that she was about to founder and gave orders to
lower the boats. In short time three boats were
got alongside. but the seas were breaking over
the steamer with great force and the first boat
was swamped before anybody could get into IT,
The other two boats. lowered at about the Same