New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-31
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crew and some passengers but the number was
small, as the boats held only twenty persons
each.
The boat carrying the twenty-one persons
who were landed at Lowestoft put of In such
haste from the sinking steamer that nobody In
II 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 Wild Flower. The little smack
bore down on them at once and took them
aboard They were exhausted from excite
ment and exposure. Several Of them were In .
state Of collapse, and had to be carried ana
dragged from one boat to the other.
THE ONLY WOMAN SAVED.
Miss Anna Buecker the only woman In the
party was Frustrated soon as they goy clear
of the El5e She lay in the bottom OF the boat
for five hours, with the seas breaking over
her and the water that had been shipped half
covering her body. Although her physical
strength was gone she showed true pluck, how
ever and did not utter word OF complaint
and repeatedly urged her companions not TO
mind her. but to look after themselves. Hof-
mann's leg hurt severely while he was
changing boats
The survivors cannot say too much In praise
Of the Wild Flowers crew, who gave them every
were 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 Buecker, who took passage only
to Southampton, will probably be able to go to
London in day or two.
HOW THE SURVIVORS ESCAPED.
Carl Hofmann, who came ashore IN the WHO
Flower said In an interview:
ia in |
wife and boy of seven with me on the EIDE.
We ef' Bremen for home on TUESDAY. was
asleep in our stateroom when noise ike gun
shot woke me- jumped ou. or pea ana SPOKE
to my wife, who had been aroused as suddeniy.
/ asked her what she thought the trouble was.
but she seemed to pay little attention TO IT, !
was not greatly alarmed, although ! heard
scufling feet and hoarse shouts on deck.
hurried into a few of my clothes, however.
and went to the upper deck saw only too
clearly then what had happened / rushed be-
low and helped my wife and boy throw on few
clothes, and we went on deck together.
The excitement and confusion cannot be De-
scribed | never saw anything like 1t. Every
body seemed to have lost his head the scene
was distressing beyond anything else l 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
DEsPAIRING CRIES OF THE WOMEN.
Suddenly heard shrill, despairing cries from
the women: There are no more boats" then
saw the men at the davts. noticed that the
ropes were frozen so hard or were so tangled
that the sailors had 10 chop them franticalIy
T. 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. | could see that II was fuil OK
people but the sailors could not lower II.
Meanwhile the steamer was settling percepu-
bly,. took my boy In my arms and got into tne
second boat My wife was close behind when
somebody shouted: "All women and children go
on the other side of the ship. ! believe the
captain gave the order MY wife started 10 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 he boat, and my place
was taken by one OF the crew. fhs boat got
clear of the steamer Before the men at the oars
could get full command of her. big wave AL
most dashed her against the steamers Dig iore.
mast, which had gone by the board al the time
of the collision 1t was almost miraculous thae
the boat was not swamped.
Another boat was got out. took my boy into
It. and supposed that be had remained by my
side but just as the boat was lowered found
that he had disappeared. He had peen torn
away in the rush and scramble LOT places.
tried to get back, but the boat went down win
a iump and the moment we reached the water
the sailors pushed on
MISS BUECKER'S STORY.
The United Press reporter called at the Sailors
Home at 1O3O o'clock to see Miss Buecker. her
doctor said that she was in such state OK
physical and nervous exhaustion when she ar
rived that he had put her to bed. She had
rested and felt much better, and would not suf-
Ter any permanent injury from her experience
Miss Buecker said:
was in bed when the steamer struck. was
aroused by a great crash. followed by shouts ana
the trampling of feet on deck. 1t was dark when
I reached the top of the stairs Leading 10 the
deck. | found that two of the lifeooats were pc
ing lowered, and ran TO one OF tneh. Ing
steamer was sinking gradually. one side was al
ready low in the water. Some men showed me IN
to the boat, which was then lowered. 40.
We had hardly reached the water oetore inc
boat upset and all were thrown out AS thac
part OF the Elbe was partly submerged most OF
the others managed to get back on the steamer.
7 went under and when came up. ciutcned the
bow of the capsized lfeboat. clung to II des-
perately until another lifeboat tnat nad peen
launched picked me UP. we stHereu 'err'u,y , ,,,
until the wild Flower rescued us l lost all my
clothes but / saved my money and watcn' WHICH
I had In the belt round my waist
THE ELBE SANK IN TWENTY MINUTES.
The steerage passenger Bothen gave this de-
scription Of his experience.
was going to France by way OF Southampton
At the moment of the collision was IN the fore-
noise was deafening. like the crash or iceoergS
Then came series OF tearing ana grndin8
sounds | hurried back. and found the omcers
and crew at quarters. Two boats were peinB
lowered but I saw no others. am sure that the
ropes were not frozen They oere somewhat SUM-
but not 10 hinder the lowering OF tne ~ ooaas.
After | entered the boat which the Wiid rlower
afterward picked up. l did not see any otner
small boat The Elbe went down about twenty
minutes after the collision
Jan Vevera, a cabin passenger. had been VS.
iting his sick brother in Germany. and was re-
turning with his niece to America. His niece was
lost. He told this story:
fell asleep in the coffee.room at ABOUT .:SV
O'Clock When l awoke and looked at my watcn
it was $50 All was quiet except the wnirl OF
the screws and the beating of the water. dozed
off again. perhaps for ten minutes terrino
crash got me up with jump. ran out ana
soon saw that every rything was upside down. Peo-
ple were rushing around below in a frenzy. some
of them half naked and all only partly dressed.
I made my way up on deck and seeing the mall
man asked him what was the matter He was