Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-07

men for New York. sank at q o'clock this
after coliiding with a small
steamer in the North Sea, so miles off
She carried 240 passengers and 100 of
ficers dud seamen. Twenty-two Survivors
Of the wreck have been landed, and few
others may still be afloat in life-boat.
All the others were lost. Captain Won
Guessel went down with his ship.
The % survivors were landed at Loves
toft at $40 o'clock this evening by the fish
ing smack Wild Flower. Twenty of them
are:
CABIN PASSENGERS.
Carl Hoffman.
Epgene Schlegel.
Jan Veyera.
Miss Anna Buecker. B..
sTEERAGE.
Bothen.
Tb. Stolberg. third officer.
A. Nuessell. first engineer.
w. Wefer, pnrser.
Schulteise. assistant purSer.
Ilinkmeyer, assistant purser.
Sittig, assistant purser.
Koebe, chief stoker.
Fuerst, stoker.
Wenniug.
Finger.
Sibort.
Dresow. seaman.
Bpetke, seaman.
Deharde. German pilot.
Greenham, English pilot.
ALMOST PARALYzED WITH COLD.
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 SO completely
that they had to be helped ashore. The
officers and sailors were fully dressed, but
their clothes had been drenched and
frozen, and they had been almost par
alyzed with cold and fatigue. They had
been ashore three hours before they had
recovered sufficiently to tell the story of
the wreck. Their accounts agreed upon
the following points:
STORY OF THE DISASTER.
The Elbe left Bremen on Tuesday after.
noon. The few hours of the voyage be.
fore the disaster were uneyentful. At 4
O'Clock this morning the wind was blow.
ing very hard and a tremendous sea was
running. The morning was unusually
dark. Numerous lights were seen in all
directions, showing that many vessels
were near by. The captain ordered, there
fore, that rockets should be sent up at
regular intervals to warn the craft to keer
out of the Elbe's course. 1t was near to
o'clock, and the Elbe was some so miles
off Lowestoft coast of Suffolk, when the
lookout man sighted steamer of about
l,5D0 tons approaching. He gave the word
and, as precaution, the number of
rockets was doubled, and they were sent
up short intervals. Tie warning wa:
without effect. The steamer came on with
unchecked speed, and before the Elbt
could change her course or reduce hel
| speed notably there was the terrific crash
| of the collision. The Elbe was hit abaf
| her engine room. When the small steamer
wreuched away an enormous hole was lef
in the Eibe's side. The water poured
| through ahd down into the engine room
in a cataract. The room filled almost in
stantly. The engines were still and thu
| big hulk began to settle.
THE PAssENGERs IN BED.
The passengers were in bed. The bite
cold and rough sea had prevented an!
| early rising and none except the officer
and crew on duty were on deck when TIL
ship was struck The shock ard crasl
reused everybody. The steerage was in
panic in q moment, and men, women AM
children, half-dressed or in their nigh
clothes, came crowding up thecompanion
ways. They had heard the sound of rush
ing water, as the other steamer backed off
and had felt the Elbe lurch and settle
They had grasped the fact that it was thel
| lie or death with them, and almost to
man, had succumbed to their terror. The
clung together in groups, facing the col
and storm, and cried aloud for help o
prayed OH their knees for deliveranct
The officers and crew were cain.
THE BoATs LOWERED.
For few moments they went anon
the tarrof-stricken groups trying to quit
them and encourage them to hope that th
vessel might be saved. 1t was soon appal
| ant that Tho l.lha p,ae Cpffiin
steadily. The officers were convinced tha
she was about to founder, and gave order
TO lower the boats.
In short time three boats were &C
alongside, but the seas were breaking Owe
the steamer with great force, and the fir:
boat was swamped before anybody conl
get into it. The other two boats, lowere
at about the same time, were filled qulckl
with members of the crew and some pM
sengers, but the number was small, as th
boats held only % persons each.
THE OTHER BOAT.
The boat carrying the % persons VIII
were landed at Lowestoft put off in sue
haste from the sinking steamer that N
body in il noticed what became of IL
other boat The survivors. believe, hoy
ever, that she got away safely. They 81
that they tossed about Ill the heavy Sc!
for several hours before they sighted ii
Wild Flower. The little smack bore dow
on them at once. and took them aboar
They were exhausted from excitement at
exposure. Several of them were in a sta
of collapse and had to be carried al
dragged from one boat to the other.
rHE ONLY WOMAN IN THE PARTY.
Miss Anna Buecker, the only woman
the party, was prostrated as soon as thu
got clear of the Elbe. She lay in the be
tom of the boat for five hours with ii
seas breaking over her and the water tn
had been shipped half covering her bod
Although her physical strength was gol
! she showed true pluck, however, and d
not utter word of complaint, and |
!, peatedly urged her companions not
! mind her but look after themselves.
Hofman's leg was hurt severely while
l was changing boats.
The survivors cannot say too much
praise, of the Wild Flowers crew, vi
gave them every possible attention,
: Upon landing ihe survivors were tax,
in charge by b. s. Bradbeer, the Germi
= consul at Lowestoft. who sent some TO q
= Sailors Home and others to the Sutfo
| Hotel Miss Buecker, who took passa
= only to southampton, will probably
i able to go to London in a day or two,
THE STORY OF A SURVIVOR.
Carl Holman, who came ashore in u
l. Wild Flower, said in an interview;
e MY home is in Grand Island, Neb.
t had my wife and boy of seven with me
}; the Eloe. | am utterly wretched, fu
It became separated from them and hare
dare hope that they have been saved.
II am abroad to visit relatives
n Germany, and during the last four mon
If was accompanied by my vile ana b.
We left Bremen for home on Tuesday.