The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-02-09

Inc BOAT carrying the tWenty-One
persons who were landed at LOwestoft
put off in such haste from the Striking
steamer that nobody in it noticed what
became of the other boat. The sur
vivors believe, however, hat she got
away safely. They say that they
tossed about in the heavy seas for sew
eral hours before they sighted the
Wild Flower. The little smack bore
down IN them at once and took them
aboard. They were exhausted from
excitement and exposure. Several of
them were in a state of collapse and
had to be carried and dragged from
one boat to the other.
The Only Woman Survivor.
Miss Annie Buecker, the only wo-
man of the party, was Frustrated as
500 as they got clear of the Elbe.
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 covered her body. Al
though her physical strength was
gone, she showed true pluck, and did
not utter a word of complaint and re-
peatedly urged her companions not to
mind her, but look after themselves.
Hoffmann's leg was hurt severely
while he was changing boats.
The survivors cannot say too much
in praise of the Wild Flowers crew,
who gave them every possible atten-
ton.
Taken in Charge by the German Consul.
Upon landing, the survivors 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 Southamp-
ton, will probably be able to go to
London in a day or two.
The Story of Carl Hoffman,.
Carl Hoffman, who came ashore in
the Wild Flower, said in an interview:
My home is in Grand Island, Neb.
1 had my wife and boy of : with me on
the Elbe. L am utterly wretched, for
l became separated from them and
hardly dare hope that they have been
saved. | am abroad to visit relatives
in Germany, and during the last four
months was accompanied by my wife
and boy. We left Bremen for home on
Tuesday. was asleep in our state
room when a noise like a gunshot
woke me. l jumped out of bed
and spoke to my wife, who had been
aroused as suddenly. l asked her
what she thought the trouble was, but
she seemed to pay little attention to it.
| was not greatly alarmed, al
though L heard scuffing of feet
and hoarse shouts on deck. | hur-
ried into a few of my clothes aud
went to the upper deck. l saw only
too clearly then what had happened.
| rushed below and helped my wife
and boy throw on a few clothes, and
we vent on deck together. The ex-
element and confusion cannot be de,
scribed. neve saw anything like it;
everybody seemed to have lost his
head. The scene was distressing be-
yond anything l ever say Men,
women and children were running
about madly, the ONE screaming
with terror, and every man in the
others way. The darkness increased
the confusion and fright.
A Despairing Cry.
81 suddenly heard shrill, despairing
cries from the women There are no
more boats then saw the men at
the davits. l noticed that the ropes
were frozen so hard or were so tangled
or something of the sort that the sail
Ors had to chop them to get the boats
clear. The sailors were doing their
best, however, and worked with might
and main. They finally got out the
aft quarterboat on the port side. /
could see that it was full of people,
but the sailors could not lower it.
Meanwhile the steamer was set
Ting perceptibly. l took my boy in
my arms and got into the second boat.
My wife was close behind, when some.
body shouted: "All women and chill
/ dren go on the other side of the ship"
l believc the captain gave the order.
My wife started to run across the deck,
and that is the last | saw of her. |
chung to my boy; but some men seized
us and dragged us out of the boat, and
my place IA taken by one of the ere W.
This boat got clear of the steamer.
Before the men at the oars
could get full command of her,
n big wave almost dashed
her against the steamers big foremost,
which had gone by the board at the
time of the collision. 1t was almost
miraculous that the boat was not
swamped. Another boat was got out.
| took my boy into it, and supposed
that he had remained by my side,
but just as the boat was lowered
found hat he had disappeared. He
had been torn away in the rush and
scramble for places. l tried to get
back, but the boat went down with a
jump, and the moment we reached the
, water the sailors pushed off"
The United Press reporter called at
the Sailors home at 1890 o'clock to
see Miss Buecker. Her doctor said that
she was in such a state of nervous ex-
haustion when she arrived that he had
put her to bed. She had rested, and
felt much better, and would not suffer
any permanent injury from her expe-
rience.
Miss Buecker Interviewed.
Miss Buecker said in the subsequent
interview:
Il was in bed when the steamers
.4.,oy- ,-or oro,Sal nv N ~raaf