Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-29
GREAT EXCITEMENT HERE.
People Anxious TO Get the News-Ex-
perieuce of IA Richmond Lady.

The news Of the accident TO the Wya-
noke caused great excitement in this
city. There were several Richmond peo-
pie aboard the vessel. and the first ac-
counts being very meagre, hundreds hocked
around the Dispatchs hHlletin-board and
waited eagerly for further information,
which was slow in coming. though the
welcome assurance that all the passen-
gers were saved was received about 10
o'clock.
The offices of the Old Dominion Line
were visited by many people who want
ca TO know the particulars Of the dis
aster The telephone kept ringing all
the morning.
The first telegram received In this city
REGARDING the accident read as follows:
"Wyanoke in collision with Columbia
AT 230 A. NJ. Sank in twenty minutes.
Passengers and crew saved"
4 similar telegram reached the local
offices Of the company. and was willingly
impaired 10 the anxious public.
MIR. John +. Mayer, the Richmond
agent. received this telegram at 1873
O'Clock:
"Wyanoke sank in sixty feet Of water.
All passengers and crew saved. All
freight and baggage lost
M. b. CRowELL."
4 LADYS THRILLING EXPERIENCE
Mrs. f. r. Remlinger. wife Of the
cashier at the Jefferson, who has been
wintering here. was one OF the passen-
gers who escaped from the wreck. She
returned to Richmond yesterday after
noon at $50 o'clock, and was taken 20
the boms Of Mr.. w. II. Hancock. No. il
north Twenty-ninth street, where she will
he the guest Of Miss Lena Hancock. She
was seen by a Dispatch man last night,
and gave a very graphic account Of the
disaster. She had retired, but at the
time Of the collision was standing at the
window Of her stateroom, having arisen
with a view to yentiiating the room. she
bad her hands on the sash when the crash
came the shock nearly throwing her
from her feet She says that she peered
through the window, and saw the bow OF the
Columbia Immediately below her. she al
once surmised that something was wrong
and rushed TO her door, which she opened
onlv TO be met and driven back by a
volume of escaping steam wnlch soon
filled the room. She saw several men
rushing past her door in their night
dress. and she at once donned skirt
and dressing sacque. and pulled her shoes
on her bare feet About this time the
chief engineer knocked at her door, and
told her TO dress hurriedly, though there
was no immediate danger. She emerged
from her room, and went with hlm 10 the
uuper deck, where she was placed on
Ugiter with a number OF other ladies'.
The lashings which secured the lighter
10 the ship were cut, preparatory 10
launching. but the engineer ascertainlns
that il was possible TO transfer the ialIeS
TO the Columbia, bade them All ioiio"
him down "a rope ladder 10 the Platform
bosi5e the starboard- wheel, and here,
over an improvised human oriose, cum,
nosed Of sailors from the Columbia ana
yv,,anoke they were transferred TO the
cruiser.
THE OFFICERS VERY ATTENTIVE.
"The officers and men Of both vessels
were exceedingly so!icitous OF our WEI
fare" continued Mrs. Remllnger, land
the male passengers were also very con-
siderate. When instructed by the Of
fcers OF the Wyanoke TO make way for
the ladies, they stepped aside with great
Difference, and waited for us TO reach
places OF safety ere they left the then
/ sinking ship. l was particularly struck
with the action OF the many negroes who
were on board. There was an entire
lack OF that wild excitement which we
are told Is usually attendant upon such
scenes; and. though II Is true mat some
lost their heads and jumped into the
water. the majority Of them either await
ed their turn to be taken aboard the
Columbia. or waited passiveIy for the
order TO enter the life-boats.
.sThe ladies' who went aboard the Co
lumba were made as comfortable as pos
sibIe and later we were all placed aboard
a naphtha launch. which made frequent
trips to and from Newport News and
landed on shore.
II was entirely devoid OF any clothing
save the skirt and dressing-sacGue had
40 hastily donned. and hadn't cent
or a piece OF 1ewelry, save my rings.
which / had not removed when / went 10
he'd. I saved my dog, though"
As Mrs. Remiinger said this q little
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