Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-30


the second officer, But, to the despair OF
all, both boats were rapidly SWEPT away
The only remaining life-boat was lowered,
amid scene Of intense emotion. "A cry
of anguish broke from the lips, even or
the men, when this half-capsized. throw
Ing the sailors and the stores into the
sea. After great efforts the boat was
rghted, and the women and children
we're lowered into ii. with the exception
OF Mesdames Gillett. Pearce. and Strain,
who heroically decided to share the fate
of their husbands. and Misses Lloyd and
Weller who remained on board The
boat. manned by a European crew, left
I'm a tremendous sea, and drifted rapidly
out OF sight
ONE BY ONE WASHED OVERHEARD.
Vast waves still swept the wreck, dash
ing the people about. and leaving them
almost PROSTATE on the deck. One by
one men. women, and children. grown
too weak to withstand the repeated buff
fetng, were washed overheard. I'm sight
of those who were momentarily expecting
the same fate. Among the first thus
engulfel were Mr. and Mrs. Strain and
their two children; Misses Lloyd and Wes
er, the missionaries; Mrs. Pearce and
her baby. with i.s Chinese nurse. and
then Captain Hill. whose leg was broken
but who had borne himself calmly and
bravely. He was washed overheard with
several of the native crew.
All day the victims were picked off one
by one, until ) O'Clock in the afternoon.
when those who still survived retreated
below. Many were badly hurt and pass
ed the night in suspense and bodily pain,
hudded i'm the small cabin, which they
expected would be their tomb None of
the survivors care to talk of this terrible
night. The storm abated slightly on
the morning of the 10th, and those who
were able TO move began TO search FOR
food hunger. until then. having failed to
assert itself over more acute priyatioEs.
This proved a task of the greatest dam
ger. as big seas were still sweeping the
vessel. The fourth engineer, while trying
to procure water near the poop was
struck senseless and almost washed over
board before he could be dragged to a
place of safety. Artificial respiration
and similar expedients were resorted to.
but It was five hours before he was re-
stored to consciousness. Mr.. Pearce was
only saved from being washed overheard
by the prompt action of his dauntless
wife.
SIGNALS UNSEEN OR IGNORED.
The search for food resulted In getting
very little. and this was shared out equal
ly. and i'm very small portions. All the
time desperate men kept sharp lookout.
But no vessel was sighted until the 18th,
and even then the distress signal was
not seen. on the nth. and again on the
2Oth other vessels were sighted but the
signals either were not seen or were ig-
nored These unhappy episodes caused
painful and half-crazy scenes of rage
among those who had been previously
self-controlled Each day 1t was neces-
sary to curtail the allowance of rations.
Mrs. Gnlett did the catering. and con-
tributed greatly to cheering up the ship's
company
The weather usually moderated In the
morning. but increased in violence In the
afternoon. Frequently sea 30 feet high
would sweep the deck from stem to
stern and carry away portions of the
vessel on June 25th, when things were
AT their worst. and the food supply was
almost exhausted Messrs. White, kelt'
Cave. and Valpy bravely ventured across
the deck TO the store-room and got q
fresh supply. That evening two steamers
were sighted. One proceeded without
paying any attention to the distress Sig
nails. The other anchored under the lee
of the island. AS soon as she was sight
ed a Iascar mounted the rigging aad
sienalled her In reply candles burned
at her port-h holes, and at daybreak on the
26th suspense of seventeen days was
relieved by the spectacle of the steamer
rounding the point and heading towards
the wreck She dropped anchor about a
mile away. very heavy sea was stu
running, but the wind had moderated
slightly. With heartfelt joy, mingled
with the tears of the men and the hys-
terical sobbing of the women, they saw
the life-boat lowered 1t took her three
quarters of an hour TO reach the wreck
| Every one rushed to the broken side OF
the ship 1t was the life-boat of the In
dian Government steamer Mayo, and in
charge OF Lieutenants Dobin and Gold
smith. They skilfully avoided the tre-
mendous wash and rescued all Of the sur
vivors in two trips.
Every attention was paid TO them on
board the Mayo. Their health is i'm
proving, and they will sail homeward to-
morrow "wednesday on the steamer
India.