The record-union., 1899-04-01

here There were narrowing scenes at
the offices of the London and South
western Railway at both places. Many
families lost one or more relatives.
Husbands are inquiring for their
wives. and wives are asking after
their husbands; parents are seeking
news of lost children, and children are
making inquiries for missing parents.
All the flags are half-maSted at ST.
Peterie port
Up to noon to-day 1O2 passengers
had been accounted for. including J.
Parton and his wife Mr. Parton is the
manager of the Western London office
of the American Line. 1t is thought
possible that the Partons were the
only Americans on board, as the list
of survivors does not contain the
names of any other Americans so far
as known.
The disaster is generally attributed
to the high speed at which the steamer
was travelling in the fog.
The steamer Honfleur returned to-
night. after having made the circle of
the Casauet Rocks She picked up
two boats containing wemen's clothing,
money. iewelry and on opera glass
case The last had evidently been used
in bailing.
MANY pathetic incidents are reported.
Tn several cases men lifted their wives
and ran into the boats, and then per-
ished in their presence. One wife VINO
was. thus bereayed lost her reason.
A large number of the survivors ar
rived here without any clothing, clad
only in blankets.
THE CREW BEHAVED SPLEEN :
DIDLY.
LONDON, March 3l--The news OF
the disaster to the Stella spread SLOWLY
throughout London, in the absence Oh
the usual newspapers, to-day peing
Good Friday AS the afternoon ad-
vaaced small groups gathered at the
Waterloo Station, where many palnIui
scenes occurred. A large crowd collect
ed ia wait the arrival of the train from
SOUTHAMPTON this evening, Whlch
brought three of the SURVIVORS, Messrs.
David King, a London merchant; He'll
bron and Greener, all of whom bore ev-
ident traces of their sufferings.
Mr.. King. who was among the last
to leave the ship, said: Toward even
ing we encounteed mist, which soon
developed into a, dense fog. There was,
however, no apprehension. Suddenly a
great shock told us that the Stella had
struck the rocks. Screams rent the air,
but the GOODNESS of the officers consid-
erably allayed the excitement. The
crew behaved splendidly, lowering the
boats with greatest promptitude. Ev-
cry woman was supplied with life
belt. AT first we thought there would
be time for all the boats to clear away,
but suddenly the boilers burst With a
deafening report, rending the ship
amidShips"
Mr.. King and two firemen, Osborne
and Bailey, We're the last to leave the
vessel He had just given up a life
belt to aid a clergyman's wife, and was
literally pulled into a. boat by Second
Mate Reynolds, who was instrumental
in saving many lives. The boat with
twenty-five persons drifted for fifteen
hours in the intense cold, and was
finally picked up by the Great Western
Railways steamer Vera, from South
ampton.
Mr. King believes that five boats were
launched. He saw ons upturned with
children clinging to it.
Other accounts say that Captain
Rocks supposed the fog was merely in
banks, as is the usual experience, and
decided to run through it, but as it be-
came continually denser, he lost his
bearings.
When the Stella struck there was a
terrible sensation, a noise of metal and
woodwork being torn away, the vessel
passing over the jagged rocks at full
speed, and her side being ripped open
like matchwood. When she slid over
the rocks she turned completely over.
carrying a lot of people with her.
The eight survivors who were land
ed at Cherbourg by the tug Marsouin
We're picked off floating furniture vans
by fishing boat. The ladies on board
one of the lifeboats sang hymns all
night long to keep up the spirits of
their companions.
The bodies were washed ashore on the
island of Alderney
One passenger says he remarked to
the crew on the high rate of speed at
which the Stella was travelling in the
fog, telling them he did not consider it
safe
The steamer Stella, which belonged
to the London and Southwestern Rail-
way, and ran in connection with it's
land service, was built at Clyde Bank
by Messrs. j. & G. Thompson in 1890.
She was 253 feet long, 35.1 in width
and 14.S in draught Her gross tonnage
was 1859 and her horsepower 495 She
was steel built, had two screws, eight
compartments, water ballast and triple
expansion engines, with schooner rig.