The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-11-05
In a .Shipwreck
Wichita Girls Experience
on the Pacific.

0-AAO years ago, ana VINO Went To Manila
as trained nurse after she left here.
writes the following description Of a ship
wreck in which she was caught off the
harbor Of Manila in September:
Steamship Ohio. "A hours from Manila,
September IS, 1898.
Ny Dear Home People:
You have. of course, heard from me
since the wreck OF the Morgan CITY. as I
mailed Two or three letters 20 you from
NagasakL Yet have never had the
courage TO write you the experience Of
the past three weeks. The night before
the wreck I sat writing TO you OF the
happy anticiDations Of seeing land the
next day, until nearly l ociock when the
chief officer came in and told me twas
bed time and promised to awaken me at
Inc hrst sight OF land. I waited for
snort time and went to my cabin.
thought at first that I would not undress
as the time was 50 short Finally I de-
clded TO undress all but my shoes AZ
they were laced twould take some time
70 get them on when called. I lay down
out could not sleep. I got up and took
my shoes OF and slept for q little while
at a time Finally I fell asleep and was
sleeping quite soundly when a peculiar
grating sounded and a lurch awakened
me rolled out Of my bed and fed to the
door in my night dress. When 1 opened
II and looked out the first man I saw had
a. sheet around him; the next man was
putting his pants on. so 1 hurriedly with
drew dressed myself as quickly as any
body ever could, laced my shoes, pinned
on my cap and veil. but did not stop to
comb my hair. When I got on deck I
found the boat hung on rock about as
big as a big hill
II vas then about Ais a m Nobody
seemed a all excited and. as the boat was
taking no water. II was decided not 70
move until it was daylight. Everybody
talked the matter over and we all seem
ed to look at it like we look at two cars
humping together when they stop.
Il is the habit to serve coffee to passen-
gers in ships any time after they get up,
as breakfast is not served until $50 Most
Of Us went down to our coffee and felt
perfectly safe. talked Of our Providential
escape, etc. While down there dining
room the boat started again Sun we
talked on Finally a gentleman. Mr..
Stocking, came down and said Major
they are going to beach her" Major and
were eating together. why. Mr.. stock
ing" I asked. ITO keep her from sink
ing Miss Craig" OF course We went TO
the deck at once. The boat was taking
water al the rate Of a foot a minute. rs
twas found afterwards She had hole
in her side forty-two feet one way. When
We got on deck the boat was making for
The shore as fast as il could, as il was
filing rapidly. Well, in about seventeen
minutes, we struck the beach There was
some time lost between the time we
struck and the time We started for the
beach. but as We pulled of we were pull
Ing opposite the current and the water did
not not flow into the hole: but when we
had backed OF the the proper distance to
make the run We found our great danger.
or course the soundings were being TAX
en- all the time. The captain was wild As
the lookout had been heard 70 call out
three times TO the pilot. 'Landahead"'
They began 70 lower the boats and make
ready TO land 40 men. Not one word OF
excitement prevailed. The men were or
dered on by companies J. .. 2, l. etc Ev-
cry man took his belongings and, as
breakfast was being served. his hands
were full one man stepped on the sang
plank and took c bite OF bread The Off
Ger called out to him; you'll have the
rest Of the day to eat your breakfast in
The men had all 70 be hurried up all the
time. II was raining quite hard When
the first boat was lowered the caotain
called TO me and said could 80 in that
boat, and the ourser came and said the
same thing. But I said no. I believed
would prefer to remain among the officers.
am IN Loo F~ga. -
boats on one side could be lowered as the
boat was badly listed or. temfermicaIlv
speaking. much lower on one side than
on the other. We went down and had
our breakfast and got our things together
50 If any baggage was taken of. would
he ready The quarter master and our
NJ D came 20 us finally and said we
should leave by ali means: DR.. Simms
would go with Us. I said: ANYBODY.
please but him. as he is a man I firmly
datest.' All right. then Mr. Stocking
That was perfectly agreeable Mr s Is
gentleman with a family the oldest son p
years old. and is 10 be assistant postal
director Of ?. T. Well We went in the
boat and waved good bye TO the Officers.
We We're only about I'D yards from land
and soon landed
The first thing I ala when landed vas
% begin crying. Lieutenant Davis said.
What are you CRYING for? Ar you
afraid you'u set wet2" Not one thought
for personal fear has entered my mind
bug I am horror-s-ruckeu at the fear OF
the report being sent home and vou would
see We all went down. Mr. s. said. MY
poor WIFE" in a voice shan never. for
get
After my cry I felt quite little bet
ter. An old jap placed an umbrella over
me and We went 20 4 sheltered spot with
Lieutenant Davies men and sat there for
time. The water was filed with sam
rans-furny little h5uSe boats thar the
IaPs use for fishing 5osts-eigbt Of these
'anj three Of the biz h1a-sl were unload
Ing ~. We watched them and talked u
the men or looked ar the women and
babies who had come down AZ The very
arSt indication OF anything being wrong
rs rhere YVES @ village oe some $40 De1rIs
just ove- the ain from the p,irs where We
were hesche5. Funny looking ~ Ire liz
he ones We were. ard all % the children
were afraid az us II is the srno1si-for
Iha1 We were The first white women chev
rad ever seen.
Finally. some OF THE men wanted rs p,
30 with them after wate--iust nice ILL
BE walk. In fact it vas s7 ovs- q him
oi nasty. wet. sticky -su5- We -achs-es
v0 as many cantesCs IS we coull ina am
strapped them on Guy shoulders ana
started. H1r, Il was IS h-t as -hi-zas"
and -he1 some. and as we va sc5 we
gathered mud hv The ton FINALLY We
ieaa=1 in tae midst Of as pretty q foreign