The San Francisco call., 1899-04-01

The disaster caused intense excite
ment in the island of Guernsey and
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 hus-
bands; parents are seeking news of
lost children and children are making
inquiries for missing parents. All the
flags are halfmasted.
Up to noon to-day 102 passengers had
been accounted for, including Mr.. j.
Parton and his wife. Mr.. Parton is the
manager of the Western London office
of the American line. The steamers
Honfieur and Vera are cruising in the
vicinity of the wreck.
Later accounts say that the Stella
had 140 passengers on board and that
her crew numbered forty-two persons.
Another steamer of the same COM
pany, which arrived at the island of
Jersey at abobt noon to-day, reports
having passed many bodies of victims
of the disaster about the Casquet
rocks
survivor of the disaster named
Bush says the speed of the Stella in the
fog was not diminished, though the fog
whistles were sounded. Bush adds that
at $3.50 a. m. the engineer showed him in
the engine room a dial registering a
speed of eighteen and a half knots. He
says the vessel struck within twenty
five minutes afterward. Bush further
asserts that two lifeboats were sunk
with the steamer which, after resting
on the rocks for ten or fifteen minutes,
split in two and disappeared.
Continuing, Bush said:
When the Stella disappeared forty or
fifty persons were discovered. clinging
to pieces of wreckage or cabin furniture
haIn
passengers and crew had been provided
with life belts, and there was little panic
as the ship sank. L first slipped into the
water and then swan to one of the boats,
into which / was helped. We rowed sup
posedly in the direction of Guernsey, but
seven hours later found ourselves near
the scene of the wreck and saw dozens
of persons clinging to the rocks.
The boat in which Bush was pas
senger was afterward picked up by the
Lynx.
The passengers all agree that perfect
order and discipline prevailed on board
the Stella. The crew promptly took up
their stations when the steamer struck,
served out the life belts and lowered
the boats.
The scene at the moment of the sink
ing of the vessel was heartrending.
Those who had succeeded in getting
into the boats had a narrow escape
from being engulfed on account of the
suction caused by the sinking vessel.
The voice of Captain Rocks from the
bridge was frequently heard urging the
rowers to pull for their lives. The boats
were adrift fifteen hours, during which
their occupants were without food or
water. and as their clothes were
drenched they suffered greatly.
The disaster is generally attributed
to the high speed at which the steamer
was travelling in the fog.
The steamer Honf1eur returned to-
night, after having made the circle of
the Casquet rocks. She picked up two
boats containing women's clothing,
money, jetwelry and an opera glass case.
The last had evidently been used in
bailing. Many pathetic incidents are
reported. In several cases men lifted
their wives and ran into the boats and
then perished in their presence. One
wife who was thus bereaved lost her
reason.
A large number of the survivors ar
rived here without any clothing, clad
only in blankets.
1t is thought possible that the Par
tons werestlae only Americans on board.
as the list of the survivors does not
contain the names Of any other Ameri-
cans so far as known.
The SECOND mate was the only officer
of the Stella who was saved.
LONDON, March 31.-The news of the
disaster TO the Stella spread slowly