The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-03-08

the only part there was any hope of keep
Ing anoat, even for a short time.
In the meantime the sailors were work
Ing fercely getting out the boats, bu
with meager results. Two cutters ant
the gig were swung out and lowered, bu
the davits Of the other boats were found
to be rusted fast in their places, so that
the boats could not be stirred from thcil
positions. These three boats then were
the only hope of safety for more than GOO
souls, but there was no hesitation as tC
who should take advantag &C of that hope
The second cutter, commanded by Lieu.
tenant Richards, was brought alongside,
and the women and children were placed
on board. Colonel Seton, with his drawn
sword in hand. stood in the gangway and
threatened to cut down any man trying
to force his way into the boat, but there
was no need of this prccaution. for the
men stood steady and quiet at their posts,
though the writing Of the deck under
their feet told them that the vessel was
in her death throes.
Hardly had the cutter cleared the gang
way with her precious freight when the
Birkcnhead broke. sauarelyoip two. just
forward OF the engines, and the forward
part, sliding off the rock, plunged like a
shot into the depths of the ocean. It
was seen that there was no time to bring
any more boats alongside, and the order
was given for all who could to save them
selves. Even then, when all discipline
was thrown aside. the habits of years of
rigid training ruled all the actions Of the
soldiers. There was no unmanly rush for
the two remaining boats, and those who
could swim aided their comrades to places
in them and on bits of floating wreckage.
The boats were quickly filled beyond the
point of safety and pulled away from the
vessel. leaving those on board facing
death by the CHASTITY light of the blue
lights and rockets which had been show
cred upward since the ship first struck.
Death was not long in coming for most
of the poor fellows. Five minutes after
the forward part of the vessel had gone
down she broke again just aft Of the
maiumast The after part heeled over
and sank, and moment later the main
body Of the vessel slid from the rock and
plunged beneath the waves, Colonel Sc.
ton standing calmly by the gangway and
going down with it to brave mans
grave. In Il little more than 20 minutes
from the time the vessel struck the rock
there remained Of her no vcstige but the
floating wreckage, which covered the wa
ter, and the main topmust, which pro-
iected above the surface. On this many
of the men took refuge, while others sup |
ported themselves on pieces of wrcckage
or Oh life preservcrs, with which they !
had previously provided themselves, ard
started for the shore, which was some
two miles distant.
1t was too far for most of the poor fcl. |
lows, and Of nearly 800 who started for
the shore most gave it up and sank be.
fore completing the distance. But there
was another death which lurked in the
waters between the rock and the shore
death sudden and horrible and which left
the survivors with shaken nerves and
failing courage. The sea was infested
by sharks, and nearly all who had strip
ped off their clothes were eaten by
them. Many a poor fellow, swimming
alongside with colnradc, heard sud
den rush and Il cry and found himself
with only a bloody eddy beside him and
a creeping dread at his heart that be
An'""t oe 'ne IVA. VA, " i''e,' e"'n i"te'
And even with the shore safety was
moi gained "A heaVy sven ana strong
,lndertow and Il rocky and difficult coast
were put part OF the dangers with
"iiich ,heF h"u 10 contend FOR long
way out from tue shofe the sea was h'ieu
WIN great MISSES Oh scaWeeu' when
about their limbs as they swan
anu s'pped under lhcir feet rs they
struggled toward 'he shofe' ana many
"ho h'' "iiiioS, reacheu inc Iahd gave
up uis"ear'cheo' ana met lheir uealh III ,
l'e ci','sims weed
ninun"'S' one aiter ah"ther' thcE drag-
scu themselves from .he water ana sath-
~" ''se'her VI. 'i,e urn iahn' ana "heh
u pee"'"e certain tn"t 'ne'c were no more I
~ come ,n'rc were III 'i'at party Dnt %
,"t ., "' VINO h"u $1,000 on the deck or
~, niiNeh'tan "heh she went down.
o : NIUE rou'n DC uohe Tor 'hem at the
nsnins st"t'on Ut lolh' 'hhs"r' ana 'hey
were ooiscu TO tramp Tor more than 20
nlies through fonsh ana broken coun-
Try 10 me mouse OF captain smaIds' Tor
merry OIL inc ecVenih Dfasopn guards
mere 'he! were wen cared Tor anu two i
n msS intet were taken GU ny II. NJ. ). l
y sent IRON 81 simon I
ou as, {
me fate OF tme othcf Survivors was