The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-11
MAD|ANA IS NOW
 4 TOTAL WRECK Steamer Goes Aground on Ca-
 ribbeaR ReefS' PASSENGERS ARE RESCUED
Party of ExcursIonlsts Sailed From New York Last saturday-offieers and Crew Do Good Work and
 Panic Is Averted Thereby.

Hamilton, Bermuda, February lo-The Quebec Steamship company's steamer Madiana. Captain Frazier, which sailed from New York last Saturday with party of excursionists for special cruise around the Caribbean islands, went ashore on the reef off this island at o'clock this morning
 The passengers had a thrilling experi- ence The ship is total loss but all on board were rescued and brought safely to land after a perilous trip in life boats from the wreck to a tug standing half mile off The malls and the passengers baggage also were saved.
 According to statements made by those on board, the Madiana was threading her way in the night through the narrow channel between the coral reefs which lead to Hamilton harbor, when she struck a reef one and half miles northeast of North Rock. No explicit explanation is yet forthcoming as to how the vessel went on the rocks and the only informa- tion obtainable from the officers is that the light which indicates the channel for some reason could not be seen.
 Passengers In Their Bunks.
 All the passengers were in their hunks when the Madiana struck the rocks, but the shock of the impact awakened them and they rushed on deck, the majority of them without attempting to dress. Con- siderable alarm, though not a panic, pre- vailed among the passengers when they found that the vessel was hard on the rocks, but the officers went among them and calmed them, although a number dio not venture below again to seek their clothing. A part of the crew did not share the coolness of the officers but the latter soon restored order among the troublesome seamen
 Signals of distress were sent up and the passengers passed an anxious time during the latter part of the night. The Madiana listed heavily after a time and when morning broke, lay broadside to the wind. The passengers were huddled to- gether on the hurricane deck, and the sea breaking over the stem drenched them to the skin.
 As the news of the wreck became known here, government and other tugs proceeded to the scene to endeavor to render assistance. A heavy sea, however, was running and they dared not approach too closely to the reef on which the Madiana was pounding For some time no communication with the Madana was possible. The tug Gladsfen stood about a mile off, but it was not until Il o'clock this morning that 1t became possible to effect a rescue.
 Boat Dashed to Pieces. The crew of the Madianna launched a boat, but it could not live in the sea then running and was dashed to pieces against the steamers side. A second and more successful attempt was made lit- tie later and some of the passengers were put into 1t, and after much exertion 1t succeeded in reaching the Gladisfen. The Madiana's other lifeboats were then launched in succession and the remainder of the passengers and the captain and crew gained the salvage tug in safety. By the prompt action of Engineer Nell son, who had the Madiana's bulkheads broken through, the mails and the pas sengers' light baggage, were taken out and brought in the last boats to the Gladisfen, which landed the passengers. crew, mails and baggage here this after noon.
 Theodore Moves of the Washington Star gave the following interview to the As- sociated Press:
 At ten minutes to o'clock the pas- sengers on the Madam were awakened by crashing, grinding sounds and jar which set every inch of the steamer quivering and brought every passenger to his feet in his stateroom. So on the cry of "An on deck' brought every one, many in night attire, into the social hall.
 Water Rushed In.
 'It was found that the steamer had run on the reef to the north of Bermuda. ana the first efforts to back off the reef and extrieate the ship having been unsuc- cessful, she was fast on the rocks which were tearing out her bottom. The water rushed in through the rents, put out the fires and surged through the halls and staterooms of the main deck The pas sengers, who were in pajamas and night gowns, fearing that the vessel would go down immediately, soon found that they could not return to the lower staterooms for clothing or valuables. The surf beat hercely. against the starboard side of the ship, which had settled down with the port side high on the reer The list ing grew more seriousSeach minute ana the waters began to surge Into the social hall where the passengers were assem- bled. In this room the more self-po sessed of the passengers urged calmness and a short prayer was offered up, There was never a crowd of men and women assembled in circumstances of extreme | peril who resisted better the impulse to panic in unselfish consideration for one another In number of ways this was shown.
 Situation Grew Desperate.
 Soon after the passengers were called on the hurricane deck The sea had smashed three boats on the steamer exposed side. The other three boats were put in order for lowering. but they could not hold the eighty-odd passengers, to say nothing of the officers and crew. The surf began to sweep over again the Ill., clad women, some of them old, who hud- dled there. The stewards made their way to some of the staterooms which were, comparatively speaking, out of the reach of the waves and brought blankets, overcoats and wearing apparel of all sorts, which were distributed among the shivering. Bread, cakes. coffee and whisky were also supplied. the stewards force doing their duty admirably, The officers were courageous and steadfast and behaved well. The crew, it is un- 1 derstood, assembled hastily for the cruise. They were not drilled to lifeboat | duty and some were unskilled a large number being foreigners, who showed a lack of discipline.
 Tt was Gods mercy that the passen- gers were not compelled to run the risk I of taking to the boats. as their only