The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-02-12
ExcURsloNIsTs ON STEAMER MA.
DIANA HAVE EXCITING TIME
OFF BERMUDA.
SHIP STRIKES ON A REEF,
Passengers Taken in Safety to Land
After Perilous Trip in Life Boats.
No Explicit Explanation of How the
Vessel Came to Go on the Rocks.
Officers Prevented Panic by Calm
ing Excited Crowd.

= Hamilton, Bermuda, Feb. 1.-THE
Quebec Steamship company's steam
er Madiana, Captain Frazer, which
sailed from New York last Saturday
with party of excursionists for spe-
cial cruise around the Caribbean is
lands, went ashore on a reef on an is.
land off this shore at o'clock a. m.
The passengers had a thrilling expe-
rience, but all remained on board and
were brought safely to land after a
perilous trip in life boats, a wreclking
tug standing a mile off. The mails
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 leads to Hamilton har-
Dor, when she struck reef one and a
half miles northeast Of North Rock.
No explicit explanation is yet forth.
coming as to how the vessel went on
the rocks, and the only information
obtainable from the officers is that the
light which indicates the channel for
some reason could not be seen. -" ,.
Passengers Were Asleep.
All the passengers were in theit
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 at
tempting to dress. Considerable alarm
though not panic, prevailed among
the passengers when they found that
the vessel was hard on the rocks, but
the officers went among them and
Gained them. A part of the crew did
not share the GOODNESS 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 passen-
gers were huddled together on the hur-
ricane deck and the sea breaking
over the steamer drenched them to
the skin.
AS soon 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 com.
munica ton with the Madiana was pos
sible. The tug Gladisfen stood about
a mile off awaiting an opportunity to
assist but it was not until II o'clock
in the morning that it became possible
to effect rescue. The crew Of the
Madiana launched boat, but it Z:
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 a little later and some of
the passengers were lowered into it
and after much exertion it succeeded
in reaching the Gladisfen. The NADIA
mas other life boats we're then
launched in succession and the remain
der of the passengers and the captain
and crew gained the salvage tug in
safety.
BY the prompt action of Engineer
Nelson, who had the Madiana's bulk
heads broken through, the mails and
passengers light baggage were taken
out and brought in the last boats to
the Gladisfen, which landed the pas
sengers, crew, mails and baggage here
in the afternoon.
Theodore w. Moves of the Washing
ton Star, Otis e. Luke of Boston, and
many other passengers emphasized
especially the fact that there was no
| panic on board. In fact to illustrate
the GOODNESS displayed by the officers
and passengers, in spite Of the danger
and discomfort of the situation a pas
senger said:
"It all passed off as though it were
a part of the programme of the
cruise