New-York tribune., 1903-02-11

gowns. fearing that the vessel would founder
iTnine6iately found within fifteen minutes that
they could not return TO the lower stateroolns
1or warmer apparel or Vslluabes The su11
heat fiercely against the starboard side OF the
ship which had settled dewn with the port sloe
high on the reef. The listing grew more serious
each minute and the waters began to surge IN
she socia. hail. where the passengers were as
sembled. In this the self-possessed
r,f fbe 1,assenears urged calmness and a short
prayer offered up.
There never company of. men ana
women assembled in circumstances OF extreme
peril who resisted better the impulse 10 panic
3n unsel5sh consideration for one another In
number OF ways this was shown.
DRENCHED BY THE SEAS.
Soon the passengers were called % the. hur-
ricane deck. The sea had smashed three ooats
on the steamers exposed side. The other three
we're put ia order for lowering. but they conlu
not hold the eighty-odd passengers. to shy @ MOTH
ing of the officers AMI crew. The high surgeS
OF the surf began to sweep over the sllding SUI, sur
face OF the hurricane deck drenching over ana
over again the i'll clad women, some OF them
very old. who huddled there The steWarIs arc,
made their way 10 some OF the stateroons which
were. comparatively speaking. out OF the ,n reacn
OF the waves. and brought blankets ostf ~ co'io
ana wearing apparel of All sorts which We're
distributed according to their needs anone lie
shiverinE. Bread. cakes. coffee and whlske!
were also supplied. the stewards force dong
thoir duty admirably. The officers were couI-
ageeus and steadfast, and behaved well Inc
crew. Ii is understood were assembled haStliE
for the cruise They were not drilled 10 me
boat duty. and in some cases were unsklltu a
large nUnger BeilfE tCfelSheIS. Nilo SHo"SN
lack of discipline.
It was Gods mercy that the passengers were
not compelled TO run the risk of taking 10 the
boats as their only salvation from the raging
waters. The surf and the wind beat the steamer
steadily up ON the reef not permitting her 10:
slide of and sink in deep water After a long
period Of apprehension IL became apparent that
the greatest danger was that the ship might
break in two
MANY HOURS OF HARDSHIP.
The passengers lay or stood on the hurricane
deck beaten by the surf for four or five hours
3n dread and suffering. with the lights Of Ber-
,nuda in plain sight. We could see the lights of
the lighthouse and steamers. and We all in
serpreted them as being relief approaching the
wrecked ship this hope resulting in bitter disap-
pointment and over again STEADY ano
frequent signalling with rockets and coloreu
fires was meanwhile going on.
At last, between and 10 o'cjock- a tug af'-
preached within one and one-half miles and the
passengers were transferred TO II in the SHIPS
boats by slow and painful process We were
then brought TO Hamilton.
After the accident occurred the captain anu
officers were everything that could be asked,
considerate for the passengers comfort ana
coura geous I'm their bearing The passengers
cannot understand where the fault lay on a rea-
sonably clear night in q known tortuous course
There was no local pilot aboard This difficult
channel is clearly not properly lighted, and the
arrangements at Bermuda for receiving and
promptly acting upon signals of distress from
wrecked vessels are distinctly inadequate