The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-11
EXCURSION STEAMER ASHORE.
a Large Party Of Exoursionists Wer
Aboard

a Large Party Of Exoursionists Were
Aboard.
Hamilton, Bermuda, February 10.--The
Quebec Steamship company steamer Mad.
ana. Captain Frazier. which sailed from
New York last Saturday with q party OF
excursionists for special cruise around
the Caribbean islands went ashore on thc
reef OF this island al O'Clock this morn
ing. The passengers had a thrilling expe
ricnce. Tho ship Is total loss but all on
hoard were rescued and brought safely 10
land after a pcrilous trip in lfebouts from
the wreck to n tug standing mile on. the
mails and the passengers baggage were
also saved.
According to statements by thosa ON
board, tho Madl0na was threading her wa!
through the narrow channel between the
coral reefs which lead 10 Hamilton harhor
when she struck a reef, one and bali
nults north Of North Rock No explicit eN-
PLANTATION Is vet forthcoming as to how the
vessel went on the rocks and the only IN
formation obtuinahle from the officers Is
that the lights which indicate the channel
| for some reason could not be seen.
Theodore w. Noyes Of the Washington
star gave the following interview TO the
Associated Press: at ten minutes Of !
/ o'clock the passengers on the Madiana
were awakened by crashing, grinding
sounds and lar which set every Inch OF
the steamer qulvering, and brought every
passenger to his feet In his statcroou. Soon
the cry Of All on deck brought every one,
many IN nlEnt attire, into tnr social nail.
1T was found the steamer had run on
/ the reef TO the north of Bermuda, and the
Irst efforts to back OF the reef and eN-
tlicatc the ship having been unsuccessful
she was fast on the rocks. The waters
surgcd through the halls and stateroomS.
The passengers soon found they could re-
turn to the lower stateroOms for clothing
mr. vnluablcs. The surf beat roughly against
the slarbOnrd side OF the ship, which had
settled down, with the port side high on the
reef.
The listing grew more serious each min
. utc and the winter began 10 surge IN tAe
social hail, where the passengers were as
Scmbied. In this room the more seli'poH
ecssed of the passengers urged calmneS'
and short prayer was offered up. Iher'
was never n company OF men and wuln'l
/ assembled in circumstances of extreme peri
who resisted better the Impulse 10 paul
, and sClhshneSs.
soon after the passengers We're called OF
the hurricane deck, the seas had smasht'
| three bolts on the steamers exposed 81 10
| Tao other three boats were put In nrdr
! for lowering, but they could not bold tn
eighty odd passengers, To say nothing %
the officers ana crew. The surf began u
swoop across the sliding surface OF tn
: hurricane deck, drcnChing over and owe
again the IN clad women. some Of them old
who huddlcd together Tho stewards MAJ
Is their way To some Of the state rooms
ST which were, comparatively speaking, out ID
M reach Of the waves and brought hlankeG
ID ovcrcoats and wearing apparel of all SORT
la which were distributed among the shlVrl
ing Bread, cakes, coffee and whisky Wer
also supplied. the stewards force dom
their duty admirably.
The crew, It is understood, was a.
40 scmhlcd hastily for the cruise. They wei
=, not drilled To life boat duty and IN som
'' cases unskillful. large number being To
Is niguers who shovel lack ot discipline
-, at was Gods mercy that the paSSenEei
were not compelled TO run the risk OF ~
lg ing to the honts ms their only salVatl'
d. from the raging waters.