Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-26
EXCITING EXPERIENCE
4 PASSENGER ON THE "MAD-
LANAI TELLS OF WRECK.
The Third Wreck In Three Weeks On
Those Keefs-Nore Lights
Are Needed.

Rev. Z. ID. Dairympfe or Oakdale, MasS.'
who was one Of the passengers on the
wrecked Madiana. OF the coast OF Bermuda.
has Just arrived and is stopping at the
National Hotel. His baggage Is with the
sunken vessel.
Relative to his. experience. he says: II
was awakened at about 3:60 am. February
10 by sudden listing Of the ship to star
board. caused by a heavy sea. I was then
startled by the stopping of the machinery.
The vibration Of machinery was followed
instantly by a series OF rude shocks and a
grinding on the bottom. asked my room
mate. Frank Fee OF Newark. Ohio. 'What
does this meanr Jumping from his berth,
he answered, 1t means that we have struck
a rock Before we were half dressed the
electric lights in our room began to turn
red, tmpressing us with the fact that the
ship was rapidly beginning to fill with
water. We finished In the dark.
Great Excitement, but No Panic.
There was great excitement. Women
who were sick by reason OF the stormy pas
sage were terribly wrought upon by the
darkening light and the sudden call, Every
body on deck! And yet neither then nor
after was there panic among the men or
women. We gathered first in the social
hall. There was no outcry, no praying
some one led in simple prayer for deliv-
erance. At that moment there was no
chance to do anything else, and the prayer
was great comfort. hurried away to the
hurricane deck. There we met with real
istic danger in our effort to swing out the
davits with the life boats. This was slow
and difficult.
1.-THE boats on the port side were carried
away by the heavy sea as soon as they
were swung out.
Red lights were burned in a vain effort tn
attract attention on shore. the nearest point
Of which was ten miles distant. Then the
sudden explosion of a rocket caused the
premature firing Of the whole supply Of
attention seemed gone.
soon heard a sailor report to the cap
tain. I cannot get the oil, sir; 1t is death to
go forward, for the sea completely sweeps
that part of the main deck I said: I
think you can. I'll stand under the bridge
and signal the coming of the heavy sea-
But he refused to make the effort. The
oil was our only hope Of signaling. The
first chief officer, however, was equal to
the occasion and secured the needed oil.
This typical American sailor made the at
tempt, and 1t was my privilege to stand
ready to signal, and reaching down, knees
In water, take the can from his hand and
pass 1t up to the captain on the bridge.
Heroic Women.
There were notable examples Of heroism
furnished by women that heartened every
man on the ship. Mrs. Lydia r. Luke Of
West Newton. Mass. aged seventy SIX
Mrs. Harriet Brown of Newtonville, Mass
and Mrs. Fannie H. Barri Of Springfield
Mass, both elderly ladies, were an inspi-
ration to US all by their sublime cheerful
ness throughout the dark hours Of that
morning. Another notable illustration Of
the moral strength Of woman was furnished
by Mrs. G: L. Munson Of Albany, N. Y.
The event found her PROSTATE by the severe
storm of Sunday, yet when she came to the
side Of the ship ready to be lowered into
the shell of a boat that was tossed In
terrific manner on the breaking waves, she
spoke words Of cheer to the tinid woman
going down before her, and as she was be-
Ing lowered encouraged the one who fol-
lowed by descending with a smile on her
face.
II feel that to mention these only is
sort of injustice to the other brave women
who honored their nation even as these.
but their actions came under my personal
observation.
What Caused the Wreck.
II see by the Saturday papers that our
brave Captain Frazier has been adjudged
guilty Of indiscretion. by the court of in
quiry, for approaching the coast without
having seen the light. The mischief was
that seeing the Gibbs Hill flash light,
which on that fatal morning did not flash,
he mistook it for his signal light, the st.
Davids. The effect Of this was to throw
him ten miles to the windward Of the reef
and give him false notion of security for
which the Gibbs Hill was to blame.
1t seemed to me while I was there that
the effort to get witnesses was entirely in
the hands of those interested In proving
the company liable for personal damages.
However the case may go with the captain,
1t remains that q veritable death trap
stands constant menace to the thousands
Of lives of American people who winter in
Bermuda.
even II the Gibbs Hill light were in good
order, It Is about eighteen miles back Of
wreck from these. reefs in three weeks; yet
not one bell or whistle buoy marks these
hidden reefs SO far out at sea. There
should be a light there, and this is up to
Great Britain. America should insist upon
it."