Durango semi-weekly herald., 1903-04-20

The storm increased in all its intensI-
", the rain descended, the lightning
flashed. it roared and Numbered
Wave after wave swept over us and
drove us toward the shore as We pro
ceeded ON our southerly course Our
stern gearing was now crippled. upper
deck broken down and pit flooded.
The storm increased in its magnitude
at each foot we advanced yet we were
not half way over the storm center.
Could we hold out to reach the other
side? Oh, for that one and one-half
hours time lost in New York that
would have put us across and we
would have been safe. but time, unre-
lenting time, once lost is lost forever.
Our boat, although $50 feet long and la
dened with over 1000 tons of merchan-
disc and 1000 tons of supplies. was
being swept before the gale as feath-
er before the whrlwind. We were
being driven ashore and were now
within thirteen miles of it. Just
ahead in southeasterly direction lay
the reefs, and once upon them all
hope would vanish as the mist before
the noon day sun. Could the engineer
miss them, could he hold out to reach
the other side. or could he turn her
bow to the storm and seek shelter in
mid-ocean2 These were the vital
points for him to decide. There was
but one chance in a hundred in our IA
vor ii he made the turn. Could he
in the apparent face of death itself
turn her broadsde to the waves and
take that one chance? But the time
had arrived, and he must act. and act
quickly. over one hundred lives were
depending upon him. Oh, the grave
responsibility. but Captain Hicks. the
hero that he was, gave the order. The
die was cast, and our fate hung in
the balance. Oh, the suspense, the
horror OF that moment the agonie5
of death Itself could not have been
greater. We had to wait but a few
moments, however, before all thoughts
of the dreaded future were dispelled
and realities were upon us. The boat
had been struck broadside by a heavy
wave which rolled her over on her side
and she lay at an angle of forty de-
grees as helpless and as conquered as
lamb before the slayer. The glass
ware in the dining saloon had been
shaken from its places of fastening,
and falling upon the floor (then the
side) were broken into a thousand
pieces. and furniture in the room
drifted about. | was thrown from my
bed to the floor; my collar and cuffs,
and even newspaper in my room
upon the upper berth, were at my feet.
OF the $50 tons of iron rails stored
below, tons of them were rolled upon
boxes of merchandise and crushed
them as though they were eggshells
and added horror to the bewilderment.
Passengers We're panic-stricken and
crazed with excitement. One lady
(none other than the beautiful Marie)
crawled out to the saloon nearly de-
nuded of clothing, and falling to the
floor, exclaiming: I'VE are lost!
We are lost. We are lost.!!" sent
terror to the hearts of those around
her II was. indeed, cruel fate, far
away from those who loved her at
home. to he shipwrecked among stran-
gers at sea. There was no strong arm
for her to lean upon; there was no
gentle voice to console her, but the
matron assisted her to her room and
she was left in her solitude. | had
been sick in bed all day and unable to
hold up my head for the past six
hours, but in the midst OF the excite
ment | had forgotten all OF my all
ments and for while was a well man.
The window of my room upon the
second deck kissed the water below
as she lay upon her side-a moment
seemed as a day, and a minute as
year of agony as We waited. II came.
The vessel righted itself and with vim
once more attacked the elements
which but a moment before had prov
en- themselves more than a conqeuror.
Oh, most mercful and omnipotent
God, deliver me from ever again suf-
fering such pain. anguish and torture.
The memory of the horror of horrors
will endure until my days are no
more
Having partly made the turn the
boat now headed for the sea, she knew
waves as they bore down upon us 30 to
ven of safety where the billows would
not break over her stern or carry her
upon the reefs. Our stern deck had
been broken down and great damage
done to Nher steering gear. Guests
rooms had been flooded. The door to
the room of Mr.. George j. Dreissigack-
er was broken in and the room flooded
while he was in bed. He got up, and
in attempting to leave it was struck
by the motion of the boat and knocked
to the floor Of the deck. 1t was a
miracle that he was not swept over
board. The storm was still at its
worst We had battled with it for
nearly three hours and no signs. of its
abating Our bow was now riding the
waves as the bore down upon us 80 to
40 feet high. As she peeped over
them she would show that number of
feet to the water below. AS they re-
ceded our rudder and propeller would
be lifted high in the air and reyolye to
the whirlwind Thus the furious
storm continued for six hours in all OF
| its maddening. deafening vehemence,
Around us could be seen the thous-
ands of hills and mountains of water
chasing each other in their merry glee,
1t t,,