New-York tribune., 1903-02-11
THE MADIANA A WRECK.
M4NY LIVES IN DANGER.
All Rescued litter a Peritous Trip
an Lifeboats.

steamship CofnpdnyS steamer M5diana. zap
tain Frazer. which sailed from New-York last
Saturday with party for {. special cruise
around the Caribbean Islands. went ashore on
the reefs off this island at o'clock this morn
ing The passengers had thrilling experience.
The ship is a total loss but all on board
rescued and brought safely to land after peril
Gus trip in Hfeboats from the wreck 90 a tug
standing a mile off The mails and the pas
sengers' baggage were also saved.
According to statements made by those on
board. the Madana was threading her way in
the night through the narrow channel between
the coral reefs which leads to Hamilton hareor.
when she struck reef one and half miles
northeast of North Rock. No explicit expIana-
tion is yet Forthcoming 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.
GOODNESS OF THE OFFICERS.
All the passengers were In their hunks wher-
the Madiana struck. but the shock OF the i'm
pact awakened them. and they rushed on deck,
the majority OF them without attempting tos
dress. Considerable alarm. though not panic.
prevailed among the passengers when they
found that the vessel was hard on the rocks. butt
the officers went among them and Gained them,
although number did not venture below again
to seek more clothing part Of the crew did
not share the GOODNESS of the officers. but ths
latter soon restored order among the trouble
some seamen.
Distress signals were sent up. and the pas
sengers passed an anxious time for the rest oH
the night The Madsana listed heavily in thg
night. and when morning broke lay broadside tn
the wind. The passenge- many still scantily
dressed, were huddled together the hurricanes
deck. and the sea. breaking over the steamers
drencfled them to the skin.
DANGEROUS TRANSFER TO TUG
As soon as the news of the wreck became
known here government and other tugs pro-
ceeded to the scene to endeavor to render as
sistance. A heavy sea, however. was running.
and they dored not approach too closely to the
reef on which the Madiana pounding For
some time no communication with the Madiana
was possible. The tug Gladisfen stood about
a mile off awaiting opportunity. but " was
not until II o'clock this morning that u became
possible to effect a rescue.
The crew Of the Madiana launched boat. but
it could not live in the sea then running. and
was dashed to pieces against the steamers
side second and successful attempt
made a little later and some of the passengers
were lowered into the boat. and. after much
exertion. it succeeded in reaching the Gladisfeu-
The Madiana's other Hfeboats we're then
launched in succession. and the remainder Of the
passengers and the captain and crew reached
safely the salvage tug.
By the prompt action Of Engineer Nelsona
who had the Madiana's bulkheads brokers
through, the mails and the passengers nsht
baggage were taken out and brought in the lasti
boats to the cladisfen. which landed the pas
seneers. crew. mails and baggage here this
afternoon. The weather moderated sonevhar
in the morning.
4 PASSENGERS ACCOUNT
Joseph K. Crofut. of Hartford. Conn. one ot
the passengers. said:
II was in my bunk when the shock OF thsf
steaner's stranding awoke me l az once auI
rfed out and rushed deck. being the hrsrt
nasseY ger TO reach L. The other passengers
streamed up from below immediately aIrer~i
ward. There was no CONFUSION among ths
officers or the passengers. The officers raced
the situation coolly. and quickly reassured tho
passengers The crew. however, who were.
mostly foreigners. became disorderly at first.
but discipline was soon restored Finding that
the centre of the ship was firmly fixed between
two rocks and that there was no tmmediatsl
danger Of her breaking up, the passengers
gained confidence
we remained on deck until we sa wthe tuss
Gladfsfen approaching. It lay to about mile,
off not being able to come nearer on account.
Madiana's boats was lowered, but before any
one could get into it 1t smashed TO bits
The other ships boats were then launched with
better success. The passengers were attached
TO ropes the women first of all. and lowered
into the lIfeboats. II was dangerous journey
to the GIadisfen The boats crews had to pull
and we we're all safely embarked on the Clad
isfen. The officers and the remainder of ths
crew with some Of the passengers light bag.
gage followed The wreck was abandoned
and were landed here.
Theodore ". Noyes. of The washinstor
star" Otis H Luke. of Boston. and many other
passengers confirmed the particulars given By
Mr. Crofut and 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 dis
comfort Of the situation. a passenger said tt
all passed off as II IL .ere part Of the pro-
gramme of the cruise
MIR. Moves gave the following account OF the
wreck:
Al ten minutes of { o'clock this morning the