Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-02-12
ExCURSlON!ST ON STEAMER MA.
DIANA HAVE EXCITING TIME
OFF BERMUDA.
SHIP STRIKES ON A REEF
Passengers Taken in Safety to Land
After Peri!ous Trip in Life Boats.
No Explicit Explanation of How the
Vessel Came to Co on the Rocks.
Officers Prevented Panic by Calm.
ing Excited Crowd,

Hamilton, Bermuda, Feb. 1.-THE
Quebec Steo mship company's steam
er M2diana, Captain Frazer, which
sailed from New York last Saturday
with party of eXcursionists for spe
cial cruise around the Caribbean is
lands. went ashore Cn a reef on an is
land Oft this shore at O'Clock a. m
The passengers had a thrilling expe-
rience. but all remained on board and
We're brought safely to land after a
perilcus trip in life boats, q wrecking
tug standing mile off. The mails
and passengers baggage were also
saved. According to statements made
! by those on board. the Madiana was
threading her way in the night through
the narrow channel between the coral
reefs. which leads to Hamilton har
Dor. when she struck reef one and
half miles northeast of North Rock
No explicit explanation is yet forth
coming as to how the vessel went on
the rocks. and the only information
obtainable from the ofiic is that the
light which indicates the channel for
some reason could not be seen.
Passengers Were Asleep.
All the passengers were in theif
burks when the Madiana struck the
rocks, but the shock Of the impact
awakened them and they rushed on
deck. the majority of them without at
tempting to dress. Considerable alarm.
though not a panic, prevailed among
the passengers when they found that
II
the officers went among them and
calmed them. A part of the crew did
not share the coolness Of the officers.
but the latter soon restored order
among the troublesome seamen.
Signals of distress were sent up and
the passengers passed an anxious time
during the latter part CT the night
The Madiana listed heavily after q
time and when morning broke lay
broadside To the wind The passen
gers were huddled together on the hur
ricane deck and the sea breaking
over the steamer drenched them tc
the skin
AS soon AS the news Of the wreck
became known here government anC
other tugs proceeded to the scene tt
endeavor 10 render assistance.
heavy sea- however. was running ant
they dared not approach too closel!
: to the reef on which the Madiana wa!
c pounding For some time no com
munication with the Madiana was pos
: sibe The tug Gladisfen stood abou
. a mile off awaiting an opportunity t.
} assist but it was not until IL O'clOcl
in the morning that it became possibl,
v to effect g rescue. The crew of th'
] Madiana launched a boat but it
Could Not Live in the Sea
then running and was dashed t
= pieces against the steamers side.
second and more successful attemp
o was made a little later and some O
r the passengers were lowered into
|. and after much exertion it succeede
o in reaching the Gladisfen. The Madia
l. mas other life boats were the
launched in succession and the remain
o der of the passengers and the captai
+ and crew gained the salvage tug II
safety
o. BY the prompt action of Enginee
o Nelson who had the Madiana's bulk
heads broken through, the mails AM
: passengers light baggage were takel
q ont and brought in the last boats t.
the Gladisfen, which landed the pas
+, sengefS, crew, mallS anu baggage ueI'
in the afternoon.
Theodore w Noyes of the Washing
ton Star Otis Z. Luke of Boston, an;
: many other passengers emphasized
= especially the fact that there was NJ
panic on board. In fact to illustrate
! the coolness displayed by the otficer
9 and passengers. in spite of the dange
j. and discomfort Of the situation, pas
senger said
II 1T all passed off as though it wer
= part of the programme of tn
r cruise"