The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1905-11-23
DEATH ROLL OF
WRECKED HILDA
lB Persons PeriShed in tie Terrible
Disaster.
MANY VICTIMS WERE FARMERS.
Soon After the Vessel Struck She Broke Amid.
ships aud Her Decks Were Swept Bare OF the
Passengers and Sailors. Excepting a Few,
Who Clung TO the Mast Those Rescued Az.
ter Twelve Hours Of Suffering.

London (By Cable) One hundred and
twenty-eight persons lost their lives in
the wreck of the London and Southwes-
tern Railway Company's steamer Hilda
off the northern coast of France Satur-
day night, according 20 an official esti-
mate given out by the officers of the COM
pany. This death roll includes 81 sa-
loon passengers, 90 French onion sellers
and p of the crew.
St. Malo, France (By able).-James
Gunter, the only seaman of the Hilda
saved from the wreck, says there was
no panic OH board. Attempts were made
TO lower the boats. but The rough rea
rendered it impossible Gunter clung
TO the fittings of the topmast with nine
others below him, including the chief
mate and three Bretons. who died i'm the
night of exposure. The Hilda struck
at 10 o'clock Saturday night. She was
going very slow at the time. Rockets
were sent up, but there was no response.
Seven minutes later the ship broke amid
ships and her decks were swept bare with
the exception of the few survivors who
citing TO the mast. They were rescued
by the steamer Ada at 10 A. NJ. Sunday,
after having endured Il hours of agony
In response to the captains appeal
when he found it would be useless to al
tempt to launch the boats, all the women
and children were mustered i'll the main
hatch and the StewardesSeS fixed life
belts around each of them, the French
onion sellers assisting in the work Ev-
erybody was very quiet
There were about 20 persons on the
rigging when the vessel was foundered.
He described pathetioally how the men
gradually dropped off exhausted by the
terrible cold and says the roar OF the
clements was terrible.
In all more than 90 bodies have been
washed up, including that of Captain
Gregory, the commander of the wrecked
ship
Thirteen bodies of saloon passengers
have been identified. These are Mrs
Rook, her two children and their gov
erncsS; Dr. Stanley, his wife and two
daughters and maid; Major and Mrs
Price, Mr. Wellesley and Mr.. Griudle
The survivors are rapidly recovering.
The entrance 10 the harbor OF ST.
Alalo Is one of the most difficult known
-te7aarinerS On Saturday night a blind
ing SnowStorm, with haze and high wind.
prevailed, and it is little wonder that
Captain Gregory lost his reckonings. es-
pecially as at the point where the Hilda
struck only few yards deviation from
the regular course meant destruction
Torpedo boats found there is no hope
OF salvaging the vessel.
Paris (By Gable Special imports
received here Of the wreck of the steam
or Hilda gave a graphic description of
the disaster. Owing to the rough sea to-
gether with thick snowStorm, the captain
the Hilda probably took the bouy light
ofSthe rocks for the St. Nalo lighthouse
He gave signals. which were not seen
by harbor employees, and then tho steam
er proceeded slowly toward the light.
When the Hilda struck the rocks the
steamers boilers exploded and she was
cut i'll two, giving the passengers no
time TO save themselves.
The coast near St. Malo is covered
with wreckage and some cattle. Two
thirds OF the Hilda'S passengers were
French farmers returning 10 France with
heavy sums in gold from the sale Of
their yearly harvest OF onions and po-
tatOes