Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-01-25

fly ruSned on Oeck Weut tO uiciH deaths without time to murmur prayer. The order was given to get out the boats. Two boats then on the weather side were launched and were smashed like eggshells as soon as they struck the water. Then came the at tempt to get out the lee boats.
 "Purser O'Farrell took charge. Four women and number of men wen! into the boat. I do not know how many but she was practically full. Just as they were lowering the other the davits broke and the stern of the boat fell to the water while the bow hung in the air.
 "Every one fell into the sea and swept away in, an instant. l caught glimpse of agonized faces as they were washed by me. It was awful. The waves dashing over the ship be- gan breaking her up. They swept the deck loose and every swell lifted 1t. We chung to the rigging and deck house. Then an attempt was made to get line ashore. A fireman named Cigales agreed to swim ashore. He was in the water fully half an hour but was unable to make the beach. The ship struck in bad spot. She was directly at the foot of precipi- tpus l,iuff that comes sheer to the waters edge. One man was swept; ashore and succeeded ill landing olsa small rock. We shot a line t0 hl,n and then tried to climb the cliff but he fell and was killed before cur eyes.
 "A lame officer from the Concord accompanied by his two sisters, was among those in the rigging. By Wcd- nesday morning the ship was rapidly going to pieces. Every swell carried away a portion of the ship and the decks rose and fell with every break CT and it was impossible to say on the deck without clinging to support. The ship was sunk to about the level of the hurricane deck.
 "In the morning another calamity occurred. About 15 or 70 persons, among them one or two women. had taken refuge in the foretopmast. They appeared to be in the safest place as it was removed from the wash of the waves. Suddenly and without warn- ing. the mast tottered and there came a shriek from those on it. and next moment 1t fell with crash, carrying its load of human freight to terrible death. I do not think there was Il single soul saved. Their bodies were washed from the ship and we could see them dashed against the rocks.
 ITO add to our misery the last of our food was washed away. We had no water to drink. save the bitter cold sleet The wind and rain combined with sea soon numbed us. Every little while one of those in the rigging would lose their hold and he swept away to the sharp rocks.
 "When we saw the Queen in the morning we thanked God for saving Us. Tut when she, in company with the tug. sheered of and sailed away she was followed with nothing hut curses. I suppose it was too danger ous for them to attempt to save us.
 "when the Topeka finally hove in sight we determined to make an effort to reach her in the raft lift. Few of the men cared to make the attempt as it appeared to be certain death to even to try to cross the breakers. But some of us were willing and we start ei. With only a pair of ears the struggle against the wind and sea was almost too much for us.
 Part of the time we were under water and were almost drowned We held one man upright in the center of .1.u .,e. .,..f h.H l.s.., x,ss,-.. |. aFs-. ..., q pole.
 The waving of the shirt reminds me that when the Queen was first sighted the women in the rigging even removed portions of their cloth ing to wave as a signal for help from their positions in the rigging.
 When we left the ship on the raft we tried to get some of the remaining women tO go but they refusei- No help can now reach them before morn { ing and the ship will have then gone to pieres. She was breaking up when 1 we left her
 If the two boats which we saw got ] away and put to sea are picked up 1 they and ourselves will hc the only ones saved
 Captain Johnson lost his hearings l snd ran the ship a<hore. It was dark sIsd stormy night and nothinS 1 could he seen After striking Captain Johnson proved himself q hero
 Second Mate Peterson vbo vas n charge If the raft sustained severe fujurie<. He sut<tantiated the story | zs dfl every one cf the men rrscued ]
 The Topeka will lzy h the strait 1 untiI daylight and then return to tks srrse of the wreck to reaier whstev-r sfa Id r.n~<fhE-