Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-01-25
N. B. DanfOrth, Druggist. Second and Market.

could get within hearing distance the
vessel put about and headed 70 tho
strait. When the Topeka hove n sight,
the raft was once more manned and
again put forth The survivors told
terrible tales OF the wreck Of the ves-
sci. When they left the ship, there
we're about 80 persons on board, most
Of them clinging 60 the rigging. Men,
women and children we're being swept
by every sen. Ae snon aa the men got
aboard, Dr. b. n. Whiting, assisted by
two nurses and memb Of che crew,
administered etimulunts and put them
to bed. Alter picking up this raft,
the steamer went in search Of another
raft, which the rescued men said had
left the ship earlier in the day. The
vssasl ran fully 20 miles ths other
side, looking for the raft, but no sign
Of it was u be Heen. It is the general
impression that the raft ioundered. All
the other boats we're smashed 20 splin-
tefs when attempts we're made TO lower
them. Two Of the iceboats we're cap
sized shortly after launching. One
escaped the breakers and put TO sea
with about eight or nine persons
aboard.
The following is the story OF G.
/ Wilets, one Of the Valonoia's passen-
! gers and one Of the men rescued from
the raft
: "The ship struck at 12 07 o'clock on
7 the morning Of Tuesday, January 23d.
/ was on deck at the time, smoking q
cigar, aud was locking at my watch
when the first crash came. To an IN
stant all was excitement. There were
the shrieks Of the frightened men and
] q L. oh D. a
the hoarse orders OF the officers Of the
ship Ihe vessel reeled like drunken
man, slid over the reef and struck
again. The command 20 back her of
was given, and she went asteIn at full
speed, but it wns too late. A. be water
was pouring in like q mill-raoe and
with a sound which drowned Oh else.
The wind swung the vessels stern %
the leach and her head TO the Wavos.
This saved many lives, as she was next
swept back 20 the shore and struck In
such a position that she remained Par
italy above the Wuter and on an even
keel Every wave now washed clear
over her, and many people, who hastily
rushed on deck, went TO their deaths
without time TO murmur a prayer.
The order was given 20 get out the
boats. Two Of them on the weather
side we're launched and we're smashed
like eqg-shells as soon as they struck
the water. Next came the attempt "a
get out the lee boats. Purser O'far-
rel took charge. -Four women and d
number Of men went into boat.
do not know now 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 into the
air. Everyone was pIeoipiiated into
the sea and swept away 20 an instant.
For q second OF two / caught glimpse
Of an aqonized face then another, and
yet another, as they we're washed by
me. Ii was awful. The waves dash.
ing over the chip started her breaking
up. They swept the deck loose, ane
every swell lifted it. We olung 70 th'
rigging aud deokhouse. Next an at
tempt was made 10 get a line ashore
A fireman, named Cigales, agreed e
swim ashore he was In the watel
fully half an hour, but was unable t'
make the beach. The ship struck IN
bad spot. She ia directly at the 100
Of precipitous bluff thnt comes shee
to the Watef's edge. One man wa
swept ashore and succeeded 10 landing
him, and he tried to climb the c,ih
but he fell ana was killed before oui
eyes.
Zone Of tho most pitiable incidenti
was that Of boy about years cf age
His father, mother aud two sisters pu
off in one Of the boats. The boat wa
oapsized, and all we're drowned. Ih'
little fellow waded around the deck
crying for his parents. Another sal
calamity occurred. About 10 or 20 per
sons, among them one OF two women
had taken refuge in the fore toTmast
They appeared to be 10 the safest place
I 10 ID was removed from the wash of thl
. waves. although the dying spray dashed
over their heads. Suddenly, the mas
tottered and there came shriekslifon
those on it,and the next minute It iel
with crash, carrying its load o
human freight to terrible death.
do not think there was single on
saved. Their bodies we're washed ttor
the ship and we're soon dashed agains
the rocks.