The Washington herald., 1909-02-14

sound Of waters rushing in You could
net see It through the cloud OF steam and
din lights Then at every heavy roll a
woman shrieksd BY O'Clock We were
in worse state than ever. When the ship
rolled there would be nearly two feet oi
water in the cabin. It would some IN
with rush, then back again to the other
side. carrying with il anything tha- wss
not Iashed- The boards OF the lower
berths were washed out and the bedding
would drop down and float around She
cabin, with miscellaneous contents OF
trunks. buckets. clothes, apples, and
papers.
a few OF the women were quite col
lected, talking as calmly as on land One
in particular remember. who had come
home IN this ship on her last voyage from
Melbourne She said TO me. I feel as II
should never see land again am lO2th
to give up my life, but il is not so much
on my own account as for those 1 leave
behind. I was married only two months
before leaving MelbOurne I know my
husband VIII mourn my death very much
I came home to settle some property. /
And another thing / regret very much Is
that I have brought this little niece OF
mine with ne "a nice girl Of about
twelve or thirteen years.) I induced her
me- Never mind says the little niece,
I am happy. aunt, and We viii die to
gether.' And I think they die. often
stood that night watching the portfolios
in the stateroom when the ship would
take those awful lurchss- I would see
the water dark and still against the glass
OF the port: Il would renlian so for half
q minute OF more I would say 20 myself
Is she sinking noWT Presently 1 would
see the water IN feEm against the glass.
and then I would say, She is all right
yet
Elders Read Bible.
while their elders were reading the
bible, praying and comforting one snoth-
er. number Of young children, who did
not know what danger meant, played
happily IN the flooded cabin. About 10
o'clock all male passengers were told to
go on deck. and they knew It was a seri-
Gus moment. Passing the engine room.
they could see torrents Of water descend
ing through the broken skylight. which
the sailors were trying TO replace with
canvas A number OF passengers gath
cred for prayers in the cuddy. and IL
was apparent that those who had bsen
frantic with fear some hours before were
now calm and resigned. Women as wen
as men helped ii trying 70 prevent water
from reaching the engine room.
I went below tween decks TO assist
with the sails As 1 passed along by the
engine room Mr.. GreenhiIl. the chief en-
gineeT, sang out to the iremen below 70
come up. Soon I saw three men come,
who said: II IS useless 10 try any long
er; the fires are out and the water UP 20
room, holding a light for the men who
were seeking sails, I had an oportunlty
Of learning our actual condition from the
captain, officers, doctor. and engineer.
who frequently met there. They had lit
tie hope, though they endeavored TO dis
guiss the actual danger. heard an or
der 70 bring mattresses beds, and so on,
70 put in this opening over the engine
room, afterWard 10 be covered with sails.
The ladies Immediately went into their
rooms and turned up their beds TO get at
the mattresses. The conduct OF some Of
them was certainly heroic in aiding. di-
recting. and encouraging
The passengers started a bucket line
to clear tween decks Of water, but az
40 o'clock Thursday morning the cap
tain told them 10 put down the buckets
and help secure the engine room hatch,
for that Is the Cnly chance to save the
ship It was a difficult task to get sails
to cover the hatch, since the deck pas
sageway TO the stoTeroom was blocked
with freight and wreckage, and the sails
had 10 be dragged through a Maroon pas
sage below After this volunteers at the
pumps we're called for. Some hesitated
about going on deck 10 be exposed 70 the
icy waves and the chance Of being swept
overheard. A bottle OF whisky helped
some Relays Of six men at q time work
ed the pumps The men were often sub
merged BY the mountainous seas that
rolled aboard Wives said when their
husbands were wanted on the pumps, oh,
do not take him from me-
Daylight came and We could see what
helpless log our ship was. She was
low at the stern, and when she rolled
seemed going right under
Three lifeboats were smashed OF wash
ed away; no one tried TO launch the
three remaining. partly because II was
considered necessary 10 bring the ship
around before launching them.
People were walking about very quiet
snd very anxious, several ladies' bare
headed. their hair flying about with the
wind, but calm and resigned. and very
little being said They were walking
about Just as you see people ar a railway
station when they are waiting for a train
saw ard spoke 10 the young girl who
was so frantic at first: now she was rs
reasonable and calm as anybody. I then
thought. as a good many thought, that
We were not long for this world: death
was staring Us in the face I felt loath
10 give Up Hfe: I enjoy life. There was
also the uppermost thought OF ali, the
uncertain hereafter. I said to myself,
Well. I suppose am as prepared now as
should be twenty years to come. I
regretted most for those was leaving
behind, and whom had come on a visit
half way around the world 20 see. and
now 10 be drowned in returning. and that
in such a stupid, unsatisfactory way.
There appeared to be no excuse for It
whatever
Passengers Resigned to Fate.
"As the end approached those who had
felt bitter against the captain and the
owners OF the vessel as responsible foF
their plight realized the futillty and i'm
propriety OF such feelings. They ac-
CURED a spirit CT forgiveness The cap
tain visited the cuddy some time before
and told al TO prepare for the worst:
nothing but a miracle would save US
now which dreadful assertion was re-
ceived with no fresh outburst OF terror.
All the women Of the second cabin were
sitting by themselves. Those from the
steerage part of the ship were in the
cuddy also No distinction now There
were fathers and mothers with their fam
lies grouped around them, the children
very quiet They did not seem to IN
derstand why their fathers and mothers
were crying so; and, poor little things.
many were standing up to their knees IN
water. The Rev. Mr.. Draper was sitting
al table with many round him, reading
and praying increasingly Now and then
would be heard q yoice saying, oh, Mr..
Draper. pray with me-