Year: 1872

nearest shore, near Watch Hill; gave pilots the
course to steer north; told them to sound the
ously until the steam was exhausted did not see
the steamer after we had put the boat on her
an hour from the time we headed her for shore be-
fore the hull OF the steamer went out from under
US: % soon as ! gave orders TO head steamer for
passengers to secure life -pressrvers, which
slSo cork mattresses in each sssserSo%
and repair to the upper hurricane deck, as
that in my opinion would be the safest place; went
far art this time az far aft as the stairs OF the
saloon, calling in loud voice on the way and, re-
turning went to the pilot house, and took an axe
was she did told them to sound whistle, and keep
paired to hurricane deck and gave orders to get
lowered them down to the next deck in order that
the passengers could get into them; had ordered
them not to launch the boats until l gave them
orders; then repaired to the saloon, and called
upon every one to


GET ON THE UPPER DECK


as soon as possible; the steamer at this time was
Off before the wind and settling fast forward then
repassed again to the upper deck, when some one
launched asked who had given orders to launch
1t; no one seemed to know; then repaired to the
pilot house, on the upper deck called down through
said she did not; was then coming to; al this time
the whistle was blowing very family but contnu,
the water was on the forward saloon
deck-just coming on to it; then thought
by the starboard fOre-rgging and secured two that
were in my room; the water was then up to my
waist upon the saloon floor; called again In the
saloon for everybody to get out; did not see any
one In the saloon; returned to the upper deck by
the starboard side; gave one Of the preservers
after reaching the upper deck


THE STEAMER SANK,


leaving the hurricane deck and saloon deok and all
t1nS I'm On a hnn fhn
same tiNe the steamer sank some one reported
from the port forward that the boat had given way
that side and saw the boat, bottom up, with man
on the bottom; the starboard boat or boat No. at
this time was launched and filed with water and
soon swamped, but remained alongside near the
wreck for some time; succeeded In getting two
ladies from her to the wreck-Mrs. Elliott and
sister: tried to induce all In the boat to get
out on the wreck, In order to bail the boat
out, as we gave them buckets from the deck to do
get the passengers and crew on the wreck, but
could not do so; she afterwards separated from
us; short time afterWard we saw one OF our
boats coming toward US,


PARTIALLY FULL OF WATER,


with one man sitting In the middle OF her; called
to him to try and scull the boat to u.s. did so and
Just before reaching us he got the quartermaster
from bale or box upon which he was hoatlng into
the boat; succeeded in getting rope to the boat
and putting three more men into her; bailed her
out and held her reserve for the purpose of placing
the women and children, Of which there We're
we could get to the surf; this we were
unable to do; for, on attempting to carry 1t into
operation we-Captain Hull Mr.. Richard Davis and
myself-saw there was disposition by the passen-
gers to rush for the boat, and fearing that they
would swamp her, decided not to do so, but set the
boat OIL, with orders to pick up all they could ont
side of the surf and calling upon all that were upon
the upper end to come on that portion nearest to
the Shore prepared ourselves as far as possible for
the final struggle with the surf; we were thrown
upon the beach, and l found myself there when
recovered.


At two O'Clock the Board adjourned until Monday
morning ut ten O'Clock.