OCR Text |
Show Terrible Sullerlus at Sen. New York, 21. Purser Weld man, of the steamer Leo, burned early on the morning of April 3d, eighty miles south of Tybpe island, tells a graphic story of tho disaster. He says about 3 o'clock, while a terrific sea was rolling, it was discovered that some freight between decks had got loose and was pitching about. The hatches wero opened to secure the freight, when to the horror of the crew forked tongues of fire shot out. Hose was at onc.j brought, but the fierceness of tho gale fanning the flames, which had already obtained considerable headway, rendered it useless. Captain Daniels ordered the life boats lowered. Tne captain with several officers hurried hur-ried to the forward deck to secure the life raft, which was in tho captain's cabin, and despatched aft another I gang under command of tho chief ' engineer, to assist in lowering the j boats. The fire had increased fearfully, and breaking fiercely amid bhips, entirely cut oQ communication between the two parties, par-ties, In the cabin were two middle aged ladies, two Misses Farriogtou, natives of Nassua and mambera of a wealthy and prominent family, cn their way home after a visit to the north and Savannah. They were both in feeble health, and cflortswere made to get them out, but owing to the fearful rolling of the ship and the rapiuity with wnich the names spread, tho eflorls wore unavailing. It is almost certain that they perished. The other passenger was Ernest Pappendcck of New York, who, aroused by tho commotion on deck, came up and thus got into one of tho life boats. Captain Daniels with his party who were forward managed to lowr the raft, when twelve of the crew besides himself succeeded in yelling aboard. The stewardess, who was on deck, called to jump into the raft, and in attempting it fell into the sea and was drowned. The person on the -raft were huddled together in a cramped position, nearly naked and shivering. One heavy aca capsized cap-sized the raft, throwing the occupants into the sea. They scrambled on it again, except Martin Mc-Quade, Mc-Quade, who was lost. Aller a most horriblo time, drilling at the mercy of tho wavss, a vessel j bore down upon them, and iu a short time took all ofl. Owing to tho darkness and terrible surroundings, the rescued party saw nothing of tuosc who got into the life boats. There is a possibility, however, how-ever, that ihey may have been rescued, .ui, u.ciakut uw-uueu uirecuy ia uia course of vessels coming to Savannah or Dobay. |