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| SS Elingamite. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, December 26, 1902.
STORY OF SHIPWRECK.
Terrible Sufferings of Survivors of Wrecked Steamer.
DRANK EACH OTHER'S BLOOD.
Sixteen People on a Raft—Ten of Them Picked Up After Four Days—On the Third Night a Steamer Sent a Boat Which Failed to Find the Raft—Captain's Bravery.
Victoria, B. C., Dec. 26.—Australian papers received by the steamer Moana contain column after column dealing with the terrible privations of the survivors of the wrecked steamer Elingamite, news of whose loss on the Three Kings, a trio of towering heights off the northern extremity of New Zealand, had already been cabled.
The story of the experience of some of those on the recovered rafts contains some tragic tales which were not detailed in earlier reports.
In interviews with survivors the Australian papers tell of how the blood of the unfortunates was sucked while they slept, the stewardess, Miss McGuirk, being so weakened that she died.
On this raft 16 people left the vessel and were four days with nothing but two apples and no water. One apple was divided the first day, and the second day they indulged in a desperate fight for the possession of the other apple.
Three deaths occurred from exhaustion on the second day, the bodies being left until putrefaction set in before the survivors pushed them into the sea. Several started to drink the salt water and maddened by this, jumped overboard.
On the third night a steamer was sighted and the shipwrecked people shouted. The vessel lowered a boat, but it did not find the raft in the darkness and the steamer proceeded, leaving the unfortunates to their fate.
It was that night that the blood letting commenced. After the stewardess, weakened from loss of blood, had died in the arms of the second steward, he began to rave, and a few minutes later lowered himself from the raft, singing a hymn as he went down.
Finally, four days after they left the wreck, H. M. S. Penguin found the drifting raft and saved the few remaining survivors.
There were some thrilling examples of heroism at the time of the wreck. All the survivors say Captain Attwood acted nobly. He was the last to leave the wreck, being washed away when the waters covered the bridge, and afterwards, when standing on some floating wreckage, he ordered the boats about and his coolness resulted in the saving of many lives.
The wreck occurred in a moderate sea during a dense fog. The master was on the bridge, man on outlook, but the breakers were not observed until the steamer was almost on the high towering rocks seen on the port bow.
The boats were quickly launched but before the passengers could embark in them they were standing waist high in water on the steamer's deck, remaining there with difficulty.
Some of the boats were swamped by the steamer's side but others managed to get away with good loads. The boats' ropes had been all cut and before they left the steamer some of the boats picked up several of the unfortunates who were floating about on wreckage.
The scenes were awful, dead bodies being dragged into the boats in the hope that some spark of life lingered, and many dead bodies were seen floating about amongst the wreckage.
Old-Fashioned Christmas
Albany, N. Y., Dec. 26.—A steady fall of snow, approximating a foot in depth, and beginning early yesterday morning with moderate cold, has made old-fashioned Christmas conditions here. The day has been widely observed, with special services in the churches and the usual other celebrations.
William A. Dilllon.
Players Dine.
The Hillman company was given a dinner last Wednesday evening after the performance at the Grand Central restaurant [in Cortland]. Plates were laid for twenty-five and a very elaborate menu was served. A Christmas tree was the center of attraction, and this was filled with remembrances for every member of the company. Especial mention should be made of the beautiful gold watch and solid silver toilet set given to Mr. William A. Dillon by the members of the company and Miss Hillman's brooch and three pearl rings.
Employer Remembered.
On Christmas eve the employees of the Palace Star Laundry [in Cortland] presented their employer, Mr. A. W. McNett, with two handsome mahogany chairs, as a Christmas token. Mr. E. P. Rogers made the presentation speech and then called upon the proprietor to sing or whistle in response. The latter was chosen by Mr. McNett.
Smith-Saxon.
Mr. W. Heath Smith, time keeper at the Lehigh Valley shops in Cortland, and Miss Ida M. Saxon of Ilion, N. Y., were married in Ilion last Tuesday. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are now enjoying a honeymoon trip, but will soon return to Cortland and reside at 24 Union-st. Mrs. Smith is a former Normal [School] student, having graduated in the year 1899.
PREBLE, N. Y.
Preble, Dec. 24.—W. W. Wright, Jr., is home from Amherst for the Holiday vacation.
A Christmas cantata will be given in the Presbyterian church on Christmas eve.
Charles Qureau of Baldwinsville is in town.
Mrs. Henderson of Otisco is visiting her son John.
Miss Mary McKellar is spending her vacation at her home in Marathon.
The cabbage market has dropped to $5 a ton.
Cards are out for the wedding of Henry T. Crofoot and Miss Blanche Van Patten at the home of the bride, Dec. 31.
J. H. Gay was in Syracuse Monday on business.
Vann Smith has closed his school in Blodgett Mills and is spending his vacation at his home here.
PAGE FOUR—BRIEF EDITORIAL.
Five Brooklyn Girls.
Five Brooklyn girls, presumably more or less Christian, are members of a class in the Sunday school of the Emmanuel Baptist church. A couple of weeks ago a young colored girl joined the Sunday school and was assigned to this class. The five girls immediately went on the warpath and demanded of their teacher the expulsion of the new scholar. The teacher told them that she was sorry to see such a spirit manifesting itself in her class, and that was all the satisfaction they got out of her. Then they appealed to the superintendent and accumulated another snubbing. On consideration they have determined and have announced that they will withdraw from the Sunday school. That is where they have made a serious mistake. More, not less, religious instruction is the real remedy for what is the matter with them.
Hatch Library, Court Street, Cortland, N. Y.
The Science Club
Dr. G. H. Smith will speak upon the subject "Museums" at the meeting of the Science club Saturday evening, Dec. 27. He will give a history of museums in general from their inception to the present time, also what the Cortland Science club hopes to do. It may be well to add in this connection that a large and valuable collection of sixteen cases of stuffed birds and animals has been added to the museum, and the old, middle-aged, youth and children will find something to interest, enjoy and learn. Every one is cordially invited to come in during library hours.
Robert Emmet.
The most costly and largest production of Irish drama in modern times is "Robert Emmet, the days of 1803," which will shortly be given here with the entire cast and stage accessories of the New York performance. Manager J. Wesley Rosenquest, who staged the piece, has spared neither trouble nor expense in eclipsing all previous productions of Irish drama in splendor.
Brandon Tynan, the author of the play and one of our cleverest young romantic actors, will be seen here in the title role next Friday at the Opera House.
CHRISTMAS REUNION.
Members of the McLachlan Family Meet at the Old Homestead.
The annual Christmas reunion of the McLachlan family was held yesterday with Mr. J. E. Hicks at the McLachlan homestead in the town of Groton. All the brothers and sisters with the exception of Rev. John McLachlan of Binghamton were present and spent an enjoyable day at the old home.
A bountiful Christmas dinner was served at 2 p. m. under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Hicks and their daughter, Miss Hattie, who live with J. E. Hicks and who assisted him in making the occasion a delightful one for the visitors. In the afternoon Mr. Duncan McLachlan, as master of ceremonies, called for a number of impromptu speeches and some happy reminiscences of early days were related.
Those present were: Hon. and Mrs. James McLachlan of Pasadena, Cal., Dr. and Mrs. A. C. McLachlan and son Kenneth of Jamaica, Mr. Duncan McLachlan, Miss Maude McLachlan, Miss Donelda McLachlan and Argyle McLachlan of Syracuse, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Bovee and Mr. William J. Tiffany of Richford, Mr. and Mrs. John McKellar of Groton, Mr. and Mrs. Albert J. Sears, Miss Stella J. Sears and Miss Flossie Sears, Mr. and Mrs. James White, Miss Jennie M. White, Miss Mary E. White, Mr. F. J. White and Mr. Charles H. White of Cortland.
A SLIGHT BLAZE.
Prompt Action Averts Disaster at Sager & Jennings.
Sager & Jennings' drug store, Cortland, barely escaped a fire last Wednesday afternoon. Prompt work of the proprietors and clerks with brushbrooms and almost anything that could be grabbed up that would smother the flames averted serious results.
At a little before 5 o'clock one of the clerks started to light the gas. In lighting a match the head of it flew off and landed while still burning in the window decorations, which ignited almost instantly. A few small articles were burned, but the flames were extinguished before they had gained much headway and before a great amount of damage had been done.
Royal Arcanum.
At the regular meeting of the Royal Arcanum council held at G. A. R. hall Tuesday evening, Dec. 23, the following officers were elected for 1903:
Regent—Clarence Burgett.
Vice-Regent—E. E. Fish.
Orator—W. A. Cornish.
Secretary—H. W. Gazlay.
Collector—Henry Relyea.
Treasurer—F. M. McFall
Chaplain—D. McAuliffe.
Guide—J. F. Wheeler.
Warden—J. Lonergan.
Sentry—Jay Dean.
Robert F. Howard.
Robert Flox Howard died at the home of his son, William Howard, 31 Pendleton-st., at 4:30 o'clock yesterday, aged 78 years, 11 months and 21 days. The funeral will be held from the house tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, after which the remains will be taken by the 4:38 Lackawanna train on the way to South Haven, Mich., where burial will be made.
A CHRISTMAS RUN.
Orson A. Kinney's Roadster Distributes Presents.
While distributing Christmas presents on Christmas morning, Mr. Orson A. Kinney left his brown road mare to make a delivery on Madison-st., Cortland. While the owner was upon his errand a rig came up from the rear, and it is evident that the roadster did not care to see any one get a head of her, for she started out on a keen canter.
Turning up North Main-st., she kept straight ahead until Argyle Place was reached, and turned in there to remember the friends of that street. At the west extremity of the street, which is closed, she looped the loop and returned to Main-st. Clear sailing was again encountered and Railroad-st. was the next to attract her attention. At the Benton lumber yards a halt was made, and it was evident that the animal had gone as far as she cared to.
During the entire trip nothing was lost out of the cutter nor was there anything broken about the rig. The horse was not at all excited and evidently considered the whole affair as a fine Christmas frolic.
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| Maude Adams, L'Aiglon. |
BREVITIES.
—It was a white Christmas.
—About 2 inches of snow fell in Cortland on Christmas day.
—Ninety-one couples attended the Christmas party at Harford Mills last night.
—A large number from Cortland attended the Christmas party at Higginsville last night.
—A regular meeting of the L. C. B. A. will be held this evening at 8 o'clock. Banquet tickets will be on sale.
—All the employees of the Lehigh Valley shops in this city will have their wages raised on the first of January.
—The Cortland Cart and Carriage company of Sidney, formerly of Cortland, are sending out a handsome calendar for 1903. A fine portrait of Maude Adams in L'Aiglon forms an artistic background for the calendar.
—The new display advertisements today are—Pearson Bros., Auction sale of furniture, page 8; G. H. Wiltsie, Cloak sale, page 6; McKinney & Doubleday, Standard diaries for 1903, page 7; C. F. Brown, Chest protectors., page 7; Opera House, "A Hidden Crime,'' page 5; Opera house, "Robert Emmett," page 5.
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