The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-04-21

was running very high, and the steamer
rocked decidedly more than was conducive
to slumber. Even under other circumstances.
the mornful immage of the Europe, aban-
doned and forlorn, beating about aimlessly
on the ocean, would have been sufficient 10
enforce wakefulness upon many mind. At
last gray dawn began to appear, and the
decks of the Greece were soon enlivened bv
numerous passengers who had passed
restless, anxious night, aud who
welcomed tbs day about to de-
Europe's fate. At half-past five. OF there
abouts Chief Officer Buck and Chief Engineer
Douglas again boarded the Europe. Their
report on returning to the Greece was home
ful. The water in the Europe's fire and en-
CINE compartments had gained two feet
during the night, but the officers said the
other compartments were still free. Never
theless, Mr.. Buck felt confident that the
steamer could be saved, and he volunteered
TO command her in an effort to reach some
port. Mr.. Weber, fourth officer, and DIR.
Mcguire, assistant surAeon. also Volunteered
and crew of % men Were selected
from those who offered Ia 20. As
soon as the little crew were on hoard the
Europe, they made SAIL aud endeavored to
turn the steamers head TO the eastward
Inc ship was then lying With her head
about southwest, the wind coming from
about west. They soon saw that TO turn the
steamer would be a work of time. Her
great length and weight and the small GUAM
tlty of canvass carried made her extremely
dlfncult TO manage without steam After an
hour or two bad been spent in turtle efforts
TO get her head TO the east, it was decided on
board the Greece to try to tow the Europe
into position. The experiment narrowly
missed involving
A HEART-RENDING CALAMITY.
First rocket with a small line attached
was thrown over the Europe. The rocket
fell a little short, burst on the steamers
deck, and knocked a man down, though
apparently without injuring him. The line
was secured on board the Europe, and the
Greece began to pay out the hawser to which
the small line was fastened. During this
operation the Greece mad approached very
near to the Europe, and after passing her on
the port side had stopped and backed little
tor the purpose, L suppose, of getting at such
distance as could be covered by the hawser.
The latter, however, proved too short. and
it was thrown overheard. Just then. before
the hawser was quite clear, the Europe
seemed to feel the wind more strongly than
before, and came forging down with her bow
pointing straight for the Greece's stern. For
a moment passengers deck stood in
breathless suspense. The officers by the
wheel house shouted again and again for the
engines to go ahead. The engines failed to
respond. a minute later the share DOW of
the Europe cut fair into the Greece's stern.
like knife entering a cheese, and with
a shock scarcely perceptible at any
distance away. Then the engines of the
Greece began to move, and in less time than
it takes to tell it the two steamers were
clear of each other. What was the damage
to the Greece? and was there any danger?
were two questions which now seriously in
terested ali on board, numbering about eleven
hundred souls. An examination showed
that by wonderful good fortune no alarming
Injuries had been sustained. a hole about
four feet wide and seven feet high was found
in the projecting of the stern, some dis
lance above the water line. A small room
was torn open, and the gap was anything
but pleasant to see. However, there was
nothing TO be feared, as only following sea
could do further injury, and there would be
plenty of time to patch up the rent before
wind and sea could change. Men were at
once set to work to patch up the rent in the
Greece with boards and sails. Thew sue
ceeded so well that we suffered no more in
convenience than wet floors IN the after
cabins and passages.
GThe untoward result of the experiment
to aid the Europe ought to have stopped
any further efforts in that direction. The
sea was running so high that the two
steamers could not be brought near to-
gether without great risk, and the chance of
saving even as splendid a vessel as the
Europe ought not to have Offset the risk of
losing hundreds of lives. But the Greece
continued to bob around the Europe
in risky proximity to that steamer. There
was not q man on deck who did not feel an
uncomfortable sensation for about twenty
minutes or half an hour. Especially Was
this the case when, just after the astonish-
ing escape described, we lay abreast Of the
Europe, the two great boats only small
distance apart and gradually getting nearer
and nearer 10 each other, threatening the
awful disaster that must have follow if the
two ships had ground together, side
against side, even for a moment
There was a very plain look of re-
lief on all our faces when we
heard to call from thh Europe that all was
right, telling us to go ahead. Then the
Greece's bows were pointed westward. 1t
was about noon when we bid good by to the
Europe and the bold men who had under
taken to save her. She was then heading
about south, with all sail set on the foremost
and a strong westerly wind blowing. In
another hour or so the Europe's tOpmasts
sank below the horizon.