The New York herald., 1876-09-29
The St. German, of the French
Line, Loses Her Rudder. at Sea.
ADRIFT FOR FIVE DAYS.
The Vessel and Her Passengers Saved by the
England, ofthe National Line.
TESTIMONIAL TO CAPTAIN THOMPSON.

|
becoming In mid tho rescuer OF the crew OF tho
schooner Middlcscx, OF Milwaukee, and OF giving vau
ablo aid In most distressing hour to the steamship
ST. Germain OF tho General Transatlantic line, which
left Havre for this port the 9th inst, and which
met with by the England early the morning Of the
22d latitude 45 deg min. north, longitude SO deg
| SO min. west II seems that the Mddesex with a
crew OF persons, bound Tor Leth from Quebec,
with load OF lumber. and had during gale sprung
| leak three days before the England came across
her. which the 10th inst she then
I in sinking condition and Captain Colbrick
| and his men, who had been tho pumps
| almost constantly from tho moment the vessel had
begun TO lot in water were utterly exhausted. The
chief officer of the England, Mr. A D. Hadlcy, on
ing the signals Of distress made by the Middesex,
| manned the feboat and rescued tho This
at hal. past twelve O'Clock when there was heavy
| gale blowing and high running, the England
pitching and rolling 'irightiuy." as one OF her off,
GERS says Thrco days a!tcrward. on the 22d inst
ono the morning. the England esplcd large vessel
to the north showing distress signals which turned
out to the ST German. which Two days before had
| lost her rudder.
OF Chief Omcer Hadley, OF tho England. concerning
the Middlesex ana the St Germain, follows:
| September 19-Iatitude 4S 2s, longitude So west
| blowing heavy gale and high sea running AT 1890
| r.. NJ.
nails OF distress Bore up Tor her. lowered tho STAR
board fcboat in charge OF chief officer and pulled to-
ward her She proved to be the schooner Mddlcsex,
/ OF Milwaukee, waterlogccd and crew completely OK
hausted Captain and crew desiring to abandon her,
took them of accorcingly-nne hands all told. BY
230 board, boat secured, and proceeded full
! speed.
west at A. NJ observed vessel TO the north showing
distress signals bore for her; $780, spoke her She
proved to be tie French Transatlantic steamship St
(iermain with ruddcr carried away; $780, was boarded
by two officers; they agreed with Captain Thompson
transfer all the passengers $3.50, commenced to take
them board by 740 AL safely transferred with
ccption of about fifteen twenty at 10 passed haw
sers and took her in tow, shaping course for ST.
! Johns, N.F.
! September 23--six A. NJ. passed Cape Race, i've
miles distant; 430 T. NJ rounded Cape Spear; two tug
boats camc ou but, owing TO tho exorbitant demand
made agreed TO tow IN with the England, which
successfully donc ancnoring the ST. Gcrmain nt 6:45
| 7. NJ, although heavy swell on at the time ate
anchored IN thirteen athoms port anchor, sixty faith
| oms chain.
september 24-Five A. NJ. commenced to transfer
the remainder OF the passengers mails and baggage;
$3.50 all safely on board; weighed anchor and pro.
cecded to sea- 9:30 rounded Cape Spear and shaped
Cape Race, about Ave miles distant, from which take
| my departure.
1t rs anchored Staten lsand passed mod ica
vey and proceeded toward the city; three hours
dockcd ship at pier Al, dscmbarkcd passengers and
| WHAT rnE coMxAxpAxr OF GERMAN
| Through tho courtesy Of NJ. Louis do Bebian, tho
agent OF the General Transatlantic line, HERALD re-
potter was able TO obtain brief form from letter
| Commandant Reculoux, of tho ST. German, had sent
| him by ms purser NJ l.angmcsscr the Comma rs
story or the accident TO his vessel The Commandant
states TINS letter that the 10th inst tho steam
ship encountered violent northwest gale, accompa-
med by tremendous Tho gale was gre At that
ho had head the ship dead against the wind the sea-
at times, breaking completely over her Though sho
pitched and rolled terribly she proved entirely
worthy and lie was never any of dsas-
ON tho 18th inst, about eleven in the morning, II
was discovered that she did not obey her helm. On
going and investigating he found that the head post
OF the rudder had been broken. Tho vessel was still
board he had temporary ruddor constructed, but tho
violent that It was shortly carried away
Hc was about to construct another when, on the 3D.
a vessel espIed, which was sgnaed and which
proved to bc the England OF tho National linc. Com
mandant Recuoux. IN his letter. states that the pas
sengers were perfectly calm while tho vessel Was
drifting about, but tho appearance ol the
England and fearful lest another gallo would
| spring up they apparently not willing to tako
any additional risk and SO requested tho captain to
have transferred TO the England. Thor transfer
was begun without the slightest danger, and accom-
pshed in pcrfec, safety The captain Of tho England
adds Captain Reculoux, proposed to tow the ST. Ger
main to 81, Johns tnat being tho nearest port which
proposal after calling meeting OF his officers for
suaon, and they bong Of the opinion that the sug
Gestlon should be accepted, was agreed TO. Thirty
four hours afterward tho England mad towed the ST.
Gcrmnin 81 Johns In bis letter Captain Reculoux
speaks in the warmest terms OF Captain Thompson,
who he says. 'put himself entirely at the disposition
| Of the passengers oil the ST. Germain and makes
special request to NJ. dc Bcbau that ne will call upon
Captain Thompson and thank him on behalf Of the
General Transatlantic Company for his kindness and
gentlemany conduct toward his officers and crew, as
| well as toward the passengers oil tEO ST. Gcrmaln.
A PAssENGER's STATEMENT.
| The following statement was made TO "a HERALD re-
| porter by passenger Of the ST. German Tho first
three days alter leaving Plymouth the weather was
pleasant but the fourth day the wind came out ahead
gradually increasing in force until on saturday ana
Sunday the l6tb aud l7th iusI 1t blow gale with,
Sunday, a heavy head sea- About three o'clock Mon
day morning the rudder was broKon, but the fact was
concealed from the passengers TIL late afternoon
during which time efforts Tade to repair the
damage. II had been broken just at the shoulder,
tha. was held only by one pnte and the rest ON Tho
| nIpfeh ehn rndHe hn nj m WaQ m
the brakage by arranging to steer by the two CHAINS
side oi the rudder attached directly 10 the steam
steering apparatus The engines were started Monday
night but short time the steering again broke
down Tuesday morning, the 18th, attempt made
10 steer by vecrng astern, with chains the Two
halves OF a wine cask strongly strapped By the aid
OF and the sails the ship was enabled
night In north-northwcstly direction, bringing her
directly in the track OF inward bound steamers
from which we had dritlcd considerably. During this
time steering apparatus hsd been devised A
spare topmast moved 10 the quarter DECK and at
the foot OF the spar, at intervals OF about two ec six
holes were bored, and as many awning irons, ABOUT
eight long, inserted, standing like posts OF
fence. Cordage and chain were interviewer on these
posts and tho whole secured by chain passed over all
Cables rugged from tho two sides Tor
working this novel ruddor, and tackle depending
from strap in tho main CT osstrce
than half way from the loot OF tho SPAR by host
ing the spar with the rud1 attachment could
be launched and by It's own weight partially submerged
! in thc the spar thus remained suspended by
the tackle resting on the stern OF the ship as pivot
and guyed by Two watch tackles making fast at tho
| sides THIS substitute ior tho rrddcr was finally
launched on Thursday morning in the presence OF
thropg Of passengers who had patieE:y watched It's
during the preceding day. fcw revolu
tions OF the demonstrated the uscessness OF tho
gear, as the play was too great, there being no
Of securing the SPAR forced hithcr and thIthcr
| by every movement Of tho sea or the ship Besides
this old ruddef swinging free 10 and the other
side, neutraized what little effect y might otherwise
have had IN tho smooth nth which We had boen
favored during the two last days. The spar was, how
ever, again nostcd on deck, and some changes were
made In the arrangement OF weights aud cables, when
launched another time aud low revolutions Of
tho made but better result than before.
and in addition the spar split tho whole length Of
| tbc rudder attachment at the foot Tho failure of
| what regarded
our LAST HOPE
created ltto excitement among the 10 passengers
board, who began to realize the true position
ship In OF change OF weather. Until this day
Thursday sailing ships mad been constantly IN sight,
| but none had been siQnaIled The com manda ant of