Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-27

their credit no cry or movement was
made which might embarrass the crew
in their work.
At this moment rumor began to cir
culate that several of the crew had been
crushed in their hunks and were buried
beneath the mass of iron and the ice
which had been forced through the gap
made by the collision. 1t was only too
true. Three unfortunates, bruised and
bloody, were helped on deck, and their
woe-begone appearance did much to
increase the terror Of the situation.
The feeling that the ship was sinking
caused several gentlemen to request
Mr.. Pierrepont Edwards, the British
Vice Consul, to urge the Captain to
have the boats prepare ed This he
promised to do, and one beat was low
cred, after considerable delay, during
which the first officer descended to
make an examination of the nature of
the fracture. When he returned on
board it was announced that the steam
ship would lie to during the night. A
thorough examination of the fore hold
showed the Arizona to be water-tight.
This fact considerably tranquilized
the minds of the passengers, and grad
ually they returned TO the saloon. When
they were all assembled the Rev, j. M.
Ross rose, and in few feeling words
suggested that prayers should be Of
fered to God in thanks for the mercy
he had so graciously shown. Hardly
had the suggestion been uttered when
the assembled passengers knelt and
joined in appropriate prayer. Then
the hymn, " Praise God from whom all
blessings fow,'' was sung with an inn
pressiVe earnestness but seldom wit
messed in cathedral aisles. Heartfelt
sobs mingled with the chant and tears
stood in strong mems eyes.
When the excitement calmed down
men began to ask how the catastrophe
had befallen. The night, though over
cast, was clear, and it was argued that
if proper lookout had been maintain
ed the iceberg must have been seen in
time to enable us to avoid it or else to
diminish the force of the collision. Mr..
William Roper, of Newcastle-o on Tyne,
England, stated that the sailors on the
lookout had admitted to him that they
were not at their posts in the PROV of
the ship when the collision occurred.
The excuse offered for this dereliction
of duty was the poor one that the fore
part of the ship had been painted dur
ing the day. Next day the sailors wish
ed to deny this admission, but several
of the passengers who were on deck
confirmed Mr.. Roper's statement.
There is every reason to believe that,
had a proper lookout been maintained,
the catastrophe would have been avoid
ed.
Considerable difficulty was expert
oncedi in launching the single boat which |
was lowered into the water, though |
The sea was calm as a miIl-pond, and
It was the universal conviction of the
passengers that had the Arizona sunk
within an hour after the collision not a
soul would have escaped. Fortunately
jhe very violence of the collision snap
ped the iron plates of the ships sides
as though they were of glass, and so
broke the force Of the blow upon the
est of the hull Beyond the immediate
parts crushed not riVet started, and
or once the Watertight bulkhead prov
ID the safety Of passengers and steam
hip. Still there was little faith in this
rail partition. While the sea continued
aim it might keep out the water, but
was felt that the first heavy sea
into the yawning breach would
ear the plates asunder. r-r
1t was, therefore, with a feeling of
elief the passengers learned that Mr.. /,
!. B. GuiOn, on consultation with the
]aptain, had decided to head for the
ort of St. Johns, Newfoundland, and
hat the steamer was slowly ploughing /,
er way toward land. .7.e- -,
1t was now past midnight, but few
'ere, inclined to turn in, Gradually
ne ladies withdrew to their cabins, but ,
goodly number Of the male passen-
ers merely stretched themselves on ,
le saloon seats and gradually forgot !
le perilsOf the night Fortunatelythe :
Gather continued ealm4and the morn h
e of Saturday brokewarm and balmy, !
ling passengers and crew with re- n
ewedl hqP9p ghappya exitlfronl thsiEd+
9rilous position. Toward eight o. clock ]
the evening, lights on the Newfound- :
nd coast came intorview, and by ten (
clock the welcome glimmering Of the =
wn was seen, the il1umined windows q
like diamonds in the rock :
,und coast. Signal guns were fired =
r pilots, but no response came, and !
Q were compelled to beat up and down :,
lring the night in the disabled ship !,
] the morning dawned \
Thismorning a pilot came aboard 4
ID brought the Arizona safely into :,
,rt, and the rescued passengers has =
ned from her decks to the various !,
urohes to give God thanks for their i
deliverance from death. st. =
kD's Cor. NJ Y. HerGld, NoU. 8. y y
in
ViCtOrlO's Fight el