The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-11-11

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",ssip Arizona, OF the Guion Line. sailed
New York on the morning OF Tues
j.." November AGh, having on board 800
"t.,N tQid-paSSengerS and crew.
81 rhe weather encountered on ieaving New
,.,~y vas most propitiouS, aud her first
t,,s log showed that $50 miles had been
W,r.rsed. Three hundred and siXty.threc
.;,c. were made in the second days run.
,bc Jog Of the third day showed the
sane result.
r5a Arizona was now we'll on the banks
Newfoundland. and one day more would
[,ya w, her beyond their icc-infcSted shore.
,rpr dinner on Friday, according TO their
4 want. the ladies sat in the saloon and wbiled
ss ,-,v the hours with elceiul song. while q
Y ~inlber az the gentlemen occnpicd Social
uaH" Uhc >mokinS.room) and amused them
.t.yc> SrIln. pools on the run at auction.
\ TERRIBLE INTERRUPTION.
Suddenly there was crash, and the
,a,ocv-cathcrer and his gold and silver were
rrr,rd on the floor. The jibing voices
"oa.rA and terror seized upon every soul.
1.-THE occupants OF the room were sprawl.
.,. An the floor, and the rest were rushing
i~5,, the place With blanched faces and pal
ling hearts. The crash was terrific, and,
> the stout hull of the magnificent ship
.rambied from the shock, the boidest heart
rrrv still. Terror was depicted on many
i@.e<. bat the only cry heard was that OF
-y,-n,ng voices Of brave men--
steady, gentlemen, steady! Keep
c29,"
leaving The snip in charge OF the officer OF
me watch, john Wynn Jones. Al was
then safe. and as the night, though over
ce.,. was no; dark, no danger was apprc-
hoaded. Ten minutes later The ship, going
.f,onmoSt speed, plunged head on into a
mountain Of ice. The huge ship tremblcd
,i:,. an aspen leaf and recoiled, but again
.i:anced and struck the iceberg, but for
,wq.cly with diminished force. The first
h.w had stove in her bows, crushing them
o.. though they were made Of cardboard.
I Tons Of ice fell upon the decks or were
forced through the gaping hole in the bow.
Frrl fifteen feet OF the iron-work bad been
broken. bent, twisted, and forced inward,
ir.yi.y IN awful chasm, through which the
wave, dashed. l. was us though huge
cutter bad chopped Off the bows, leaving
the Lull exposed.
TIE SHOCK ~ THE SALOON.
'vhc shock o! ihc collision WAS felt in the
..,non even more severely than on the up
rcr deck. At The moment il occurred Miss
Go>Ictt wa riaying the accompaniment to
,1n n'cc. see Our Oars with FcathcrCd
sarar." which was being sung by some Ia
fIrs and Gentlemen. In the midst OF the
song the shock threw the occupants Of the
S.!ooN violently from their seats.
On deck the scene was full OF terror.
(;,ouD, Of silent passengers were gathered,
eyutc,ing every moment to be engulicd ia
The dark wa;ers. Towering above the yes
,rS proW was the huge, shadowy mass OF
The mons rous iceberg. 1t extended some
i03 feet across the bows, and three tall
1,nnacleS rose to the height Of sixty or
seventy feet. Should one Of these ice-stee-
pcs iopplo over, the fate OF ship and pas
,enccrs would be sealed. The crash OF the
collision. the rush OF the passengers to the
deck, had occupied but minute. Captain
Joars had not retired, aud Immediately
=, ra,hcd 10 The bridge. His first words
n We're:
NV God. mnn. where were your eyes y
!. He vas perfectly cool, and at once gave
orders 10 back the engines, and, calling al
hand, on deck, ordered the helm TO be pu
hard 10 starboard.
\ few moments later we parted company
with the iceberg, which floaied away witt
ii> three tail pinacleS distinctly Visibl,
against the night sky. AS it faded into tbt
Gloom it presented the appearance OF ;
phantom thrcC-masted vessel.
AWFUL. UNCERTAINTY.
Nh0r. as was the time occupied in thl.
manuuyre, i offered an opportunity to CSti
mate the damage we had sustained. Tht
hrizona'S bows were completely stove in
and 4 tangled mass OF iron plates and braces
and stays was heaped up IN friglliful con
fusion where few moments before shape
II Prov had elicit the waves. How grea
Was the damngc done none could say, bu
tie wciknown formation Of icebergs lcf
the worst 10 be feared.
y thorough examination OF the fore-holC
slowed the Arizona to he water-tight. This
iact considerably ;ranGui,ized the minds o.
Ii" passengers, and gradually they returned
/, the saloon. When they were all assem-
brA he Rev. J. NJ. Ross rose, and in few
t"".n" words suggested that prayers should
he offered 10 God III thanks for the mercy
i L" had 50 "TaciouSiy shown. Hardly haC
IA; Tie suggestion been uttered when the as
u &mbled passengers knelt and Joined in ap
y isnpriatc PRAYER. Then the hymn Praise
tod from Whom All Blessings Flow" was
>Gag with an impressive earnestness but
seldom witnessed in cathedral aisles. Heart
ii! >obS mingled With the chant, and tears
Stood in strong mems eyes.
NEGLIGENT WATCH.
When the excitement had Gained down
lien began 10 ask how the catastrophe had
"lil!t". ne night, though OVERCAST, was
clear, and it WAS argued that il 4 proper
lookout had been maintained the iceberg
must have been seen in time to enable us 10
avoid it or else TO diminish the force OF the
collision. Mr.. William Roper, OF Newcas-
te.on-iync. England, stated that the sailors
OF tie lookout had admitted to him that
they were not at their posts iii the PROV OF
Tie ship when the collision occurred. The
excuse offered for this dcreliction OF duty
was The poor one that the fore part OF the
Ship had been painted during the day. Next
Gay the sailors wished 10 deny this admiS-
son, but several Of the passengers who
were on deck confirmed Dir. Roper'S state
Arnt. There IS every reason TO believe
t"ai had proper outlook been maintained
lue catastrophe would have been avoided.
It WAS with n feeling of relief the pas
>eogers learned that the captain had de-
Gdtd 10 head fer the port OF st. Johns,
!. AsNfJUndtand, and that the steamer was
Il '3By ploughing her way toward land.
Tins morning pilot came aboard ana
niou@bt the Arizona safely into port, ana
Tue rescued passengers FASTENED from her
uschs to the various churches 10 give God
tAaHks for their wonderful deliyerance
ltom DEATH
ESCAPE UNPRECEDENTED.
IFO"Qs OF hardy sailors gathered during
,Ge DAY TO gaze on the awful breach made
9y The collision, and all are agreed that
@Svef another ship had such an escape.