Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-27
The GuiOn Steamer Arizona Crashes
Into an Iceberg.

sengers and crew. She was the pioneer
ship of fleet destined to compete in
fleetness and c0mmodiousness with the
White Star line, and was AGA feet long,
forty-siX feet in breadth of beam and
thirty-seVen feet in depth of hold. She
had gross tonnage Of 5, 400 tons. Her
engines nominally were of 1900 horse
power, working up to 5000 indicated;
nor did her performance belle her
promises.
Three hundred and sixty-three miles
were made in the second days. run,
and the log of the third day showed the
same result.
The Arizona was now well on the
Banks of Newfoundland, and one day
more would have put her beyond their
iCe-infested shore. Not an hours fog
had been encountered, and even the
nights were clear. Under these cir
cumstances Captain Thomas Jones,
who commanded, felt justified in run
ming his ship at full speed, and an av-
erage rate of fifteen miles an hour was
maintained on the third day out. The
wind, which had been favorable,
chopped round, and all sail was taken
down. The fourth day resembled its
predecessors and brought us braeing,
enjoyable weather. Not threatening
cloud was in the sky and the wind was
Just sufficient to ripple the surface of
the ocean.
After dinner, on Friday, according to
their wont, the ladies SAT in the saloon
and whiled away the hours with gleeful
song, while number of the gentlemen
occupied "SOcial Hall (the smoking
room) and amused themselves selling
pools on the run at auction.
Suddenly there was q crash and the
money gatherer and his gold and silver
were hurled on the floor. The iibing
voices ceased and terror seized upon
every soul. Half the occupants of the
room were sprawling on the floor and
the rest were rushing from the place
with blanched faces and palpitating
hearts. The crash was terrific, and as
the stout hull of the magnificent ship
trembled from the shock the boldest
heart grew still. Terror was depicted
on many faces, but the only cry heard
was that of warning voices Of brave
men
Steady, gentlemen, steady! Keep
cool!'
Brave words, not spoken in vain!
The first movement of alarm died away
and true manhood resumed it's sway. |
During the hours of terror which fol-
lowed no coward word was spoken.
Save in few instances the conduct of
jhe passengers was magnificent and the
officers did their duty like men.
Captain Jones had quilted the bridge
vt nine o'clock, leaving the ship in
charge of the officer of the watch, John
Wynn Jones. All was then safe, and
Us the night, though overcast, was not
tark, no danger was apprehended. Ten
minutes later the ship, going at top
most speed, plunged head on into
mountain of ice. The huge ship trem-
lied like an aspen leaf and recoiled,
,ut again advanced and struck the ice
'erg, but fortunately with diminished
orce. The first blow had stove in her
lows, crushing them as though they
we're made of cardboard. Tons of ice
ell upon the decks or were forced
trough the gaping hole in the bow.
'ull fifteen feet of the iron work had
cen broken, bent, twisted and forced
inward, leaving an awful chasm,
trough which the waves dashed. It
yas as though huge cutter had chop
ed off the bows, leaving the hull ex.
osed.
The shock Of the collision was felt in
10 saloon even more severely than on
le upper deck. Many ladies were +
'ightened almost to death. They !
ought refuge in each others arms and ]
ept from very terror, at the unknown
which all felt had over !
ken them. Some few showed remark /
ole GOODNESS and nerve and tried their {,
9st to console their more timorous sis 4
RS. In this good work they were /
ded by husbands and friends, who I
'ught to conceal their own anxiety the I,
stter to cheer the falling spirits of /,
eir fair companions, q
On deck the scene was full Of terror. {,
roups Of silent passengers were gath 81
ed, expecting every moment to be en- b
llfed in the dark waters. Towering fl
,ove the vessel prov was the huge, W
adowy mass of the monstrous Ice d
'rg. 1t extended some five hundred ti
ct across the bows and three tall
nnacles rose to the height of sixty or Al
venty feet. Should one of these ice n,
7eples topple over the fate of ship te
ID passengers would be sealed. The q
ash of the collision, the rush of the W
.ssengers to the deck, had occupied il
TIA minute. Captain Jones had not
tired, and Immediately rushed to the
idge, His first words were:
" My God, men, where were your
esp" ar
He was perfectly cool, and at once hi
We orders to back the engines, and, M
ling all hands on deck, ordered the th
I'm to be put hard to starboard. al
A few moments later we parted com of
ny with the iceberg, which hoated VI
lay with its three tall pinnacles dis
city visible against the night sky. er
it faded into the gloom it presented by
appearance Of a phantom three in
lsted vessel WI
Short as was the time occupied in this in
ln@uvre, it offered an opportunity to fol
innate the damage we had sustained. tn
% ArizOna's bows were completely fol
we in, and q tangled mass OF iron wi