Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-24
rHE STEAMSHIP DIsAsrFK.
The Captain Of the Sultan Blames the
Ohicers Of the Cimbria.
New York, Jan %.

London proofs of Hamburg papers received
here, show that the Cimbria was struck forty
feet from her bow. After making she breach.
the Sultan scraped along the Cimbria. and
completely rolled up her iron plates. Ii Is
evident that the blow must have been ire
mendous. The papers also print brief re-
port of what has transpired. of statements
made BY the captain of the Sultan before the
British consul, giving the part laying the
blame on the Cimbria in large type, with
notes of exclamation. One of the boats res
cued by tfem contained thirty persons, and
the other only nine. The latter had been
tossing about nipe hours, and was water
logged. All the occupants could do was to
keep themselves from being dashed away
by graspng the thwarts. The statement con-
corning the death of Capt. Hanson, who was
seen on the bridge TO the last, and of the first
officer, who was seen swimming after the
CImbria had sunk, concludes with the words
"true bis zum todea, faithful unto DEATH.
HAMBURG, Jan %.
According to the statement of another sur
vivor of the disaster to the steamship CHM
bria, as late as two O'Clock Friday morning.
Capt. Hanson received report that the
Cimbrias lights were burning properly. The
breach made BY the collision was SO great
that the Cimbria Immediately lay right over,
with portion of her deck under water.
Upon an attempt being made to lower boats,
one of them capsized Immediately. The time
that elapsed between the crash and final SINK
ing of the Cimbria was only fifteen minutes.
The 80 persons brought into Cuxhaven had
been occupants of two boats. The seventeen
persons saved were brought in By the Theta.
1t appears that there were also reports OF an
other lot of nine or eleven persons saved,
and thus all the boats that left the Cimbra
are accounted for.
HAMBURG, Jan %,
most searching official inspection of the
steamer Sultan. which ran into the Cimbria,
has been made, from which it appears that
the damage to her is far more serious than
was at first believed. According to the testi-
mony of competent sea-taring people, the
Sultan displayed marvellous cleverness and
rapidity in stopping the leak, AMI it is scarce
| Nv conceivable how the vessel ever succeeded
in reaching Hamburg.
HAMBURG, Jan 90.
| The captain of the Sultan, in his official
statements, says that before the fog set in he
had been going at the rate OF nine knots an
| hour, and that during the fog he reduced his
| speed to four knots, which is the lowest rate
of speed consistent with keeping the steering
wav on the vessel. He nether heard nor
saw any kind of signals, until suddenly, at a
distance of little more than two ships
lengths. the Cimbria's green light appeared.
He Immediately, in accordance with rules,
endeavOred to give way. He thou ght he
would be able to get clear, when some incor-
rect steering occurred aboard the Cimbria,
and suddenly he saw the red light of another
steamer Git should be remembered here that
probably the Cimbria's red light was dis
played by the alteration of her course) and
almost simultaneously with the appearance
of the red light, he felt the shock.
During the time the leak of his vessel was
being repaired, he constantly gave signals
by blue lights and blowing of the steam
whistle. When the repairs had been COM
pleted, he approached as near to the scene of
the collision as he could without endangering
his own vessel but owing to the dense fog,
he saw nothing. He waited about until
o'clock Friday morning.
As proof of the correctness of his state
ment, he points to the lateness of the time at
which he arrived at Cuxhaven. 1t is consid-
cred a great point in off .ial investigation, to
prove the accuracy of this statement. Ac-
cordng to the statements ofpersons intimate
ly acquainted with the captain of the Sultan,
both he and the first officer are thoroughly
competent and careful sailors and specially
noted for the maintenance of strict discipline.
NEW YORK, Jan %
Kernhardt & Co. have received the follow
ing message from the Hamburg American
Packet Company at Hsnburg: All steamers
| sent out in search of the Cimbria's boats have
returned, and report no trace of survivors.