The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-01-24
THE CIMBRIA.
The Story of the Captain of the
Sultan.
NO MORE SURVIVORS OF THE WRECK
HEARD FROM.

LONDON, Jan. %. The proofs of Hamburg
papeas received here show that the Cimbria
was struck fifty feet from her bow, After
making the breach the Sultan scraped along
the Cimbria and completely rolled up her iron
plates II is evident that the blow must have
been tremendous. The papers also print a
brief report of what has transpired OF state
ments made by the captain of the Sultan be-
fore the British consul. giving the part laying
the blame on the Cimbria in large type with
notes of explanation. One of the boats res
cued by the Theta contained thirty persons,
the others only nine. The latter had been
tossing about nine hours and was waterlogged
All the occupants could do was to keep them
selves from being washed away by graspipg
the thwarts. A statement concerning the
deaths OF Capt. Hansen, who was seen on tho
bridge to the last, of the first officer, who was
seen swimming after the Cimbria had sunk,
concludes with the words, Faithful until
deaIh."
HAMBURG, Jan. ga most searching official
inspection of the steamer Sultan, which ran
into the Cimbria, has been made, from which
1t appears the damage to her is far more seri-
GUS than at first believed. According to the
testimony OF competent seafaring people the
crew OF the Sultan displayed marvellous cley-
erness and rapidity in stopping the leak, andit
is scarcely conceivable how the vessel ever
succeeded ia reaching Hamburg.
The captain OF the Sultan, in an official
statement, says that before the fog set in he
had been going nine knots an hour and during
the fog he reduced his speed to four knots.
which is the lowest rate of speed consistent
with keeping steering way on the vessel. He
neither heard nor saw any kind of signals un-
I'll suddenly, at a distance of little more than
two ships lengths the Cimbria's green light ap-
peared. He Immediately, in accordance with
the rules, endeavored TO give way. He thought
she should be able to get clear, when some in
correct steering occurred aboard the Cimbria
and suddenly he saw the red light of another
steamer. It should be remarked here that
probably the Cimbria's red light was displayed
by the alteration of her course.) Almost sir-
utaneously with the appearance of the red
light he felt shock. Daring the time the
gave signals by blue lights and blowing steam
whistles When the repairs had been effected
he approached as nearly to the scene of collis-
ion as he could without endangering his own
vessel. Owing to the dense fog he saw moth
ing. He waited about until O'Clock Friday
morning. As proof of the correctness OF his
ststement he points to the lateness OF the time
at which he arrived at Cuxhsven. 1t is con-
sidered great point in the official investiga-
ton will be to prove the accuracy Of this state
meut According to sta iements of persons in-
tinately acquainted with the captain Of the
Sultan, both he and the first officer are thor
oughly competent and careful sailors, and spec
Tally noted Tor maintenance of strict discipline.
NEW YORK, jan. 23.-Kernhardt & Co. have
received the following message from the
Hamburg American Packet Company at HAM
burg:
All the steamers sent out in search of the Cim-
bria's boats have returned and report no trace of
survivors.
Twenty-Five thousand pounds have been de-
manded as surety for the steamer Sultan.