New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-05
THE AURANIA SAFE IN PORT.


Independence Day, the new Cunard Line steamship
Aurania, which was disabled by the breaking of
her machinery on Sunday evening" was towed into
port yesterday by several American tugs. She
reached the dock of the company early in the even
lng with all hands on board well, but with dismal
prospect of her speedy restoration to active duty In
the Cunard feet. Up to the day of the accident,
the vessel had made extraordinary time across the
ocean on her first trip and her passengers exceeded
the officers In the warmth Of their enthusiasm over
tie going qualities of the ship. The breaking
of her machinery was the only noteworthy incident
of the voyage OF the Aursnia after she left Liver
pool eleven days ago. Judging by what she had
done for days the steamer would have reached
this city, II there had been trouble. on last Sun
dag evening
The Aurania started from Liverpool at 11:47 a. m.
on June 23 and reached Queenstown at 1884 p. N.
From june "a up to last Sunday her time ranged
from 240 to 429 miles q day. The weather was not
severe. but there were heavy rains and frequent
foes at times and occasionally her was against
heavy sea. On last Wednesday a delay of six
hours was caused by the heating Of some packing
about one of the low-pressure cylinders Without
that trouble, which temporarily stopped her prog
ress, she would have made, in the opinion Of her
officers at least 430 miles in the twenty-four
hours
THE BREAKING OF THE CONNECTING ROD.
The more serious accident occurred at $40 p M.
on Sunday evening. after the log had recorded
progress of 394 miles, Pilot John Lewellyn, OF the
pilot boat Mary L. Fish, No. 4. had been taken on
board only few minutes before. Without any
warning the connecting rod of the high pressure
cylinder snapped in twain. breaking on the upward
stroke, smashing the cylinder to atoms and crush
ing an immense hole In the column. In moment
tbc rfn lad yoluunea of
steam while pieces of shattered metal were flying in
every direction. The report and the Kissing of
escaping steam heard all over the vessel, but
the passengers displayed no sign of panic Those
who were on deck sprang TO their feet and for few
minutes there was the commoti0n which always
occurs when crowds realize that some
thing unusual has occurred. Most per-
sons realized that accident had occurred TO the
machinery of the steamer, but when its nature had
been explained by the officers calm was restored and
the ordinary occupations of the ocean travellers
were resumed.
When the connecting-rod broke Second Engineer
A. L. Lambert and two assistants were In the
engine room. Mono Of them was injured either by
scalds or bruises from the flying metal. Mr.. Lam
bert was in the stokeroom at the time. and the
moment he heard the report OF the burst cylinder
he rushed through the clouds of vapor and shut of
the steam. ftnQ IL uOb Dccu ioi pi'ihpe "SbD"'
the damage done would probably have been greater.
In appreciation Of his courage the passengers OF the
ship raised purse of about $3.50 and presented 1t
TO Mr.. Lambert on Monday afternoon.
When the accident occurred the Aurania was about
twelve miles from Shinnecock light ht-house which
lay 10 tho North northeast. This is the next light
20 the lighthouse at Montauk Point. the extreme
eastern end OF Long Island As soon as the engines
had been stopped all possible sail was set and the
steamer proceeded slowly on her way till p. m.
Sunday. Then she was hailed by pilot boat No. %,
and by the latter word Of the accident and q
request for assistance sent TO the agents of the
Cunard Line in this city. The Aurania soon began
TO drift somewhat toward the southwest and TO
prevent the possibility Of her reaching dangerous
proximity TO shore her anchor was lowered with
seventy-ivo fathoms of chain into forty fathoms OF
water. This was about p. M on Monday. AT
445 D. M on the same day the the vessel weig he'd
anchor and made all sail
THE STEAMER FOUND BY TUG-BoArs.
Meantime on receiving word OF the disaster to
the Aurania, Vernon II. Brown d Co., the agents
here of the Cunard Line had sent out several of the
most powerful tug g-boats in this harbor. The A. +.
Walcott and the Goodwin returned on Tuesday
evening to their warves after frutless search for
the disabled steamer ddring Monday night The
tug-boat Germania. from the Atlantic Docks,
BROOKLYN kept MP her quest and bore of the honor
of first bang the Aurana at 500 q. m. OF Tues
day. The latter was then seventy seven miies east
of Sandy Hook. The Gcrmania mmt diately TOOK
the steamer in tow ard by her unaided efforts made
twenty miles n about twenty-five hours; Az Soo
u. M on Tuesday Fire Island was Visible to the
people on the steamer. About o'clock yesterday
also from the Atlantic Docks, came alongside
and took tho hswsers on the port bow OF the
Anrania. About / o'clock in the afternoon. the
from staten Island. and the GOODMAN ana
the mail boat Virginia Seymour reached the steamer
and lent their aid to her progress.
The seyuour left the dock OF the Cunard Com
pany at about 9:30 a. IN. yesterday Warren Cur
rier of V. II. Brown X Co, was on board win tw9
boarding officers of tho Custom House. Health
Officer William NJ. Saith was taken on at Quaraan-
tine ne having consented to go down to meet tne
incoming steamer SO rs 10 make MS e1anl'nalio,h
aud permit those of the cabin passengers 10 Ioucn
the CITY on the mail boat who did not care TO wait
for the towing up of the Auranin. After Dr.
Smith had made his examination the seymour re-
turned TO the city with about III oi 'no aI
hOurs before the arrival of the steamer. At p III;
the Aurania passed Sandy Hook; she reached
Quarantine at about p, M ana mere Mas ,a pOiuua
hv Officer Edward EsterbrOok, from the revenue
cutter Washington Captain fnlinps. Moro thaii
two nours later the Aurania reached her dock ana
the passengers disembarked.
CAPTAIN HAINss STATEMENT.
The officers of the Aurania as follows: Com
mander, w. II. F. Hams; first officer. Charles
Marsh. second officer Charles McWhinney; third
officer, benjamin Thomas fifth officer Peter Hood;
sixth officer, Thomas Taylor; chief engineer, A.
Brown; purser, ID. S. Wallace, and surgeon, DIR. de
We're Hill. Captain Hams has been twenty-five
years in the companys service, and the osner ON
GERS have long records OF service Cap'ain ha'iiS
said to "a TRIBUNE reporter: II, NJ
There is no story to tell about our trip we
made splendd time until tho accident ana tnereis no
dnnht Thar fhe AuranIa IS the finest ocean steamer
aaoat The passengers were little disturbed by the
accident aud behaved themselves well during our
enforceJ DELAY of two days. 1t Is mposs ble 20 es-
t;mate the damage that has been done to the
machinery. 1t was built by j. & 5;
Thompson of Glasgow. Scotland, ana
suppose that the vessel will have to be taken 10
them for repairs Unless receive other Instructions
from England shall take the vessel back 70 Eng.
land under sail, of course without passengers pns
cannot tell about that positively until after the
Inspection by the United States Inspection Bureau
THE pURseR's RECORD.