The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-13
The Loss Of the Noting Hill.
TIE DESPERATE STRUGGLE WHICH THE GRE
MADE FOR LIFE.
New York Times.I


MADE FOR LIFE.
New York Timesl
The crew Of the wrecked steamer Not
TIM Hill, who arrived in this city on the
State Of Nebraska, have story to tell OF
their narrow escape from death which
EQUALS i'm its details of the struggle for life
and the providenti1l rescue many tales OF
romance and yarns OF the forecastle. Early
on saturday morning, February I'd. while
the Noting Hill was under only half head
way. steaming through dense fog for this
city, the FOG suddenly lifted. The wind
had shifted from west-southwest to west
northwest. The officers had in the fog man.
aged to keep in clear water, and, until it
lifted. they knew nothing Of the danger
which surrounded them. They then found
tbeyessel in the midst Of vast ice flow. In
every direction, as far as the eye could reach,
there were visible vast fields OF detached
ice, no unusual sight at this season Of the
year. il is true. But the weather was very
rough aud the ice seemed to be shutting
down on the Inflated vessel. About 0
O'Clock the steamer slowed up still more
and made for the southwark. At 1880
there was n terrific crash and cracking on
the port side The vessel had run into
huge cake OF ice which showed about
twelve feet above the water and seemed
about fifty feet in width and Of very great
length. This coming with great force had
struck the vessel terrific blow abreast the
engine-room. IL lifted her from the water
as II she were a toy. She fell back against
the great ice-cake with dull thud. and
trembled n il about to fall to pieces. Then
came terrible panic in the crew terrible
because the forty-seven cattle droyers, who
were working their way back, lost all con-
troll OF their senses, and were for several
minutes like body OF crazy men.
Captain Bennett and his officers fairly
drove sense back into the men by inform
log them that the only way In which they
could save their lives was by strict ODE
dience TO orders. Three or four times the
vessel banged up against the foe with ter
rible violence. When the vessel slid past
her DESTROYER the engineers found that the
pounding had cracked the heavy steel
plates for a distance OF some fifteen feet in
a straight line fore and aft. Through this
crack they could easily have forced their
hand, and there was hole foot IN dame
ter at the point where the foe had first
struck the plate with its sharp corner.
~ NNtNA lAcuNu AZ WIN iOANt
when the vessel rolled to port, as though
We're forced into the vessel with pump.
II was bitterly cold; there was ice every
Whefe To add TO the troubles. the great
noe struck the propeller screw and dis
aoled the port engine. Captain Bennett
sci men TO work with blankets, wedges,
and planks irving to stop the crack, which
was visible. These did but little good,
however, for the water poured in in such
VOLUMES as 10 affect the steam pipes and
condense the steam, so that 1t was with the
greatest difficulty that the pumps could be
made to work. The stoke-hole filed rapidly
ana the men were driven out, although
some OF them worked there until the water
was up TO their waists and 1t was impossi-
Ole Tor them 10 stand. Every pump was
manned aud every man worked for dear
Iue. The eight alright compartments
were fastened az securely as possible. The
wafer seemed to gain constantly, and the
Naptain feared the vessel would founder. |
Eaca OF the six boats was stocked with
weeks provisions for eighteen men each, |
ana The blue lights and rockets were equal |
y divided between them. The signal |
hass, Assistance required--in distress" |
were hoisted, aud both the English and |
American flags We're hoisted OF the peak. |
lacks down. Nine miles TO the nortll- |
ward the crew OF the laundering vessel |
could see bark-rigged, iour-masted !
steamer. with a black funnel, making 10 the !
north, and also In the ice. Tue chief Off |
Ger and crew left the Noting Hill. and !
made for the steamer, which they supposed |
RON her course, 10 be bound for Boston. |
They pulled five miles toward her, and |
though she was but four miles away, she |
refused 10 answer the signals OF distress, |
which must have been seen, as the officers
q The Noting Hill say they plainly saw
her yards from their deck. As she passed
Vul Of sight all hope Of rescue seemed to
When the chief officer returned the crew
We, were SCI 10 work TO keep their vessel ailoat.
NE cargo OF sugar, indigo, glue, spirits,
onndy, and bales OF linseed, miIIet-seed.
nenf~seed. and bales OF rigs were dumped
mo the sea. The vessel hove 10 under
canvas and driIted TO the southwark. With
eaiy such intervals US were necessary 10
yuain food. the men worked steadily at
sae piimps and at baling the water out with
buckets. On Monday the steamer drifted |
s'eaf OF the Ice, aud canvas was thrown |
ou 10 stop the holes, bat did no
sooa- The engine.room began TO an, |
saa at dusk the engineers were stand. |
mg ~ water waist-deep, with a pres.
~ 81 - pounds Of steam, trying to work |
Is pumps. Compartment 10. s was filed |
suh water. On Monday evening Com
MItment No. Q fuddenly began 10 on, In.
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