Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-20
OCEAN PERILs IN MID. WINTER
The Alaska. Recent Experience.


During week before last much anxiety was
felt in New York over the non. arrival of the
new and fast steamship Alaska Of the Guion
line-one Of the finest vessels of the transat.
lautio feet. The Alaska was due at New York
on Sunday, Feb. l, and arrived there on Sun
day, the Sth, Just one week late. II was found
that the delay was caused by the breaking Of
her rudder when a week out and that she
had since been making her way into port
with another steamer in tow which she used
as a rudder. The story Of the voyage is thus
told
The Alaska left Queenstown on Jan. %,
and as soon as she dropped the Itish coast
began 20 experience heavy weather. On
Monday, the 26th, It blew a gale aud the ship
was soon pluDgpg into a tremendous bead
sea. There were 1872 cabin aud 1853 steerage
passengers on the Alaska, and though they
realized they werein fora stormy passage they
had entire confidence in the ship and her Off.
GERS, and made arrangements to while away the
time az best they could. There was an unin-
terrupted poker party in the smoking room,
concerts we're given 10 the cabin, and in the
dim-ht steerage the emigrants sang songs Of
the land they we're leaving while the great
waves roared and thundered against the ho-
low bows. On the morning of January 27
the Alaska was fairly in the thick of the
storm, and from that time until February 2
she fought her way westward in the belt Of
westerly gales and high seas. Every mile
was q fierce battle with one Of the most ter
rife storms that has been encountered on the
North Atlantic for years, and one in which q
less sesworthy ship must inevitably have
foundered.
Ga the morning OF February the storm
had somewhat sbated but now a new dan
ger threatened, for at 8 O'Clock that morning
thu ahin sudH.ply rafnaaA 10 has har hal I'm
and It WAS found that the rudder was broken.
An effort was made TO steer the ship by
drag, but the sea was 30 rough that 1t could
not be done. Sail was put on the ship to
keep her head in the wind and prevent her
preaching TO. This was partially successful.
The Alaska was about 80 miles southeast Of
Sable Island of the coast Of Nova Scotia at
the time she broke her rudder, and by noon
Of the next day had drifted 90 miles in
southwesterly direction. A strong northwest
wind, accompanied by snow squalls, set in
and at midnight on the 80 1t was blowing a
gale again. Sharp lookout was kept for a
passing ship, and on the evening Of the 4th,
after drifting for 36 hours, q steamers lights
were seen. The Alaska i'm edately run up
signals Of distress and the unknown steamer,
which proved TO be the Lake Winnipeg, came
up to her.
The wind and the sea had abated by this
time, and Captain Murray went aboard the
Lake Winnipeg, explained the situation to
Captain Jackson and requested the use Of his
ship as a rudder. That night the Winnipeg
lay by the Alaska and at day bresk the next
morning two chain cables were run out over
the quarters Of the Alaska aud made fast to
the Lake Winnipeg's bows Then the two
steamers he AIDED for New York. They got
along we'll, but proceeded slowly. The meth
cd Of steering WAS this: When the Alaska
wanted to port her helm she signalled to the
Lake Winnipeg to starboard hers. This
threw the head Of the Winnipeg over to port,
and drew hard on the starbosrd cable, which
threw the head Of the Alaska TO starbosrd.
When the Alaska wanted to staTboard her
helm the operation was reversed.
On the second night after the Alaska took
the Winnipeg in tow the gale became so
fierce that both cables parted at midnight.
All the next day the gale was so fierce that
no attempt was made to connect the ships
again. About II O'Clock that night the sea
aud wind went down and the Alaska stopped
to fasten again to the Lake Winnipeg II
was 2 o'clock the next morning before the
steamers were ready to proceed. At noon Of
that day pilot was taken ON board and at
4:35 in the afternoon the Alaska anchored
outside the bar at Sandy Hook to wait for
the next mornings tide.
While the Alaska lay of the hook on Sun
day night a meeting Of the cabin passengers
was held at which resolutions expressing
gratitude to the officers and crew for their
work in bringing the ship safely TO port we're
passed, and the sum of Gl50 was collected
to be divided among them. The Lake Win
nipeg will be entitled to salvage for the aid
she rendered to the Alaska. The amount will
be settled by arbitration.