Morris tribune., 1886-10-27
HOW CAPT. GRACE DIED.
PANIC AND DEATH ON BOARD THE
STEAMER AMERICA.

The Captains Heroic Exposure to the
Driven Insane by Fright-The Dreaded
Cry of Fire" Adds Terror to the Scene
A Leap Overheard.
NEW YORK, Oct 25.--The death Of Capt
Grace of the steamer America, which was
announced in these dispatches yesterday, is
surrounded by halo of heroisn The noble
captain died from congestive chill brought
on by being exposed to severe storm for
forty-two hours. The story as taken from
the log of the vessel is as follows: s#
The America left Queenstown on Thursday
morning a week ago, with fair weather, but
wi thin two hours after leaving the harbor a
storm came up, which the officers Of the ship
describe as the most violent that the vessel
ever passed through. Capt. Grace went to
the bridge at the first sign of bad weather
and remained there for forty-two hours, ex-
posed not only to the wind and
rain but to the waves, which, during
Thursday night, washed clear over the
bridge, filling the ifeboats with water and
clearing everything from the decks that the
force of ten feet of water could move In
the midst Of the storm a stoGer, who had
narrowly escaped being hurled into the tire
by the pitc hing of the vessel, deserted his
post and rushed up on deck with the ayowed
intention OF jumping overheard rather than
risk again the danger of his work. he was
forced back to the furnace-room, but his
fright soon developed into insanity, and he
was found crouching between two furnaces
in abject terror, awaiting another opportu-
nifty to commit suicide. He was placed in
iron.
At the same time a panic was created III
the steerage by the alarm of Fire, and
several hundred men and women rushed to
the matches endeavoring to get to the boats.
Dense volumes of what seemed TO be smoke
throughout the ship caused the alarm, and
the officers in charge had desperate fight
for some time to control the frightened
Storage passengers. Investigation showed
that the "smoke" was merely steam caused
by some water having washed over hot
steam-pipes
But again fright had developed into a case
of insanity, and one of the steerage passen-
gers, an Englishman who had deserted his
family and his position on an English po-
lice force, now attacked the stewards with
a razor and threatened to kin any
one who tried to prevent his jump
ing overheard. He was placed under watch
after being disarmed and became quieter
after the storm ad subsidized. A cook was
severely injured during the storm by being
thrown across the kitchen with knife in his
hand, cutting his head. About noon on Sat-
urday Capt. Grace left the bridge, the ship
being entirely out Of danger, but his forty
two hours exposure without sleep, and the
nervous strain caused by the chapter OF Incl
dents referred to, was too much for him.
Five minutes after coming off duty the reac-
ton developed into a congestive chill, and at
1870 p. III. he died. His daughter was with
him.
On Sunday morning the insane English
man succeeded in breaking away from his
guards in the steerage, and, amid great ex-
element among the men, women and chill
dren who witnessed the struggle, he leaped
overheard and was drowned. On Monday a
baby died in the steer age and it was buried IN
the sea the next morning. The death Of
Capt. Grace caused deep grief among the
cabin passengers, and at q general meeting
in the saloon appropriate resolutions were
adopted by them