Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-12

ST JOINS, n. F., Oct. IL.
Inc Following report represents all the
prominent incidents in connection with the
Anchoria disaster
The steamer Anchoria. Capt. Small, left
Glasgow the 18th of Sept bound for New
YORK. She had 700 lives on board includ-
ing passengers and crew. On Wednesday,
Sept 22nd, four davs after the ship had
cleared from Glasgow, strong gale sprung
up and during this gale heavy sea struck
the ship and in the lurch which she made
the shaft Of the propeller broke suddenly
The ship at the time of the accident WAS in
lat. 5O north, and long. SO west She
was reckoned to be about 1900 miles west of
Ireland. The shock occasioned by the break.
ing OF the shaft threw the ship on her side
and strewed the glassware and other articles
on the floor below deck. MANY Of the pas
sengers were frightened but upon the officers
assuring them that there was no danger of
sinking rife panic was averted. Order was
thereby restored in short time and prepara-
tons made to hoist the sails on the ship.
when the sails were set the ship became
somewhat steadier, but the rudder gear nav
ing been rendered useless she drifted about
at the mercy of the waves. From the 22nd
of Sept. to Wednesday Oct. 9th the ship
drfted helplessly about Efforts in the
meanwhile were being made daily to repair
the broken shaft. On the 9th of Oct. the
engineers effected temporary repairs and the
ship was once more got under control. The
sea was now comparatively smooth and the
ship moved slowly in a westerly direction
She made fairly good time till midnight on
Thursday the 7th when the engines suddenly
stopped. Fears were entertained by the pas
sengers that the shaft had again broken, but
3 tkf.- i A.
was not the case and that the engiues would
be started in the morning
At 10 o'clock Friday the engines were
again started and when the hundreds of anx.
ious hearts on board heard the propeller
moving hopes were entertained that the ted
ious voyage would soon be over by reaching
land. but these hopes were not soon to be
realized for after Is revolutions the shaft
broke again. this time beyond all prospect of
being repaired. consultation was now
held by the officers and the exact position OF
the ship was ascertained. 1t was found that
she was 80 lliles off the coast of Newfound
land As the provisions were running shorl
all on board, in fact for some days previous
ly, had been put on an allowance of two
meals day.
Those who were in the boats were McFar
lane, lst officer of the ship, Mr.. Hay. Dr.
Tuttle, DR.. Lock Farguhar. Mr. Green and
two others. The boats crew manfully took
their places and were lowered away. They
took on board quantity of biscuit in tins
and two casks of water. AS the boat put
from the ships side it affected many to tears
and amidst silent prayers they pulled from
the ship with no land in sight and with nc
probability of ever reaching land. At first
no word was spoken. but the pent up feelings
,,< tba orl LAM aha
and heart felt cries of 'God speed we safe.
as the boat disappeared from view. The Isl
officer was instructed by the captain to Sc
cure the services of a steamer if the boat
reached St. Johns.
On Friday the ship made but little head
way and the expected steamer didn't come to
her assistance on that day nor during the fol
lowing night. Saturday at noon, however, a
glad cry of land went through the ship. An
other volunteer crew were quickly enlisted
consisting this time wholly of passengers, who
pulled toward shore 1t subsequently trans
pired that the first boat Landed in st. Johns
at P M yesterday, and the second boat
reached Pouch Cove settlement near Cape ST.
Francis, 20 miles north of St. Johns, at p.
NJ, two hours later than the other had
reached here.
On arrival here, the first officer commune
Gated with Sir Ambrose Shear, agent of the
A Ian line at this port, who Immediately ne
gotated with Messrs, Harvey & Co, and the
steamer Miranda of the Red Cross line. OF
which Harvey & Co. are local agents, wa,
despatched in search of the seamer Anchors
at p. NJ.
The steam tug Favorite left about 10 2 M
and though four hours behind the steamer
Miranda, succeeded in coming up with the
disabled steamer about midnight. The An
choria was taken in tow and arrived here al
stated above. The ship is waiting orders
from the owners before any repairs will be
made. There were two deaths and two births
during the voyage, one of those who died wa.
Polish Jew, and the other Scotchman, were
buried at sea. The newly born infants ant
their mothers are doing well. The passen
gers who landed at Pouch Cove arrived mere
this morning at l 80 and were heartily vel
coined by their friends on board the steamer
when they met.
The Anchoria belongs to the Anchor line
| and is 1882 tons burden.