St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-12

rible damage it did to the
latter. The discipline on the
Umbria was perfect. The officers and
men seemed to know exactly what to
do, and their GOODNESS inspired con-
fidence among the passengers. The
crew of the Iberia seemed terribly
afraid that they would be abandoned.
Their
FRANTIC CRIES
were plainly heard on the Umbria. II
took several hours to bring them all
aboard the Umbria. Capt. Sangloes
was seen this evening at the residence
of j. K. Elwell, in Brooklyn, consignee
of the Iberia. The captain cannot speak
English, and has not yet made an
official statement. Mr.. Elwell said that
he did not understand French very
well and could learn but lit
tie from the captain. From what
he was able to make out the
Umbria was running at the rate of
about seventeen miles an hour and
came upon the Iberia without warning,
cutting her clear through. so that about
one-third of the Iberia was cut off and
drlfted away and sank. while the for
ward part was kept afloat by air tight
compartments. Two anchors were
thrown out to keep the wreck from
drifting away, but it has probably sunk
by this time. Wreckers have been en-
gagged to recover the cargo if possible.
The breaking down Of the Iberia's ma
chinery occurred Oct. II, and delayed
her two days. The statement that it
happened just before the collision is de-
MED.
THATCHER's STORY.
Hon. John Boyd Thatcher, ex-mayor
OF Albany, who was on board the
Umbrla, tells the following graphic
story OF the accident. He said: 1T had
been. raining all day. and heavy fog,
worthy OF London, settled down over
our way. Going down the bay we
passed the La Normandie, losing
sight of her almost immediately,
but when we got ready to part with our
pilot we were close alongside of her,
blowing our whistle frequently, and
hearing the whistle of the La Nor
mandie. After the collision had Gu.
riosity to time the interval between our
own whistles, and l found by stop
watch, which l always carry, that it
was ten seconds, the men controlling
the whistle using sand glass appar.
emily. Shortly after. l O'Clock. as the
people were for the most part in the
salon at luncheon, we felt shock, not
very severe, and more as If we had
passed over some floating timbefs. and
the dining salon windows were dark
eDed by a vessel close to us. We all
rushed; up stairs to see a good-siZed
vessel with her stern torn away, and
amid much excitement and anxiety our
boats were lowered and sent to her side,
The discipline OH our boat was admira-
BILE. each officer and man knowing his
business and doing it, or standing ready
to do it at once. When one of the
boats returned with two of the
strangers crew it was learned
that she was the Iberia and from the
French coast. The fog continued so
thick and the weather so heavy that it
was nearly eight o'clock in the evening
before we succeeded in bringing away
all her crew,and there were moments OF
GREAT AGONY
when we could hear the poor creatures
on board of her cry-out for fear that we
might abandon her. We had sustained
severe blow ourselves, having hole
several feet long in our ships floor, and
some four feet of wafer in her
forward compartment. The passen-
gers and crew behaved in a
perfectly cool and collected man.
ner. Signals by means of rockets were
made several times during the evening,
and there was universal rejoicing when
the last of the Iberias crew was re-
ceiyed on board. When the Umbria
crashed into the Iberia, the crew of the
latter became panic-stricken. With
one accord they rushed for the small
boats. Others prepared to leap
from the side into the sea, preferrine
the chance of being run down by a
steamer and drowned to the certain
death that awaited them IL aboard when
the big ship went down. Capt. San
glOes shouted to them to resume their
places. FrenZied and shrieking with
fear, they paid no heed to him. Seeing
in moment that desperate measures
were necessary, the captain siezed be-
laying pin. Drawing his revolver at
the same time. he leaped over the rail
where some of the crew were struggling
among themselves like madmen to be-
first in boat. "rhe first man to desert
the ship dies" shouted the cap
tain. He drove them back at
the point of the revolver. They ALI
became Quieter when the Umbria came
alongside. Before the crew began to
leave OH the Umbra's boat the captain
announced his determination to re.
main on his own ship, but when he
called on his crew for volunteers to re-
main with him none answered. He
concluded fA orn with fha