Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-25

Y 1Nae4NeRt % ~ aetthtahA hhb AtnIaC Va hdu
| passengers and crew.
The passengers were supplied with
food, aud at midnight many were sent to
western destinations. Tuesday some were
forwarded TO eastern points.
THE BRohBs sHAFE
The Accident rhat sunk she Dun.
mark and Woli-nigh DestI oy ed
Her People.
1hs aceidens that wrecked The Dan.
mark and imperilled nearly 700 lives
occurred about noon. April Sd. The
wind was blowing small hurricane, and
the sea was running mountains high when
o bolt IN the screw shaft of the steamer
broke. 0hiet Engineer Kass determined
to entor the manhoie aud makea personal
examination OF the damage for the pue.
pose of seeing what repairs could be 49,
complished. II was close on l O'Clock
when he entered tho narrow aperture
through which the shaft RUS. He was
brought out about an b lur later dead.
None Of the crew of the Danmark who
we're questioned yesterday about Kass'
desth seemed to know exactly how 1t co.
cured. The most popular belief, how.
ever, seemed TO be this; When K tss en-
tered the manhole he found that one Of
the main bolts of the screw shaft had
snapped. tie at once went about trying
TO secure the broken bolt. He wss bend
ing over the shaft when q tremendous
sea struck the Dlnmsrk, and her stern
was lifted completely ont of the water.
The screw beat the air 10 rapid revolu-
tons, and bsfore the stern Of tbs vessel
could descend again another wave struck
me lli-iated vessel straight on the stern.
The shock was more than the injured
shaft could stand. aad it brooks near the
~ lot where the chief engineer was stand
ing Tue shaft broke with crash that
startled all on board, and made tho Off
cers OF the vessel hurry to the manhole TO
find cut what had happened.
The water WAS washing in in torrents
through two broad holes in the bottom OF
the boat. When the Off ,ers managed to
sac distinctly they discovered me body OF
tie engineer lying near the stern OF the
vessel. The shaft had knocked him
down, killing him instantly. Contrary
to what might have been expe5tsd, the
shaft had not broken upward. II broke
downwasds, knocking two holes ia the
bottom. The shaft was complete wreck
1t was impossible to stop the holes, and
therefore no attempt was made.
The Danmark was fitted no with water
tigh, compartments, and Captain Kuu isen
at once had ali the apartments ia the tor
ward portion OF ihs vessel closed up.
This kept her eaoat. The s,ern Of the
vessel began to sink, but the forward
portion Of the steamer floated in com.
paratiVe safety. Tue vessel was com
plstely at the mercy Of tho wind and
waves. Every fresh sea would knock her
almost over, and wHve after wave rolled
over her deck, carrying terror and de-
struciion with it.
Everything that could be removed from
the stern OF the steamer was taken for.
ward, 40 that the pressure on the lseks
might be lesseued Lookou;s were i'm
mediaiely stationed aloft, aud anxious
watch was kept for the signs of sail.
The nigh. q 4psli 81 pssss1 slowly. The
terrified passenRe~f crowded together an
prayed for de'i -TaDce IheX mad but
little noise. THY were frightened past
the nti y stage.
When daylight dawned on the morning
OF april 4!h every eye was strained over
the broad expanse of winter, looking
auxionsly for the ship that never came.
Another day passed. The ship kept fiIi-
ing and her stern sank lover and lower
in the water. Eyer eyes looked in vain
for assistance. Nothing could be seen
but ths angry ssa, ani nothing be heard
but the wi'd whistling OF tbs storm and
the lash OF the beating wsves as they
broke over the doomed vsssel.
Another night closed in and vet nc
help came.
! Again the day broke and again did
near 700 souls gaze over the sea, hoping
10 see soma frieudly sail Witch wonld
/ prove to be haven from the horrible
death that threatened them.
Hops had almost forsaken the breasts
OF the WORKOUT watchers when, about
noon on April 9th, the welcome cry OF
sail! sttl ho!" sounded from the look
ont on the maintop.
"Saii on the les bow! Sail, hop
came the cry once more, as the smoke of
q steamer became Visible in the distance.
Soon the smoke could bs seen from the
T deck, and it wasn't many minutes before
the masts Of large steamer became visit
ole. On she came, proudly breas,inR the
strong sea. On Shs came until her darA
hu was visible. and thsn the cry went
up in the Swedish tongus, "Ehank God
Thank God. We ara saved !"
in about half an hour the Missouri wa,
snficientiy near to be sisnaled, and
Captain Kuudsen let Captain Murrel
know In what hslp'ess condition tn,
I Danmark was. Soon tina welcome sigma
came back that the Missouri would moi
fotaASe the sinking bo4t, bat would dc
all IN her power TO aid the unfortunate
crew and passengers.