The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-31
A PANIC In MID-OCEAN.
NARROW ESCAPE OF THE CITY OF
PARIS FROM SINKING.

A Hole Blown in Her Bottom by the
Breaking of Her Low Pressure CYL
inder-The Bravery of the Second
Engineer Alone Prevented a Subse-
quent Explosion.
QUEENSTOWN, March 30-The Inman
line steamer City of Paris, towed by the
steamer Aldersgate, arrived at Queenstown
at 4 o'clock this morning. The accident by
which the City of Paris was disabled oc-
Cured Tuesday, and was caused by the
breakage of the low pressured cylinder of
the port engine, flying pieces Of metal forcing
the bulkhead and disabling the starboard
engine. The passengers became panic
stricken when they found the ship was
making water and that there was posi-
bility of the vessel laundering. The water,
which flooded the engine compartment,
forced through the injecting tubes which,
it Is alleged. the engineers during the ex-
citement neglected to shut. The starboard
engine was shattered almost to pieces, TIE
port engine rooms were filled with upward
of 1900 tons of water and the port engine
was entirely useless.
All went we'll until the 25th inst, when at
$50 o'clock in the afternoon, while the
steamer was gong at full speed, the star
board engine suddenly collapsed and the
low pressure cylinder broke, smashing the
injection water pipe connections aad burst
ing the iron bulkhead dividing the port and
starboard engines. Metal flew around in all
directions. A portion of the machinery
smashed through the steamers double bot
1T.Aa r. I.
the engine rooms, compelling the engineers
and firemen to rush to the other deck
for safety. Terrible consequences would
have ensued but for the bravery of the
second engineer, who, at the peril of his life,
enveloped as he was in the Kissing steam,
managed to shut Off the steam, thus saving
the machinery from total demolition which
would have happened had the engines con-
tinued working. He then escaped unhurt.
The passengers were much excited, but the
captain and officers succeeded in assuring
them that there was no danger. The life
boats were cleared in readiness for use and
the pumps were kept working.
AT THE MERCY OF THE WAVES.
The steamer drifted helplessly until the
26tn ms, when the captain sent Chief OH
Ger PasSon and six mel in life-boat to get
into the track of the other liae steamers in
the hope of being able TO intercept the City
of Chester or the Adriatic. The boat met
the Adriatic, which declined to take the
City of Paris in tow. The Aldersgate row
hove III sight and offered TO TOW the City Of
Paris. The c1fer was accepted
The Aldersgate is u small steamer
unable to go over four or
five knots hourly, and progress was slow
until Saturday, when the OHIO was sighted.
She stood by until 8 o'clock in the after
noon, when Fastnet light was sighted. Two
tugs were sent out later. The water kept
increasing in spite Of the pump. An ex-
animation is b-ing made by divers. The
accident occurred PIG miles west of Fast
net.
STATEMENTS OF THE PASSENGERS.
Statements by the passengers, which are
similar to the other accounts of the acci
dent, are to the effecs that there was a loud
crash followed by an explosion. The ship
Quivered and the engine thumped. The
vessel leaked rapidly from the hole in her
bottom. The officers calmed the excited
passengers. The conduct of the crew was
admirable. The weather was fine, with no
wind. Duri & the sixty hours the steamer
drifted she kept showing distress signals,
sending up rockets and burning flares
Friday morning the Adriatic was
sighted. She offered to convey the
passengers to New York, but the offer
was declined. The Adriatic pro- eeded aud
sent the Aidersgate aid the City of Paris
Three tugs joined the disa led vessel, ac-
companying her to Queenstown. The
passengers held a meeting aud returned
thanks to Providence for their delivery.
They also expressed appreciation of the ex-
emplary conduct of the captain and crew,
and raised subscriDtion OF $500 for the
Liverpool and New York Mariners insti-
tute.
THE CAPTAINS MEAGER REPORT.
The captain OF the City of Paris has fur
nished to the company's agent at Queens
town report of the accident. 1t must be
considered q very meager account of an
occurrence that has every appearance Of
being one of the most serious OF the kind on
record. The report is dated from the City
OF Paris, March 90 is addressed to Mr..
Cummins, and says:
Tuesday, March 2j, at 7:3) p. m., when 2t6
miles west of FaStnet the starboard engine
broke down from en- unknown cause. The cyl
inder went to pieces, injuring the bIlkhea1 and
breaking the injection and water pipe connec-
tions, allowing a considerable quantity Of water
to run into both engine rooms and the adjacent
sections. No one on board was injured
Mr.. Cunmins himself went in a tug to
meet the City Of Paris, which entered the
harbor precisely at 4:50 O'clock in toe
morning.
TRYING TO CONCEAL THE FACTS.
A number of press agents who sought to 60
off to the steamer were refused permission,
indeed, throughout the whole matter, scan5
courtesy hos been shown them. When Mr.
Cummins returned he was accompanied by
three persons, evidently passengers, but
none would give a word Of Information. A
second tug went out and brought back
neither mails nor passengers. 1t was only
on the arrival of q third tug, considerably
later in the day, with a dozen passengers,
that anything could be CLEANED as to the
accident.
Special trains were kept in readiness here
throughout the night, with large staff
off, railway hands Early last eveeilg,
probably before the actual state of affairs
on the steamer was known, the intention Of
the agents was to land the mails and pas
sengers who desired TO go ashore and have
the steamer towed straight TO Liverpool.
AS morning approached it leaked ont that
the steamer would be brought 10 Cork har-
Dor and all the passengers and mails disem-
barked. The mails we're all landed by
O'clock but in spite Of the greatest
despatch and energy it was well
into the afternoon before the passengers
and baggage got away. Toe getting OF
authentic and detailed Information is at
tended with the utrno, ,r difficulty, owing TO
the rsticenco of the compsny's officials.
However, the interviews with passengers
furnish fair outline Of the events both
before and after the accident.